S. Korean students have high scores in math and science, but confidence levels are lower than global average

Posted on : 2020-12-09 17:54 KST Modified on : 2020-12-09 17:54 KST
IEA study compares scholastic achievement and interest levels among students around the world
Math workbooks for elementary school students. (Shin So-young, staff photographer)
Math workbooks for elementary school students. (Shin So-young, staff photographer)

South Korean elementary school students rank among the world’s highest for math and science achievement levels, but their levels of confidence and interest in the subjects they study fall below the global average, a study shows.

On Dec. 8, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) announced data from its Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an international comparison of changes in math and science ability for 2019. The study is conducted every four years, with the latest involving the participation of 330,000 elementary school students in 58 countries and 250,000 middle school students in 39 countries. From South Korea, a total of 5,855 fourth year elementary school students and 6,246 second year middle school students participated.

The data shows that South Korean students rank in the top tier in both math and science. Elementary school students recorded a math achievement score of 600, putting them in third place behind Singapore (625) and Hong Kong (602); their science score of 588 was second only to Singapore (595). The rankings were the same as in the 2015 study. Middle school students also ranked third for math with 607 points, behind Singapore (616) and Taiwan (612); in science, they ranked fourth with 561 points. Compared with four years earlier, they retain the same ranking in science but slipped one rung in math.

Despite their high achievement scores, however, students’ levels of confidence and interest in math and science were low. Sixty-four percent of elementary school students said they were “confident” in math, while 60% said they were “interested.” The global average levels were 76% and 80%, respectively. Seventy-six percent of elementary school students said they were confident in science and 84% said they were interested, compared with respective global averages of 81% and 88%. The findings for middle school students were similar: 46% expressed confidence in math and 40% expressed interest, compared with global averages of 57% and 59%. Thirty-four percent of middle school students expressed confidence in science and 53% expressed interest, compared with global averages of 62% and 79%.

By Park Jun-yong, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]

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