Exhibit 2.13 presents the description of fourth grade performance at the Advanced International Benchmark. Students reaching the Advanced level could communicate their understanding of science concepts in the three content areas and demonstrate familiarity with the process of scientific inquiry.

Exhibit 2.13.1 shows an item from the life science domain that asks students to identify two competitors in a food web. Bulgaria was by far the highest achieving country, with 69 percent correct. The international average was 30 percent.

Exhibits 2.13.2 and 2.13.3 present a two-part item from the physical science domain about an experiment involving dissolving sugar in water. Part A asked students to recognize three situations that would dissolve the sugar faster—higher water temperature, stirring the water, and smaller sugar cubes. Latvia had the highest percentage correct—74 percent. The international average was 37 percent. Part B asked why the amount of water in each beaker had to be same. The international average was only 21 percent. However, 66 percent of the Singaporean fourth grade students provided the correct explanation.

Exhibit 2.13.4 shows the example from the Earth science domain. Students at the Advanced level demonstrated they understood that Earth’s seasons are related to the tilt of its axis and its orbit around the Sun. Chinese Taipei had the highest percentage correct (59%), and the international average was 36 percent.