The TIMSS 2019 Problem Solving and Inquiry (PSI) tasks were developed to gain insights into how using digitally-based interactive assessment items to capture students’ responses could be incorporated into TIMSS. The goal was not to define new problem solving and inquiry constructs, but to collect information that would help enhance and extend the breadth of the TIMSS assessment to provide more comprehensive coverage of problem solving and inquiry as already described in the assessment frameworks.
This publication is based on the newly PSI blocks of TIMSS 2019. The report demonstrates the richness and innovativeness of the new item formats, while also highlighting the challenges, and learnings from their administration. It also shows what can be learned when moving away from traditional item formats.