U.S. math scores decline dramatically on international test

U.S. math and science performance on an international assessment has declined once again. While American students still scored above international averages, the country’s rankings slipped.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assesses fourth- and eighth-graders from the U.S. and countries around the world every four years. “The U.S. national sample includes both public and private schools, randomly selected and weighted to be representative of the nation at grade 4 and at grade 8,” explains the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Over 9,000 U.S. fourth-grade students from 242 schools and over 8,000 U.S. eighth graders from 211 schools participated in 2023, the most recent year TIMSS was administered.

These latest results allow us to examine student performance changes since 2019 — prior to COVID-19 — and 1995, nearly 30 years ago since TIMSS was first administered. In 2023, 63 education systems participated at the fourth-grade level, and 45 education systems at the eighth-grade level. The U.S. has participated in every TIMSS. Because the set of participating countries can change from one test cycle to another, the international average (obtained by averaging across the mean scores for each of the participating countries) is re-computed each time the test is administered, explains the NCES.

TIMSS is “designed to align broadly with mathematics and science curricula in the participating education systems and, therefore, to reflect students’ school-based learning,” continues NCES. Fourth-grade math focuses on three domains: numbers, measurement and geometry, and data. Eighth-grade math focuses on four domains: numbers, algebra, geometry and measurement, and data and probability. Fourth-grade science questions focus on life science, physical science, and earth science, with grade eight content focusing on biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science.

U.S. math and science scores

In math, average U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade scores were lower in 2023 than in 2019 (by 18 and 27 points, respectively). Math results for both grades are the lowest they have ever been since TIMSS began in 1995.

In science, U.S. scores have been declining since 2015, but compared to 2019, the 2023 declines were not statistically significant for either grade, according to NCES. Fourth-grade science test scores are the lowest they have ever been since 1995, and eighth-grade science scores are the same as they were in 1995.

Average math and science scores on the TIMSS, U.S. fourth graders

Average math and science scores on the TIMSS, U.S. eighth graders

U.S. performance compared to international peers

Compared to individual education systems, U.S. fourth-graders’ average math score (517) was higher than the average scores of their peers in 28 education systems and lower than the scores of those in 21 education systems. Average scores ranged from 362 in South Africa to 615 in Singapore.

Average fourth-grade math scores on the TIMSS by education system, 2023

U.S. eighth-graders’ average math score (488) was higher than 18 education systems and lower than 19 education systems. Average scores ranged from 378 in Morocco and Brazil to 605 in Singapore. Four education systems outperformed the U.S. average eighth-grade score by triple digits: Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

Average eighth-grade math scores on the TIMSS by education system, 2023

In science, U.S. fourth-graders’ average score (532) was higher than the average scores in 39 education systems and lower than those in 11 education systems; eighth-graders’ average score (513) was higher than 27 education systems and also lower than 11 education systems.

Among the 53 education systems that participated in both the 2019 and 2023 math TIMSS, 14 education systems (including the U.S.) had lower average scores in 2023. Notable growth occurred in Lithuania, whose average fourth-grade math score increased 18 points between the two test cycles, and in Poland, with its average score increasing by 26 points and its fourth graders now outperforming their peers in the U.S. whom they previously trailed. Romania and Sweden’s average eighth-grade math scores also grew significantly from 2019 to 2023, placing them both above the U.S. after previously trailing. England’s growth in its average eighth-grade math scores from 2019 to 2023 broke its tied ranking with the U.S. in 2019 to now outperforming.

Singapore was ranked #1 in both grades and subject areas tested, which was also the case in 2019. Other top-performing education systems in 2023 include: Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

For more comparisons, check out these interactive charts from the NCES. They are very user-friendly and allow you to dig deeper into the data if that’s of interest.