EDUCATION MATTERS
NEW ANALYSIS SHEDS LIGHT ON NATIONAL USES AND IMPACTS These questions are at the heart of an upcoming IEA Compass: Briefs in Education , set for release in the first half of 2026. It will provide a concise overview of how countries report using TIMSS and PIRLS, drawing on more than a decade of Encyclopedia chapters submitted by participating countries.
to the latest released encyclopedias. Each chapter was examined to identify reported uses and impacts of the data. A categorization system was developed and applied independently by both researchers, with differences discussed and reconciled to ensure consistency. From there, broader patterns were extracted. The result? A clearer picture of how participation in TIMSS and PIRLS has become embedded in national educational strategies.
To analyze this information, the authors conducted a systematic qualitative review of national contributions
Figure 1: Number of education systems participating in TIMSS or PIRLS
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PIRLS
TIMSS Grade 4
TIMSS Grade 8
Comments to figure: In TIMSS 1999 only Grade 8 students were assessed. In TIMSS 2011 the same number of education systems participated in TIMSS Grade 4 and 8. The number of education systems includes countries and benchmarking entities. The numbers for TIMSS 2027 are estimated.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM TIMSS: COMMON USES AND BENEFITS For TIMSS, countries most frequently cited the following motivations and applications:
Curriculum reform and alignment: Many revised their mathematics and science curricula based on TIMSS frameworks.
Education policy and system reform: TIMSS data has informed legislative changes, long-term strategy development, and national education planning.
Teacher training and professional development: Insights have shaped how teachers are prepared and supported.
Equity monitoring: Countries used the data to highlight
Public awareness and accountability: Results have been used to foster media dialogue, political debate, and national accountability systems.
achievement gaps—by gender, socioeconomic status, or geography— and guide targeted interventions.
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