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Advanced Mathematics at the End of High School: Trends

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Figure 14. Change in average advanced mathematics scores of TIMSS Advanced students, by education system: 1995 to 2015
Education system 1995 2015
Advanced mathematics coverage index1 Average score s.e. Advanced mathematics coverage index1 Average score s.e.

higher icon Average score is higher than U.S. average score at the .05 level of statistical significance.

lower icon Average score is lower than U.S. average score at the .05 level of statistical significance.

*p < .05. Change in average scores is significant at the .05 level of statistical significance.

1 The advanced mathematics coverage index is the percentage of the corresponding age cohort covered by students in their final year of secondary school who have taken or are taking advanced mathematics courses. The corresponding age cohort is determined for education systems individually. In the United States, the corresponding age cohort is considered 18-year-olds. For additional details, see the Technical Notes available at http://nces.ed.gov/timss/timss15technotes.asp.

2 The change in average score is calculated by subtracting the 1995 estimate from the 2015 estimate using unrounded numbers.

3 Intensive courses are advanced mathematics courses that involve 6 or more hours per week. Results for students in these courses are reported separately from the results for other students from the Russian Federation taking courses that involve 4.5 hours per week.

4 Did not satisfy guidelines for sample participation rates in 1995.

5 Did not satisfy guidelines for sample participation rates in 2015.

6 Nearly satisfied guidelines for sample participation rates after replacement schools were included in 1995.

NOTE: Education systems are ordered by the 2015 advanced mathematics coverage index. Standard error is abbreviated as s.e.

SOURCE: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Advanced, 1995 and 2015.

Russian Federation (intensive courses)3 2.0 549 higher 8.2 1.9 540 higher 7.8
United States4, 5 6.4 497 7.4 11.4 485 5.2
Sweden 16.2 502 5.2 14.1 431 lower 4.0
France 19.9 569 higher 3.9 21.5 463 lower 3.1
Italy4 14.1 483 9.8 24.5 422 lower 5.3
Slovenia6 75.4 478 9.3 34.4 460 lower 3.4