UAE Maths, Science Improve; Best in the Middle East
The UAE achieved the highest TIMSS mathematics scores in the Middle East with a score of 452. Next was Bahrain (451), Qatar (439), Oman (425), Jordan (388) and Saudi Arabia (383).
Interestingly, while the UAE maths score for Grade 4 fell below the TIMSS score centre-point of 500 with a score of 452, Dubai which is independently assessed along with 6 other cities as ‘benchmarks’ scored above this with an impressive score of 511.
The pattern was repeated again at Grade 8, with the UAE scoring 465, while Dubai scored 512.
The UAE TIMSS results: Science
The UAE’s 4th Grade science results mirrored those of mathematics with an almost identical score of 451, making it once again the best in the Middle East, while 8th Grade science showed an improvement with a score of 477.
For both grades, the UAE showed a marked improvement since the 2011 testing cycle.
Again, in the TIMSS science testing Dubai was used as a benchmark city, and once again the city outperformed the wider UAE.
In Grade 4 science, Dubai scored 518, above the TIMSS centre-point, while in Grade 8 science the city scored even better with 525.
The UAE TIMSS results: Improved performance
Overall, in Grade 4 mathematics the UAE has improved 18 points since the last TIMSS testing in 2011, and in 8th Grade the nation has improved 9 points.
Interestingly, Dubai has improved its maths scores significantly since 2011, with an improvement of 43 points at Grade 4, and 34 points at Grade 8.
In Grade 4 science the UAE improved 23 points since 2011 and 12 points at Grade 8.
Again, in science testing, Dubai scored well above the UAE with a 57 point improvement in Grade 4 results since 2011 and at Grade 8, an improvement of 40 points.
In both Grade 4 and 8, science tests, Dubai is now above the TIMSS centre-point of 500.
The UAE National Agenda 2021
According to the UAE Vision 2021- National Agenda, the UAE is aiming to score in the top 15 TIMSS performers by 2021.
To meet the agenda goals, the UAE will be required during the next testing (TIMSS is performed every four years) to improve its Grade 4 science score by approximately 25 places on the leader-board, equating to an approximate improvement of 90 score points.
In Grade 8 maths, the UAE requires an improvement of 46 score points and a score-board jump of around 9 places to meet the UAE Vision 2021 goals.
Interestingly, Dubai as a ‘benchmark city’ scored exceedingly well in the Grade 8 maths assessment (scoring 512), this would make the city 14th on the national rankings if it were allowed on the leader-board as a stand alone city.
In Grade 4 maths, Dubai is again performing better than the wider UAE, requiring an improvement of only 28 score points to meet the goals set by the National Agenda targets.
In science the UAE requires an improvement of 85 score points at Grade 4 and 42 points in Grade 8.
(However, it should be noted that these are estimated values, as the majority of top performing countries improve their scores.)
The Middle East
While Dubai made a spectacular leap from a score of 461 in 2011 to 518 in the most recent testing, several other Middle Eastern and associated countries improved their science scores significantly too.
In Grade 4, Oman rose from a score of 377 in 2011 to 431 in 2015, Qatar rose from 394 in 2011 to 436, while Morocco leaped from 261 to 352.
The Middle East scored the highest gender differential in favour of girls with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait all featuring in the top 6 countries for girls results significantly out-performing the boys. The UAE scored 13th with girls again, performing better than boys.
In Dubai, boys performed slightly better than girls.
Other TIMSS Findings:
Last year, more than 600,000 students around the world participated in TIMSS 2015 and TIMSS Advanced 2015 maths and science testing.
The report also found that across the globe curricula have changed over the 20 years of TIMSS.
In general, today, more complex mathematical and scientific concepts are being taught to lower grades.
The report cites, “pre-primary programs often include curricular guidelines in mathematics and science, and topics once covered in higher grades are now taught in lower grades. Fourth grade mathematics often includes data and statistics, and fourth grade science has shifted from general study of students’ environments to life science, physical science, and Earth science.”
The report also found that higher achievement was tied to students who attended at least three years of preprimary programs, and whose parents often engaged with them in early numeracy and literacy activities before beginning primary school.
