The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, today (Tuesday 29th November) welcomed the strong overall performance of Irish students in a major international study of maths and science achievement in primary and post-primary schools. The results come from TIMSS 2015 (the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). 
The report provides an international comparison of student achievement in maths and science at Fourth Class in primary and at Second Year of post-primary. In general, students in Ireland performed relatively well compared to the other countries participating in TIMSS 2015. Ireland’s mean scores were significantly above the international TIMSS centrepoint in maths and science at both grade levels.



​The key findings of the report include:

• Irish fourth class students ranked 9th out of 49 countries in maths (up from 17th out of 50 countries in 2011)
• Irish fourth class students ranked 19th of 47 countries in science (broadly consistent with 22nd position out of the 50 countries that participated in 2011)
• Irish second year students ranked 9th of 39 countries in maths, (there is no recent study with which to compare this)
• Irish second year students ranked 10th of 39 countries in science  (there is no recent study with which to compare this)

Since 1988, the Irish Mathematical Olympiad is an annual event which attracts students in Ireland with a particular talent in Mathematics. This Olympiad begins with Round 1, a contest designed for any and all interested students in second level schools in Ireland. 
During the first week of November, your school should receive a letter with instructions on how to conduct this contest in your school. If you did not receive this information by Monday, 14 November 2016, please contact us at [email protected]
This year, Round 1 is scheduled to take place during 14–18 November in all second level schools in Ireland.