UAE pupils improve scores in international maths and science exams

Pupils score more in latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study when compared with their 2014 report

Abdulla Al Karam, director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said Dubai first participated in the TIMSS assessment in 2007 and schools have performed remarkably better than 201Show more

Pupils in the UAE improved their scores in maths and science this year, according to a new global assessment report.

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides data on maths and science achievement of UAE pupils in Grade 4 and Grade 8 and compares it with children in other countries every four years.

The 2019 report showed pupils in Grade 4 in the Emirates improved by 29 points in maths and 22 points in science when compared with their scores in 2015.

Eighth-graders jumped by eight points in maths but suffered a decrease of four points in science.

Singapore topped the assessment tables this year while Hong Kong and Japan were other high achievers.

More than 48,000 pupils from 700 public and private schools across the UAE participated in the 2019 study.

Fourth-graders in Singapore scored 625 points in maths while UAE pupils got 481 points.

The same year group got an average score of 473 in the UAE versus 595 in Singapore.

In Dubai, 75 per cent of children in Grade 4 and 74 per cent in Grade 8 scored above the international average of 500 points in maths.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai’s private school regulator, said: “Six years ago, the leadership of the UAE announced ambitious National Agenda targets for Dubai private schools. Our education community has never backed away from a challenge.

“Ever since Dubai first participated in its first TIMSS cycle in 2007, schools have made consistent and significant improvement. What started out as an ambitious target soon became a reality.”

TIMSS is one of the largest global assessments of pupils’ achievement in maths and science.

About 580,000 pupils from more than 72 countries participated in the 2019 assessment.

The international study aims to highlight educational policies and, assesses the effectiveness of curricula and teaching methods.

Educational systems in the participating countries are evaluated based on these results.