TIMSS 2019 International Results in
Mathematics and Science

Mathematics Grade 8

Average Achievement in Mathematics Content and Cognitive Domains

Average Achievement in Content Domains

Exhibit 3.14 shows countries’ average mathematics achievement in each of the four content domains relative to their overall average achievement (presented from highest to lowest overall average achievement). Based on students’ relative strengths and weaknesses at the eighth grade, the TIMSS 2019 countries appear to be placing relatively more instructional emphasis on the algebra content domain and less on the number and data and probability domains. Of the 36 participating countries for which content domain scores were estimated, 7 had a relative strength in number and 14 had a relative weakness; 19 had a relative strength in algebra and 14 had a relative weakness; 14 had a relative strength in geometry, and 17 had relative weakness; and 10 had a relative strength in data and probability, and 21 had a relative weakness. All countries had at least one relative strength or relative weakness compared with their overall achievement.