The University of Bucharest and the Ministry of Education Announce the Release of the International Study Results on Students’ Mathematics and Science Competencies – TIMSS 2023

On December 4^th, 2024, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) released the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2023) report. In Romania, the study was conducted by the University of Bucharest, with funding from the Ministry of Education. Together with other IEA studies, TIMSS 2023 provides valuable insights for the continuous improvement of educational policies and teaching and assessment practices.

Key Findings of TIMSS 2023

Student competencies in fourth grade have significantly improved over the past 12 years in both mathematics and science. The study included 58 countries and 5 benchmark regions, with data in Romania collected from a sample of 130 schools, 156 primary school teachers, and 3,559 fourth grade students.

Mathematics, 4^th Grade

Romanian students scored 542 points, 39 points above the international average of 503. This score is 60 points higher than the one Romanian students got in 2011. Regarding the distribution of performance levels, 94% of Romanian students achieved at least the minimum competency level, while 16% scored at the most advanced level.

Science, 4^th Grade

Romanian students scored 526 points, 32 points above the international average of 494. This score is 21 points higher than in 2011. Regarding the distribution of performance levels, 93% of Romanian students achieved at least the minimum competency level, while 10% scored at the most advanced levels

Eighth grade student competencies have improved significantly in mathematics over the past four years but have regressed in science. The study included 44 countries and 3 benchmark regions, with data in Romania collected from 128 schools, 129 mathematics teachers, 285 science teachers, and 3,722 eighth grade students.

Mathematics, 8^th Grade

Romanian students scored 496 points, 18 points above the international average of 478. This score is 18 points higher than in 2019. Regarding the distribution of performance levels, 83% of Romanian students achieved at least the minimum competency level, while 9% scored at the most advanced level.

Science, 8^th Grade

Romanian students scored 466 points, 12 points below the international average of 478. This score is 4 points lower than in 2019. Regarding the distribution of competence levels, 79% of Romanian students achieved at least the minimum competency level, while 16% scored at the most advanced level.

„Fostering motivation in children for learning mathematics and science is essential. This is a variable that will later influence choices and options, with broader consequences: opting for rational thinking, scientific explanation, rigorous truth based on data, or, on the contrary, taking the seemingly easier path of pseudo-science, magical thinking, or stereotypical beliefs. Understanding the world we live in and intelligently interacting with all the ecosystems we belong to cannot occur without a solid scientific foundation. The performance of fourth and eighth-grade students in the latest TIMSS test highlights general progress, but we must clearly identify the factors driving this progress and strengthen them in the coming years,” noted Professor Lucian Ciolan, PhD, Vice-Rector of the University of Bucharest for Development Projects, Lifelong Learning, and Romania’s representative in the IEA General Assembly.

„Mathematics and science skills are part of the 21st-century competencies and are extremely necessary in the context of developments in the economy, society, and technology. Their role in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, increasingly needed in everyday life, is well recognized. The TIMSS 2023 study shows an improvement in results for Romania, which is good news. In the coming period, we will analyse all the data, identify the factors that brought us here, and see where there are areas for improvement so that we can support student progress in the long term,” said Daniela Avârvare, the national coordinator of TIMSS 2023.

„The results of Romanian students in mathematics are improving. The significant progress of 4th-grade students is encouraging, but in the medium term, it is important to increase the proportion of those who reach a more advanced level of competence. At the same time, the study confirms that we need to invest more in mathematics and science education at middle school level. The resilience scholarships, the National Program for Reducing the School Dropout (PNRAS), the Remedial Learning program, and teacher training for functional literacy will show their impact in the next edition of the TIMSS study. Mathematical and scientific education is essential for the future of our youth and Romania,” stated Romania’s Minister of Education, Ligia Deca, regarding the study results.

About TIMSS

TIMSS is conducted every four years and compares student competencies in mathematics and science (biology, physics, chemistry) globally. In Romania, TIMSS 2023 was organized by the Large Scale Testing Lab within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Bucharest. The study was funded by the Ministry of Education through the Management Unit for The Externally Funded Project Management Unit (UMPFE) and the ROSE project.

The national report will be published by University of Bucharest specialists at a later date, which will be announced publicly. The international TIMSS 2023 results can already be consulted here.