IEA INSIDER 2025
Figure 2: Magnitude of uses of TIMSS data mentioned by participating education systems.
Used to... Used in... Used as... Used for...
Increase public awareness on education
Monitoring student progress over time/ system monitoring
Data source for policymakers & educators
Raising public awareness
Teacher training &
Monitoring equity
professional development
Develop or improve
Improving teacher training & professional development
teaching material
Informing education policy & system reforms
Introduce or evaluate reforms
Initiating curriculum revisions & alignement
Review or revise curricula
Curriculum reform and alignment Education policy and system reform Teacher training and professional development Equity monitoring Public awareness and accountability
Comparison with other coutries
WHY IT MATTERS This work highlights the broader value of international large-scale assessments, showing that participation is not just about ranking performance, but about leveraging evidence to support national goals—from curriculum reform and equity strategies to public engagement and system-wide transformation. ■
Other reported uses include international benchmarking, research and secondary data analysis, setting standards and benchmarks, ICT integration, and developing new assessments. Some countries also used TIMSS as a foundation for student-centered initiatives or broader national education visions. WHAT ABOUT PIRLS? While these first insights focus on TIMSS, the Compass Brief will also explore reported uses and impacts from PIRLS. Are countries using reading literacy data in similar ways, or does it serve different educational priorities? This comparison will be presented in the full publication in 2026. For now, this article offers a glimpse into how IEA studies are influencing education.
The Compass Brief will provide accessible findings for decision-makers and education professionals. We invite you to stay connected by signing up to our newsletter and look forward to sharing the full analysis next year.
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