The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest, most comprehensive, and most rigorous international study of schools and student achievement ever conducted. The international project involved the testing of more than a half-million students in mathematics and science at three grade levels in 42 countries.

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study - Repeat (TIMSS-R) collected data in 38 countries at the eighth-grade level to provide information about changes in the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to other countries in the four years since TIMSS was conducted. With the results released in December 2000, TIMSS-R confirms the conclusions of the previous TIMSS. Namely, that U.S. students are making little progress in competing with their peers globally in math and science achievement.

For a more complete look at TIMSS and TIMSS-R, any of the following websites provide extensive online materials on the subject:

CRESST TIMSS Challenge
Developed by the University of California at Los Angeles' National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, TIMSS Challenge provides students with the opportunity to experience the TIMSS Test items in a fun and interactive on-line environment. In addition to the Challenge, the site also includes additional math questions that are similar to TIMSS items, graphical representations of the TIMSS results , and other TIMSS resources.

The National Center for Educational Statistics TIMSS Site
NCES TIMSS offers a guide to TIMSS and TIMSS-R through an interactive website that includes summaries of the major findings from both studies and more extensive results of U.S. TIMSS at the fourth-, eighth-, and twelfth- grade levels; Pursuing Excellence reports; statements by the U.S. Secretary of Education; and links to other relevant sources.

The National Research Center for the International Mathematics and Science Study
The National Research Center for TIMSS at Michigan State University is involved in ongoing research and evaluation of the TIMSS results. This site includes data files and overheads, extensive publications, press releases and links to other sites.

The TIMSS International Study Center
Housed in the Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation, and Educational Policy at Boston College, the site includes downloads and comprehensive information about TIMSS, achievement reports, international databases, other publications, TIMSS news, and State and District Benchmarking against TIMSS results.