Eun-Young Jeong

An analysis of Earth Science Items and Achievement in TIMSS 2003

This study examined students` achievement of Earth science in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) that was conducted with 46 participating countries in 2003 and analyzed average percent-correct items for Earth science were analyzed in terms of subcategory, item type and cognitive domain. In addition, items showing a gender difference and a big difference in the test scores of Korean and international students were analyzed. Korean students performed higher than the international average, especially in the astronomy-related topic and in the cognitive domain of `reasoning and analysis`. In an analysis of the five items that Korean students scored lower than the international average, Korean students performed not so well in demonstrating what they understood with drawings and writings. Korean female students showed a difficulty more than male students did in multiple-choice items that asked recalling of factual knowledge and demonstrated lack of confidence in the items that they have not learned yet. Based on the result content organization of Earth science curriculum and ways to improve teaching and loaming methods were recommended.