UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS

DISCUSSION ISSUE ON TIMSS AND PISA

(REPORT)

SME 3023
TRENDS AND ISSUES IN EDUCATION FOR
MATHEMATICAL AND SCEINCE
SEM. 1 SESSION 2014/2015
LECTURER: DR. MOHD.FAIZAL NIZAM LEE BIN ABDULLAH

GROUP MEMBERS:
NAME

MATRIC NUMBER

1. SIM WEI NA

D20121058475

2. SIVA SHANGARY BALASUBRAMANIAM

D20121058479

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

Introduction
The last year PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) results were announced on 19 December
2012. The result shows that the number of candidates who failed the examinations was fewer
when compared with the previous year, where by 241 PMR candidates scored all Es in the
examination compared to 346 candidates in 2011. The overall achievement of our students in 17
subjects was stable.
However, the question is which level are we when compared with other countries in education.
There are two international standard tests to determine the status of our education system. The
tests are Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Program for
International Student Assessment (PISA).

a) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS)

TIMMS is an international assessment which was developed by the International
Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to compare the
students educational achievement among the participating nations. It is an assessment of
the mathematics and science knowledge of fourth grade (standard 4) and eight grade
(form 2) students of participating nations. TIMMS was first started in 1995 and continued
every 4 years once. The latest TIMMS assessment was conducted in 2011. Malaysia only
took part in eight grade (form 2) categories starting from 1999. The aim of this
assessment is allowing educational systems to compare students educational
achievement and learn from the experiences of others in designing effective education
policy.

b) Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

PISA also is an international assessment introduced by the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) to evaluate education systems worldwide by
testing the skills and knowledge of 15 years old students. The main three domain tested in

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

this assessment are reading, mathematics and science literacy. PISA is conducted three
years once and started in 2000, where by Malaysia starts to join in 2009. The latest PISA
assessment was in 2012. The aim of PISA is to determine the extent to which young
people have acquired the wider knowledge in reading literacy, mathematical literacy and
science literacy that they will need in adult life (OECD, 2004).
In a simple way the difference between TIMMS and PISA is, TIMMS is about what science
have you been taught and how much you learned?, while PISA is about what can you do with
the science you have been taught?.

Malaysias ranking in PISA and TIMMS

a) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS)
Malaysia participated in TIMMS starting from 1999 until today. The average score in the
TIMMS is benchmarked at 500 points. The countries that scoring above the benchmark is
considered as a better performers in the two subjects, while those falling below that mark
are considered as underperformers.

Table 1: Malaysias Achievement in Mathematics (a)

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

Table 2: Malaysias Achievement in Science (b)

Referred to above diagram (a), Malaysias student perform well in Mathematics when
first time took part by scoring above the benchmark. But the scores are started to drop
slightly each time of assessment. In diagram (b), in 1999 Malaysia scores lower than the
benchmark but for the next assessment, students perform well and score above the
benchmark for Science subject. And the score decreased in 2007 and 2011.
In 2007, Malaysian students performance had slipped to below the average benchmark
in both subjects Mathematics and Science with commensurate drop in ranking. 18% and
20% of Malaysias students failed to meet the minimum proficiency levels in
Mathematics and Science in 2007. These students were identified that only have limited
mastery of basic mathematical and scientific concepts. In 2011, Malaysia again scored
below the benchmark and lower than previous years scores.

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

b) Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

Malaysia took part in PISA two times in year 2009 and 2012. The results from PISA 2009 and
2012 were also discouraging like TIMMS with Malaysias ranking below the international and
OECD average.

Table 3: Malaysias Score in PISA

As per shown in table above, there were not much significant improvements in mathematics and
science performance for that two particular years. Ranking 52 out of 65 countries which are took
part in the 2012 survey, Malaysia scored below the average score, where the global average
score was 494 in Mathematics, 496 in Reading and 501 in Science. Malaysia was considered as a
poor performer in PISA assessment.

Why Malaysia Join TIMMS and PISA

TIMMS and PISA are highly regarded international studies of student achievement. By
participating in this international assessments, Malaysia improve student outcome globally.
Participating in this assessment will enable us to monitor student achievement over time
internationally and to examine our standing when compared to other countries. Besides that, this
international assessment can provide us the information on the strengths and weakness of
Malaysian students in Mathematics, Science and Reading subjects. This information is very
valuable in identifying the cause of this problem. Furthermore, international assessments also
provide the schools and students with an opportunity to experience cutting-edge assessments that
are designed by international experts. These are the main reasons why Malaysia is participating
in international standard tests, TIMMS and PISA which will provide holistic students at the end.

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

Why Malaysian Students Failed to Score in TIMMS and PISA

There are two main reasons why Malaysian students failed to score in TIMMS and PISA
assessments. First reason is the question format. For TIMMS, the questions are more on
curriculum based, reflecting the skills and knowledge taught in school. TIMMS does not include
problem solving questions and entirely built on the application type of questions. In other hand,
PISA questions more on not only about the mastery of the school curriculum, but also the
important of knowledge and skills in adult life. The PISA questions are more to problem solving
questions which is related to real life. The second reason is language of instruction in schools for
Mathematics and Science subjects. The PPSMI (Teaching and Learning of Science and
Mathematics in English) program caused a big problem among the students in understanding the
contents of the subjects. PPSMI was introduced in 2003 and officially abolished in 2009. When
the subjects were taught in Malay language, the TIMMS result was maintained at a good level
but when introduced of PPSMI caused the dropped in TIMMS in 2007 and 2011. The change in
instruction language caused a big damaged for our education system. These are the reasons why
Malaysian students failed to score in TIMMS and PISA.

Conclusion
As a conclusion, these two international standard tests are needed to transform our education
system by time to time. TIMSS tests students mastery of what have been taught from the
curriculum. While, PISA assesses how students can use the knowledge and skills that they were
taught in real life. Both assessments are evaluating the same subjects through different type of
questions. So it is important for Malaysia to improve the education system, so that can maintain a
stable level of education internationally. Last but not least, TIMSS and PISA is a guideline for
every country to achieve a standard education level.

Discussion issues on TIMSS and PISA

References
Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2015.
Hutchison, G., & Schagen, I. (2007). Lessons Learned What International
Assessments Tell Us about Math Achievement. Washington, DC: The Brookings
Institution

American Institutes for Research. (2005). Reassessing U.S. International Mathematics

Performance: New Findings from the 2003 TIMSS and PISA. Washington, DC: American
Institutes for Research.
Bernama (2013, September 06). Growing gap between Malaysias education system and other
countries worrying. Retrieved from http://blis.bernama.com/mainHome.do.
Ida.L.(2013, January 16). Muhyiddin slammed for silence over TIMMS study. Retrieved from
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/muhyiddin-slammed-for-silence-overtimss-study