Comparing Science Content in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2000 and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003 Assessments

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collects information on student performance in key subject areas through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), as well as through participation and collaboration in international studies. Information from these studies is used to inform policymakers, educators, researchers, and the public about the knowledge and skills of U.S. students and how these compare with students in other countries.

This technical report describes a study that was undertaken to compare the content of two recent fourth- and eighth-grade assessments in science: the NAEP 2000 assessment and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003 assessment. Its aim is to provide information that will be useful for interpreting and comparing the results from the two assessments, based on an in-depth look at the content of the respective frameworks and assessment items. The report draws upon information provided by the developers of the assessments, as well as data obtained from an expert panel convened to compare the frameworks and items from the two assessments on various dimensions.