Abstract:

This study investigated students’ responses to 49 released TIMSS-2007 mathematics items and considered what those responses might show about participants' mastery level of cognitive attributes. There were 4,498 8th-grade students from seven geographical regions of Turkey who responded to these TIMSS items. In this study, an IRT analysis was also conducted to both compare item parameters based on the data from Turkey with international item parameters. As a result of this study, educators in Turkey should note that students have weaker knowledge in geometry, graphics, charts, figures, rule application in algebra, and data management and stronger skills with whole numbers and integers, data, probability, and basic statistics, translating/formulating equations and expressions to solve a problem, judgmental applications of knowledge in arithmetic and geometry, and applying and evaluating mathematical correctness. The results of the present study can help teachers and curriculum developers in Turkey ensure that the utilized educational policies and methodologies help students to improve their cognitive mastery levels.

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