Summary

Description

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, 2003 (TIMSS 2003) is part of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) program. TIMSS 2003 (http://nces.ed.gov/timss/) is a cross-sectional study that provides international comparative information of the mathematics and science literacy of fourth- and eighth-grade students and examines factors that may be associated with the acquisition of math and science literacy in students. The study was conducted using direct assessments of students and questionnaires for students, teachers, and school administrators. Fourth- and eighth-graders in the 2002-03 school year were sampled. The weighted student response rate at grade four was 95 percent, and the weighted student response rate at grade eight was 94 percent. Key statistics produced from TIMSS 2003 are mathematics and science achievement scores of U.S. fourth- and eighth- grade students compared to that of students in other countries.