Exhibit 2.12 presents the description of achievement at the High International Benchmark. Fourth grade students reaching this level could communicate and apply knowledge about various topics in life science, physical science, and Earth science.

Exhibit 2.12.1 provides an example from the life science domain. When shown a picture of a desert, 45 percent of students, on average, identified two living things and two non-living things. Eighty-four percent of the Singaporean fourth grade students successfully completed this task.

Exhibit 2.12.2 shows an example from the physical science domain. On average, internationally, 64 percent of the fourth grade students recognized that a flashlight changed electrical energy into light energy. The highest achievement was posted by Chinese Taipei, Korea, and Hong Kong SAR—80–82 percent.

Exhibit 2.12.3 shows an example from the Earth science domain. Sixty-one percent of Finnish students could explain that the shape of the Moon changes during the month. The average across countries was 37 percent.