The International Observatory on Academic Achievement - Documentary search

File number :
IST-ISC-11e

Bibliographic reference :
Gouvernement du Québec, ministère de l’Éducation du Québec (1998). Québec Student Achievement in Mathematics and Science: An International Comparison. Education Statistics Bulletin. [On line]. No. 6, august 1998.
<http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/>

Abstract :

The Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec (Canada) releases Education Statistics Bulletins to present regional, national and international data on education and school systems along with relevant analyses.

The bulletin entitled Québec Student Achievement in Mathematics and Science: An International Comparison was released in August 1998. It shows the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS). This education evaluation project involved mathematics and science tests administered to approximately one million students in forty-five different countries. Students from four teaching levels were evaluated in each country. At the time, this initiative was the most ambitious evaluation project ever carried out.

The study tests assessed various aspects of mathematics, earth sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, environmental issues and the nature of science itself.

In Quebec, the tests were administered in 1994-1995 to third and fourth grade primary school students and to second and third year secondary school students.

In mathematics as well as in sciences, the results of the four Quebec groups were higher than the average of all participating countries. Tables 1 to 8 in the bulletin show the rankings of the various countries.

For all four teaching levels, the results for Quebec, Canada, and the respondent countries as a whole are presented according to gender. This has shown that male and female students in Quebec had quite similar levels of performance in mathematics.

Results underscore that Quebec students are doing very well in these disciplines. The authors point out that this is particularly true in mathematics. This is shown by the fact that Quebec ranked fifth among all countries behind Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong, on mathematics tests administered to students in the second year of secondary school. Moreover, Quebec ranked first among all Canadian provinces for each teaching level evaluated in the study.

Links :
http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/

Key Words :
International Comparisons, Mathematics, Science, Gender, TIMMS, International Study, Elementary School, Primary School, Secondary/High School

Monitored Countries :
Quebec (Canada), International