FAQs

The Trends in Maths and Science Study, known as “TIMSS”, is an international comparative study that assesses and compares the performance in maths and science of pupils at age 10, or Primary 6 in Northern Ireland, every four years across about 60 countries. It provides internationally comparative data on pupils’ achievement in maths and science, and how their performance is related to their attitudes, gender and background. In addition, TIMSS includes questionnaires for teachers and principals, which provide a valuable perspective on teaching maths and science, and the school and home environment.

TIMSS is carried out in two stages, a field trial and a main study, with different schools selected for each stage. The field trial (March 2026) includes a smaller sample of schools and pupils than the main study (2027). The field trial ensures that TIMSS 2027 assessments, questionnaires and processes work as well as possible prior to the main study - it is therefore a very important and influential part of the study.

The study will take place in March 2026, with a sample of Primary 6 classes at your school.

In the welcome email to your school, we will include a proposed test date for the study to be conducted at your school. We hope that this date is convenient for your staff and pupils, and that suitable room(s) can be made available. If for any reason this date is not suitable, please let us know and we can rearrange.

TIMSS is a major international study that measures how well pupils are learning maths and science. By taking part, Northern Ireland can see how our pupils are performing compared to those in other countries, helping us understand what is working well and where we can improve.

TIMSS also shows how achievement changes over time and identifies the factors that influence pupil performance. It gives us valuable insights from other countries’ policies and practices, helping us make informed decisions to improve learning and teaching.

Taking part in TIMSS shows Northern Ireland’s commitment to raising maths and science standards and giving young people the skills they need for the future.

The schools and pupils that participate in TIMSS are making a valuable contribution to the understanding of our education system and it is only with this participation that we can realise the opportunities that TIMSS brings to improve our educational policies and practices. By participating in TIMSS, you will be:

• Supporting a study that helps us better understand our education system, directly influencing national policy and developments.
• Contributing to an international evidence base that informs policies and strategies to help address the challenges associated with raising standards and reducing achievement gaps.
• Giving your pupils the experience of representing Northern Ireland in an important global study.
• Providing your pupils with the opportunity to practise their maths and science skills through an interesting and innovative online assessment.

As a thank you for their support, pupils will be awarded a certificate of participation.

In recognition of your valued contribution, your school will also receive an administration payment. You will be sent a payment form from the TIMSS Support Team.

No, the National Study Centre (Pearson) will provide a Test Administrator who will visit the school on the assessment day and have responsibility for running the study.  Test Administrators are experienced education professionals, often ex-teachers who all have Access NI clearance, ensuring our staff adhere to the most up-to-date guidelines. However, we do ask that a member of the school staff stays in the room during the assessment.

If you have any concerns about Test Administrators visiting your school, please contact the TIMSS Support Team to discuss.

You will be informed of the class/classes chosen by the TIMSS Support Team. Most schools will have one class selected, but some larger schools will have two classes selected to participate. Please note that it may not be all pupils in the Primary 6 year group selected to participate in the assessments. It is important that all the sampled pupils carry out the assessment. However, if any pupils would find it difficult to take part, exclusion criteria can be applied.  We will send you detailed guidance on exclusions to support these decisions.

The whole process will take approximately three hours, including the assessment, questionnaire and breaks. No prior preparation or revision is required from pupils. Most schools aim to complete the study in the morning, but we can start later if needed to fit your timetable.

The assessment is split into two sessions and will take around an hour and ten minutes for Primary 6 classes. After a five to ten minute break, pupils will complete an online questionnaire, which will take around 25 minutes.

Our Test Administrator will arrive an hour before the start time to set up and the School Coordinator (a representative teacher in the school to support with the delivery) should aim to arrive at the same time. Parking on the school premises is welcomed if available.

The school and teacher questionnaires can be completed online in advance and take about 30 minutes each. Instructions on how to access the questionnaire will be sent to the School Coordinator to share with staff.

If two classes are chosen they can be assessed at the same time or one in the morning and one after lunch, depending on IT availability. Guidance will be provided by the TIMSS Support Team for schools with two classes and limited IT devices.

No prior preparation or revision work is required for pupils to be able to complete the assessment and minimal administration is required from school staff.

Pupils should bring a book to read quietly in case they finish the assessment early.

Pupils will need access to an internet-enabled computer with keyboard and mouse to complete the study. An IT room, or two, depending on the number of pupils, is ideal, or alternatively a classroom can be used with laptops. The IT room or classroom used should be quiet and free from distraction.

If your school doesn’t have enough computers in IT rooms or laptops for use in a classroom, additional laptops can be provided. If you require more laptops for the assessments to take place, please get in touch with the TIMSS Support Team.

Yes, although set-up is minimal and Pearson will provide support to all schools throughout the process.

The assessments will be accessed over the internet using a secure log in and so Wi-Fi/an internet connection will be required for pupils to access both the assessment and the questionnaire. Each pupil will need a laptop or PC for a maximum duration of 3 hours (including breaks). If laptops are used, they should be fully charged before the day of the study.

We will work with your nominated School Coordinator and IT Coordinator ahead of the assessment day to ensure that the IT facilities in your school are set up correctly. A five-minute automated test will need to be run on a  school computer in advance to check the system, and we will provide a link for this.  

We also ask if possible that your IT Coordinator is available on the assessment day to assist with any issues that may arise.

The TIMSS Support Team will support your TIMSS School Coordinator throughout the process and aim to keep administration to a minimum. The Primary 6 class teacher, teaching assistant or head of maths or science is often selected for the role. The main duties include:

• Acting as the main point of contact for Pearson and the TIMSS Test Administrator.
• Agreeing the date and making the arrangements for pupils to complete the activities in the school.
• Working with Pearson to confirm details of all eligible pupils and then those sampled to participate.
• Informing parents and carers of the study using the letter template provided by Pearson.
• Ensuring IT facilities are set up ready for online assessments.
• Ensuring secure storage of any materials sent prior to the study.
• Overseeing the completion of school and teacher questionnaires prior to the test date.
• Before the assessment day, confirming the date and time with the Test Administrator.
• On the assessment day, supporting the TIMSS Test Administrator as needed.
• It may be helpful to have IT support available on the day of testing (optional), however immediate help with IT troubleshooting will be available from the TIMSS Support Team.

To check that we are delivering the study in a similar way in all schools, a quality monitor may attend your test session. If this happens, the School Coordinator will be asked some questions about the arrangements you were required to make and your views of the way in which the study was organised.

Yes, pupil and school identities will remain confidential and the results of individual schools or pupils will not be published. The data shared with the international study organiser will be pseudonymised: pupil and school details will be removed and replaced with a code so that no individual school or pupil can be identified. The government and any organisation granted access to the data for the purposes of international comparison or research will not publish information which identifies or makes it possible to identify any individual or school participating in the study.

We take data protection very seriously and follow the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Any personal information we collect will be held securely and no individual pupil or school will be identified or identifiable in any report or publication.

The TIMSS Support Team can be reached Monday to Friday between 8am-4pm on 020 7010 2179, or by email on TIMSSNI@pearson.com