Frequently Asked Questions
What is TIMSS?
TIMSS is the Trend in International Mathematics and Science Study. It is run by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and is taken by pupils aged 9-10 and 13-14 worldwide.
What does TIMSS assess?
TIMSS assesses the mathematics and science knowledge and skills of pupils. The online assessment includes interactive response formats that allow pupils to demonstrate their thinking processes and understanding.
As well as extended questions focussing on problem-solving and investigatory approaches, there are other questions which are multiple-choice or require a short response.
The information collected is used to compare how well pupils learn mathematics and science around the world.
What is TIMSS used for?
The TIMSS assessment is designed to be used in any country. This means comparisons can be made across countries in order to compare the performance of education systems. It also allows comparisons to be made within countries over time.
When the results from TIMSS 2027 are available, England will be able to compare its performance with other participating countries as well as comparing it with the results from earlier TIMSS studies.
How are schools and pupils chosen to participate in TIMSS 2027?
Schools are randomly selected using scientific sampling methods to ensure that the sample represents all schools in England. This ensures that the results accurately reflect national performance of Year 5 and Year 9 pupils.
How is pupil, school and teacher data protected?
The information collected will be provided in de-identified form to the international study organisers.
For recruitment and administration purposes, the Department for Education will receive the names of the selected schools. However, your school feedback and any individually identifiable response data for your school or pupils will not be shared with the Department or any other organisation. The Department for Education receives de-identified information on the outcomes for international comparison and research purposes.
The final data that will be available on the IEA website will be anonymised so that no school, class or pupil can be identified. The Department for Education may permit other organisations to link TIMSS data to existing national datasets for the purposes of research only. All data processing will be GDPR-compliant (see TIMSS 2027 policies for schools, pupils and parents).
Why is it important for schools to take part?
It is important that the selected schools take part to ensure that England has reliable data.
To ensure international comparability, IEA sets participation requirements so that researchers can have confidence in the data. We will work with participating schools to make sure delivery runs smoothly.
What equipment is needed to participate in TIMSS 2027?
Schools need access to computers and a connection to the internet. NFER provides technical support to ensure schools have the necessary equipment. If schools do not have enough computers or sufficient connectivity to the internet, we can provide the devices you need.
Why is it important for pupils to take part?
Schools and classes are randomly selected. This random selection means the pupils chosen will, therefore, give a fair representation of all pupils in England and this is important for an international study such as TIMSS.
If an invited pupil does not take part, he or she cannot be replaced by another pupil from another class. There are strict rules about the number of schools, classes and pupils that take part in the study, and if these are not met then the data collected will not be considered good enough to appear in the international report.
Are there sample materials from previous cycles?
There are sample questions available from earlier rounds of TIMSS. These give a good idea about the type of questions that appear in the assessments.
What happens in schools on the day of the TIMSS assessment?
On the day of the TIMSS assessment, a TIMSS study administrator will lead the sessions in schools. The study administrator will read some instructions and answer any questions. Pupils complete an online assessment containing mathematics and science questions. Afterwards, pupils complete a questionnaire about their learning and their attitudes to school. The whole session will last around two and a half hours.
Who marks the tests?
All answers will be marked by staff at NFER. All markers will be trained according to strict international rules to make sure each country marks its pupils responses in the same way.
How can the same assessment be taken in different languages across the world?
There are strict procedures for the translation of texts and materials used in TIMSS. Any changes that are made by countries to the assessment materials have to be verified by the international researchers to ensure that the same topic is examined in the same way, using questions and terminology worded in the same way.
What if a pupil does not want to answer a particular question?
Pupils are encouraged to do their best when answering the assessment questions so that they can show their true ability. For the questions in the questionnaire, pupils are encouraged to be honest (answers are provided in confidence).
However, pupils do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to.
Why is it important for pupils to take part?
Schools and classes are randomly selected. This random selection means the pupils chosen will give a fair representation of all pupils in England and this is important for an international study such as TIMSS. If an invited pupil does not take part, he or she cannot be replaced by another pupil from another class.
There are strict rules about the number of schools, classes and pupils who take part in the study, and if these are not met, the data collected will not be considered good enough to appear in the international report.
Are there sample materials from previous cycles available?
There are sample questions available from earlier rounds of TIMSS. These give a good idea about the type of questions that appear in the assessments.
How long will it take?
The whole session will last around two and a half hours and will be administered during normal school hours.
What if a pupil does not want to answer a particular question?
Pupils are encouraged to do their best when answering the assessment questions so that they can show their true ability. For the questions in the questionnaire, pupils are encouraged to be honest (answers are provided in confidence).
