Filipino students score lowest in Math, Science tests – TIMSS

Filipino grade 4 students scored lowest among 58 countries who took the international assessment for mathematics and science, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2019 (TIMSS) reported Tuesday.

Students from the Philippines only got 297 in mathematics and 249 in science, which are “significantly lower” than any other country who participated in the tests.

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Meanwhile, Singapore got the highest scores in both assessments in grade 4 mathematics and science, 625 and 595, respectively. It also topped the tests for grade 8 in the same subjects, 616 (mathematics) and 608 (science).

The Philippines only participated in the grade 4 assessment. TIMSS is an assessment given to grades 4 and 8 learners.

TIMSS has 4 International Benchmarks along a scale to determine learners’ competence: Advanced International Benchmark (625), High International Benchmark (550), Intermediate International Benchmark (475), and Low International Benchmark (400)

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In mathematics, 81% of the students did not even reach the Low International Benchmark. Meanwhile, the 19% reached the 400 scores meaning they had “some basic mathematical knowledge.”

“They can add, subtract, multiply, and divide one- and two-digit whole numbers. They can solve simple word problems. They have some knowledge of simple fractions and common geometric shapes. Students can read and complete simple bar graphs and tables,” the study said.

Filipino grade 4 students score lowest in Math, Science tests – TIMSS

For science, only 13% of Filipino students were also on the Low benchmark, which means they had “limited understanding of scientific concepts and limited knowledge of foundational science facts.” The rest of the students did not even reach this benchmark.

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TIMSS provides reliable and timely trend data on U.S. students’ mathematics and science achievement compared to that of students in other countries.

Its data have been collected from students at grades 4 and 8 every 4 years since 1995, with the United States participating in every administration of TIMSS. TIMSS Advanced studies students’ advanced mathematics and physics in their final year of secondary school.

Before TIMSS, the Philippines ranked in the low 70s in the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), placing 79th in reading, with an average of 340 against the 487 average.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development conducts PISA on 15-year-old learners across 79 countries.