Use and Impact of TIMSS

Japan participated in TIMSS 1995, TIMSS 1999, TIMSS 2003, TIMSS 2007, and TIMSS 2011. Japan’s participation in TIMSS, as well as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), is governed by the educational policies of MEXT. Several research studies have used TIMSS results to discuss improvements in teaching and learning.29 Moreover, TIMSS results have been used as reference materials for discussions around educational reform. The fact that the TIMSS National Study Center is located at the National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) facilitates further sharing of results with policy makers. In particular, NIER curriculum specialists in mathematics and science can access TIMSS results easily.