However, pupils do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to.
What is TIMSS?
TIMSS is the Trend in International Mathematics and Science Study. It is run by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and is taken by pupils aged 9-10 and 13-14 worldwide.
What does TIMSS assess?
TIMSS assesses the mathematics and science knowledge and skills of pupils. The online assessment includes interactive response formats that allow pupils to demonstrate their thinking processes and understanding.
As well as extended questions focussing on problem-solving and investigatory approaches, there are other questions which are multiple-choice or require a short response.
The information collected is used to compare how well pupils learn mathematics and science around the world.
What is TIMSS used for?
The TIMSS assessment is designed to be used in any country. This means comparisons can be made across countries in order to compare the performance of education systems. It also allows comparisons to be made within countries over time.
When the results from TIMSS 2027 are available, England will be able to compare its performance with other participating countries as well as comparing it with the results from earlier TIMSS studies.
How are schools and pupils chosen to participate in TIMSS 2027?
Schools are randomly selected using scientific sampling methods to ensure that the sample represents all schools in England. This ensures that the results accurately reflect national performance of Year 5 and Year 9 pupils.
How is pupil, school and teacher data protected?
The information collected will be provided in de-identified form to the international study organisers.
For recruitment and administration purposes, the Department for Education will receive the names of the selected schools. However, your school feedback and any individually identifiable response data for your school or pupils will not be shared with the Department or any other organisation. The Department for Education receives de-identified information on the outcomes for international comparison and research purposes.
The final data that will be available on the IEA website will be anonymised so that no school, class or pupil can be identified. The Department for Education may permit other organisations to link TIMSS data to existing national datasets for the purposes of research only. All data processing will be GDPR-compliant (see TIMSS 2027 policies for schools, pupils and parents).
Why is it important for schools to take part?
It is important that the selected schools take part to ensure that England has reliable data.
To ensure international comparability, IEA sets participation requirements so that researchers can have confidence in the data. We will work with participating schools to make sure delivery runs smoothly.
What equipment is needed to participate in TIMSS 2027?
Schools need access to computers and a connection to the internet. NFER provides technical support to ensure schools have the necessary equipment. If schools do not have enough computers or sufficient connectivity to the internet, we can provide the devices you need.
Why is it important for pupils to take part?
Schools and classes are randomly selected. This random selection means the pupils chosen will, therefore, give a fair representation of all pupils in England and this is important for an international study such as TIMSS.
If an invited pupil does not take part, he or she cannot be replaced by another pupil from another class. There are strict rules about the number of schools, classes and pupils that take part in the study, and if these are not met then the data collected will not be considered good enough to appear in the international report.
Are there sample materials from previous cycles?
There are sample questions available from earlier rounds of TIMSS. These give a good idea about the type of questions that appear in the assessments.
What happens in schools on the day of the TIMSS assessment?
On the day of the TIMSS assessment, a TIMSS study administrator will lead the sessions in schools. The study administrator will read some instructions and answer any questions. Pupils complete an online assessment containing mathematics and science questions. Afterwards, pupils complete a questionnaire about their learning and their attitudes to school. The whole session will last around two and a half hours.
Who marks the tests?
All answers will be marked by staff at NFER. All markers will be trained according to strict international rules to make sure each country marks its pupils responses in the same way.
How can the same assessment be taken in different languages across the world?
There are strict procedures for the translation of texts and materials used in TIMSS. Any changes that are made by countries to the assessment materials have to be verified by the international researchers to ensure that the same topic is examined in the same way, using questions and terminology worded in the same way.
What if a pupil does not want to answer a particular question?
Pupils are encouraged to do their best when answering the assessment questions so that they can show their true ability. For the questions in the questionnaire, pupils are encouraged to be honest (answers are provided in confidence).
However, pupils do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to.
Why is it important for pupils to take part?
Schools and classes are randomly selected. This random selection means the pupils chosen will give a fair representation of all pupils in England and this is important for an international study such as TIMSS. If an invited pupil does not take part, he or she cannot be replaced by another pupil from another class.
There are strict rules about the number of schools, classes and pupils who take part in the study, and if these are not met, the data collected will not be considered good enough to appear in the international report.
Are there sample materials from previous cycles available?
There are sample questions available from earlier rounds of TIMSS. These give a good idea about the type of questions that appear in the assessments.
How long will it take?
The whole session will last around two and a half hours and will be administered during normal school hours.
What if a pupil does not want to answer a particular question?
Pupils are encouraged to do their best when answering the assessment questions so that they can show their true ability. For the questions in the questionnaire, pupils are encouraged to be honest (answers are provided in confidence).
However, pupils do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to.