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The mathematics skills of school children: How does England compare to the high performing East Asian jurisdictions?

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Listed author(s):
  • John Jerrim

    ()

    (Department of Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education, University of London)

  • Alvaro Choi

    ()

    (Institut d’Economia de Barcelona, University of Barcelona)

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    Abstract

    The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are two highly respected studies of school pupils’ academic achievement. English policymakers have been disappointed with school children’s performance on these tests, particularly in comparison to the strong results of young people from East Asia. In this paper we provide new insight into the England – East Asia gap in school children’s mathematics skills. We do so by considering how cross-national differences in math test scores change between ages 10 and 16. Our results suggest that, although average math test scores are higher in East Asian countries, this achievement gap does not increase between ages 10 and 16. We thus conclude that reforming the secondary school system may not be the most effective way for England to ‘catch up’ with the East Asian nations in the PISA math rankings. Rather earlier intervention, during pre-school and primary school, may be needed instead.

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    File URL: http://repec.ioe.ac.uk/REPEc/pdf/qsswp1303.pdf
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    Paper provided by Department of Quantitative Social Science - UCL Institute of Education, University College London in its series DoQSS Working Papers with number 13-03.

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    Date of creation: 21 Feb 2013
    Handle: RePEc:qss:dqsswp:1303
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    Department of Quantitative Social Science. UCL IOE, 20 Bedford Way London WC1H 0AL

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    Web page: http://www.ioe.ac.uk/research/departments/qss/35445.html

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    Keywords: : PISA; TIMSS; educational policy; primary education; secondary education;

    Find related papers by JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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