Advanced Mathematics

• Countries:
  • The 2% of Russian students in intensive study (6 hours-plus per week) and the 4% of Lebanese students in TIMSS Advanced had the highest achievement.
  • The Russian Federation, with a total of 10% of its students in TIMSS Advanced, the United States with 11%, and Portugal with 29% (nearly three times that of Russia and the U.S.) had the next highest levels of achievement.
• Trend (1995–2015): Of the six countries with 20-year trend data, France, Italy, and Sweden had lower average achievement in 2015 than in 1995.
  • The Russian Federation, Slovenia, and the United States showed no significant difference.
  • Norway and Sweden had upturns between 2008 and 2015.
• More male students than female students were enrolled in advanced mathematics programs in six countries.

Physics

• Countries:
  • Slovenia, with 8% of its students in TIMSS Advanced physics, had the highest average physics achievement.
  • The Russian Federation, with 5% of its students in TIMSS Advanced, and Norway with 7% had the next highest achievement.
  • Italy (18%) and France (22%) had the highest percentages of students in TIMSS Advanced physics, but the lowest average achievement.
• Trend (1995–2015): Of the six countries with 20-year trend data, France, Norway, the Russian Federation, and Sweden have experienced substantial decreases in average achievement since 1995, while Slovenia and the United States showed no significant change.
  • No country improved over the 20-year period.
• More male students than female students were enrolled in physics programs in all countries.

Context for Education

• Schools
  • In nearly all TIMSS Advanced countries, students attending schools with more affluent than disadvantaged students had on average higher levels of achievement.
• Teachers and teaching:
  • Mathematics and physics teachers of TIMSS Advanced students reported high levels of education and considerable experience.
• Positive student attitudes toward the respective subjects were associated with higher achievement.