The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has released a report analysing the performance of Australia’s year 4 and 8 students in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
Conducted every four years since 1995, TIMSS is the longest running large-scale international assessment of mathematics and science and explores how well Year 4 and Year 8 students have mastered the factual and procedural knowledge taught in school mathematics and science classes.
The report shows that Australian year 4 students have significantly improved in science since the last TIMSS report in 2019. These students performed in the top 10 of 58 countries that took part at this year level, with the average student moving from being able to apply knowledge using only a few scientific concepts to being a high performer in 2023.
Both Year 4 and Year 8 students are performing above the international average in both subjects.
Australian year 4 maths students also showed improvement from the previous cycle.
Year 8 students have maintained the achievement levels set in previous years, with similar results to those recorded in 2019.
According to the study, out of 58 countries participating in Year 4 and 44 in Year 8:
- In Year 4 science, Australia is equal 5th internationally (equal 9th in 2019)
- In Year 4 maths, Australia is equal 15th internationally (equal 23rd in 2019)
- In Year 8 science, Australia is equal 8th internationally (equal 7th in 2019)
- In Year 8 maths, Australia is equal 9th internationally (equal 7th in 2019).
Australia has participated in all 8 cycles of TIMSS since 1995, with ACER’s analysis providing vital insights on student achievement and learning experiences for different demographic groups, in every state and territory over time.
For more information and to read the report, visit: TIMSS Reports and data.