To provide an interpretation of the results on the TIMSS fourth grade mathematics achievement scale in relation to the students’ performance on the assessment items, TIMSS describes achievement at four points along the scale as International Benchmarks: Advanced International Benchmark (625), High International Benchmark (550), Intermediate International Benchmark (475), and Low International Benchmark (400). The descriptions of mathematics achievement at the International Benchmarks were updated from TIMSS 2015 based on an analysis of the items that students with average achievement at each of the benchmarks answered successfully in TIMSS 2019.

Exhibit 1.7 summarizes what fourth grade students who reached each of the TIMSS International Benchmarks in 2019 could do in mathematics. The progression in mathematics achievement is evident from benchmark to benchmark, from demonstrating basic mathematics knowledge at the Low International Benchmark to applying and justifying their mathematical understanding at the Advanced International Benchmark. As much as possible, each description references achievement in the three content areas covered in the assessment at the fourth grade: number, measurement and geometry, and data. The following tables show the target percentages for the content and cognitive domains.

The interactive map of the benchmark descriptions links to example items. It provides an overview of the mathematics understanding demonstrated by the fourth grade students who performed at the four different levels on the achievement scale. The following sections provide more information about students’ achievement in TIMSS 2019 at each International Benchmark as well as more detailed descriptions of each level together with example items.