A chievement Figure 1-Grade 4
Nations' Average Mathematics
Performance Compared with the U.S.
  • Among the 26 participating nations at this grade level, U.S. students scored above the international average in mathematics, and were outperformed by 7 countries (Fig 1)
  • In science, U.S. students were outscored by one country, Korea.
  • In mathematics, U.S. students' performance exceeded the international average in Whole Numbers; Fractions and Proportionality; Data Representation, Analysis and Probability; Geometry; and Patterns, Relations and Functions. Our students were below the international average in Measurements, Estimation, and Number Sense.
  • In science, U.S. fourth-grade students were outperformed by one or two other nations in Earth Science; Life Science; and Environmental Issues and  the Nature of Science. In Physical Science, U.S. students were outperformed by 5 other nations.
  • If an international talent search were to select the top 10 percent of all fourth graders, 9 percent of U.S. fourth graders would be included in mathematics, and 16 percent would be included in science.

 

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Nation

Average

>

Singapore 625
Korea 611
Japan 597
Hong Kong 587
(Netherlands) 577
Czech Rep. 567
(Austria) 559

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=

(Solvenia) 552
Ireland 550
(Hungary) 548
(Australia) 546
United States 545
Canada 532
(Israel) 531

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<

(Latvia) 525
Scotland 520
England 513
Cyprus 502
Norway 502
New Zealand 499
Greece 492
(Thailand) 490
Portugal 475
Iceland 474
Iran 429
(Kuwait) 400

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International Average = 529

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SOURCE:
National Center for Educations Statistics. (1997). Pursuing Excellence: A Study of U.S. Fourth-Grade Mathematics and Science Achievement in International Context.
NOTES:
1. Nations not meeting international guidelines are shown in parentheses
2. The international average is the average of the national averages of the 26 nations
> Nations with average scores significantly greater than that of the U.S.
= Nations with average scores not significantly different than that of the U.S.
< Nations with average scores significantly less than that of the U.S