Students were asked about the frequency with which they conduct science experiments in their science lessons. Their reports are presented in Exhibits 13.16 (fourth grade) and 13.17 (eighth grade).

In fourth grade, 31 percent of students, on average, reported that they conducted experiments “at least once a week,” 26 percent “once or twice a month,” 24 percent “a few times a year,” and 18 percent “never.” Across countries, students reporting that they do experiments “once or twice a month” or “a few times a year” had higher average achievement than students who said they do them “at least once a week” or “never.”

In the eighth grade, the frequency with which students conduct science experiments varied by science subject. In countries teaching science as an integrated subject, 28 percent of students reported that they do them “at least once a week,” 37 percent said “once or twice a month,” 24 percent said “a few times a year,” and 11 percent said they “never” do them, on average. In countries teaching science as separate subjects, frequencies were similar to those for integrated science in chemistry and physics lessons, but much less frequent in biology and Earth science lessons. As in fourth grade, across countries, students reporting that they do experiments “once or twice a month” or “a few times a year” had higher average achievement than students doing them “at least once a week” or “never.”