German students only average
German students only receive the grade "sufficient" for their performance in mathematics and natural sciences in an international comparison. This is the result of an international comparative study about which Prof. Dr. Jürgen Baumert from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin reported on Friday (November 14, 1997) at the University of Munster. Prof. Baumert referred to the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), in the context of which the performance of around 7,000 pupils in the 7th and 8th grades of all school types in 15 federal states in Germany were examined. His conclusion: "The yields are generally average!" What is particularly worrying for Germany is “that a significant proportion of pupils in the 8thgrade still moves on a mathematical-scientific ability level of elementary school".
In mathematics, German students are in a broad international midfield. We are also in the middle range in the natural sciences, although the overall performance here is somewhat better than in mathematics. However, the performance level of the international middle group is reached at an average age of six to twelve months than the pupils of all other countries in this group.
German school performance is roughly comparable to Anglo-Saxon countries. In contrast, students in most northern, eastern and western European countries, not to mention most Asian countries, have an achievement advantage of more than one school year. Prof. Baumert: "The math performance of the international top group, which is formed by Asian countries, is at an unattainable level for German students!"
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