IAEP 1991 Comparisons

The IAEP examined the mathematics and science achievement of 9- and 13-year-olds in 20 different countries. (Click here for footnote 12.) However, any useful comparison of the achievement of students in these countries must take into consideration the various factors that may have contributed to apparent variations in achievement levels. These include the methodological limitations of the samples in some countries, low participation rates in others, and the differences among the nations in terms of their wealth and economic development-a particularly important element, given the strong positive correlation that exists between economic status and academic achievement (NSF 1992).

Text table 1-6 presents achievement data from only those countries that were most similar to the United States in terms of sample definitions and selection, participation rates, and economic status. Restricting the sample to these countries allows for a more meaningful analysis of comparative student achievement (NSF 1992).

Although the United States achieved near the levels of the South Koreans and Taiwanese in science at the 9-year-old level, they were unable to demonstrate this level of achievement at the 13-year-old level. As table 1-6 illustrates, U.S. students were outperformed by most of their international peers in both mathematics and science at the 13-year-old level, and in mathematics at the 9-year-old level.

Footnote 12:

These countries were Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordon, Mozambique, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, South Korea, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States.

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