TIMSS 2015 Assessment Frameworks

The TIMSS 2015 Assessment Frameworks provides the foundation for the five international assessments to take place as part of IEA’s TIMSS 2015: TIMSS Mathematics—Fourth Grade, TIMSS Numeracy, TIMSS Mathematics—Eighth Grade, TIMSS Science—Fourth Grade, and TIMSS Science—Eighth Grade.

The TIMSS 2015 Mathematics Framework and the TIMSS 2015 Science Framework presented in Chapters 1 and 2, respectively, describe in some detail the major content and cognitive domains in mathematics and science to be tested at the fourth and eighth grades. The content domains (for example, algebra, geometry, etc. in mathematics, and biology, chemistry, etc. in science) and the topic areas within the domains are described separately for the fourth and eighth grades with each topic area elaborated with specific objectives. The cognitive domains describing the thinking students should be doing within the mathematics and science content domains are the same for mathematics and science and parallel across grades, but with different levels of emphasis. Chapter 3 contains the TIMSS 2015 Context Questionnaire Framework describing the types of schooling situations and factors associated with students’ learning in mathematics and science that will be investigated via the TIMSS 2015 Encyclopedia and the questionnaires completed by students, their teachers, and schools. Finally, Chapter 4 provides an overview of the test booklet design including general parameters for item development.

Get the full Assessment Frameworks—TIMSS 2015 Assessment Frameworks (51MB)

Download by Chapter

• Introduction (3MB)
• Chapter 1: TIMSS 2015 Mathematics Framework (3MB)
• Chapter 2: TIMSS 2015 Science Framework (3MB)
• Chapter 3: TIMSS 2015 Context Questionnaire Framework (3MB)
• Chapter 4: TIMSS 2015 Assessment Design (3MB)
• References (3MB)
• Appendix A: Acknowledgements (4MB)
• Appendix B: Example Mathematics Items (Grade 4 and Grade 8) (5MB)
• Appendix C: Example Science Items (Grade 4 and Grade 8) (4MB)

Copyright Notice

TIMSS and PIRLS are registered trademarks of IEA. Use of these trademarks without permission of IEA by others may constitute trademark infringement. Furthermore, the website and its contents, together with all online and/or printed publications and restricted use items by TIMSS, PIRLS, and IEA are and will remain the copyright of IEA.

All publications and restricted use items by TIMSS, PIRLS, and IEA, as well as translations thereof, are for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes only. Prior notice is required when using IEA data sources for assessments or learning materials. IEA reserves the right to refuse copy deemed inappropriate or not properly sourced.

Exploitation, distribution, redistribution, reproduction and/or transmitting in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical methods such as photocopying, information storage and retrieval system of these publications, restricted use items, translations thereof and/or part thereof are prohibited unless written permission has been provided by IEA.

When quoting and/or citing from one or more publications and/or restricted use items from TIMSS, PIRLS, and IEA for the sake of educational or research purposes, please print an acknowledgment of the source, including the year and name of that publication and/or restricted use item. Please use the following acknowledgment as an example:

SOURCE: TIMSS 2015 Assessment Frameworks. Copyright © 2013 International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). Publisher: TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Lynch School of Education, Boston College.

Please note that citing without naming the source can or will constitute plagiarism for which you can and will be held accountable. To request permission to reuse, reproduce, or translate IEA material, please fill out the permission request form »

Disclaimer

Please note that the website and its contents, together with all online and/or printed publications and restricted use items (‘works’) by TIMSS, PIRLS, and IEA, were created with the utmost care. However, the correctness of the information cannot be guaranteed at all times and IEA cannot and will not be held responsible or liable for any damages that may arise from the use of these resources, nor will IEA be liable for the wrongful use and/or interpretation of its works.

Please be advised that IEA cannot authorize the use of texts or items that include third- party copyrighted materials (e.g., reading passages, photographs, images). Users of any third-party copyrighted materials must first seek and be granted copyright permission from the owner of the content as indicated in the copyright citation line.