Content Domain Main Topic Cognitive Domain …nces.ed.gov/timss/pdf/TIMSS4_Science_ConceptsItems_2.pdfPhysICal sCIenCe Light Conceptual Understanding Two things wrong with the shadow

Correct Response:

81

Main TopicContent Domain Cognitive Domain

Overall Percent Correct

TIMSS 2003 4th-Grade Science Concepts and Science Items

Country average vs. International average:

Higher pNotdifferent OLower q

Item Number: S031038

Whichbulbwilllight

PhysICal sCIenCe electricityandMagnetism ConceptualUnderstanding

C

Japan 95 pHong Kong, SAR 94 pChinese Taipei 91 pEngland 89 pSingapore 85 pCyprus 81 pSlovenia 81 pUnited States 81 pNew Zealand 80 pLatvia 79 pLithuania 79 pAustralia 78 OScotland 78 ORussian Federation 77 OItaly 76 OMoldova, Republic of 75 OBelgium (Flemish) 75 OInternational average 75 OHungary 74 ONorway 72 OPhilippines 72 ONetherlands 66 qIran, Islamic Republic of 65 qArmenia 53 qTunisia 37 qMorocco 31 q

Correct Response:

82






PhysICal sCIenCe electricityandMagnetism ConceptualUnderstanding

Figurewheretwomagnetsrepel


C

S031306

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Which of the figures above shows a situation where two magnets repel eachother?

a Figures 1 and 3

b Figures 2 and 3

c Figures 1 and 4

d Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4

N N SS

N S NS

S N SN

S S NN

Singapore 73 pJapan 65 pChinese Taipei 62 pHong Kong, SAR 54 pUnited States 50 pEngland 44 pRussian Federation 41 ONetherlands 40 OAustralia 39 OHungary 38 OInternational average 38 OArmenia 37 OItaly 36 OMoldova, Republic of 36 OScotland 34 qCyprus 33 qLithuania 33 qNew Zealand 33 qBelgium (Flemish) 33 qLatvia 31 qSlovenia 28 qIran, Islamic Republic of 27 qNorway 24 qPhilippines 22 qMorocco 21 qTunisia 19 q

Correct Response:

83







B

Renewableenergysource

PhysICal sCIenCeenergyTypes,sources,

andConversionsConceptualUnderstanding

S011011

A renewable energy source is a source that will not run out. Which is anexample of the use of such a source?

a A coal furnace heating a house

b A windmill pumping water on a farm

c A kerosene lamp lighting a room

d A diesel truck traveling along a road

Japan 71 pHong Kong, SAR 64 pChinese Taipei 60 pLatvia 54 pAustralia 52 pNetherlands 52 pEngland 52 pBelgium (Flemish) 52 pNew Zealand 51 pUnited States 51 pCyprus 49 pRussian Federation 48 OArmenia 46 OLithuania 45 ONorway 45 OInternational average 45 OSingapore 44 OScotland 44 OSlovenia 37 qItaly 36 qMoldova, Republic of 36 qMorocco 35 qHungary 34 qPhilippines 30 qIran, Islamic Republic of 22 qTunisia 18 q

Correct Response:

84







B

Objects floating in water

PhysICal sCIenCe ForcesandMotion ConceptualUnderstanding

S011001

The picture shows three solid objects of the same size floating in water.

Which object weighs the most?

a Object A

b Object B

c Object C

d They all weigh the same.

Object AObject B

Object C

Japan 94 pNetherlands 92 pSingapore 92 pEngland 92 pChinese Taipei 91 pNorway 91 pUnited States 91 pScotland 91 pBelgium (Flemish) 91 pAustralia 90 pCyprus 90 pNew Zealand 90 pHong Kong, SAR 89 pItaly 89 pHungary 88 pSlovenia 88 pLatvia 85 ORussian Federation 85 OLithuania 84 OInternational average 83 OMoldova, Republic of 82 OArmenia 72 qIran, Islamic Republic of 70 qPhilippines 52 qMorocco 50 qTunisia 50 q

Correct Response:

85







B

Whichcanmakeobjectsrepel

PhysICal sCIenCe ForcesandMotion FactualKnowledge

S031313

Which of the following can make objects repel each other?

a gravity

b magnetism

c both gravity and magnetism

d neither gravity nor magnetism

Japan 70 pChinese Taipei 64 pHungary 57 pSingapore 56 pEngland 50 pCyprus 46 pUnited States 45 pLithuania 43 pHong Kong, SAR 42 OLatvia 41 OScotland 41 OItaly 39 OInternational average 39 ONetherlands 37 ORussian Federation 37 OAustralia 35 OMoldova, Republic of 32 qIran, Islamic Republic of 31 qMorocco 29 qNew Zealand 29 qBelgium (Flemish) 29 qNorway 26 qSlovenia 26 qTunisia 24 qArmenia 23 qPhilippines 19 q

Correct Response:

86






D


Weightonscale

PhysICal sCIenCe ForcesandMotion ReasoningandAnalysis

S011009

The same brick is put on a scale in three different ways.

What will the scale show?

a 1 will show the greatest weight.

b 2 will show the greatest weight.

c 3 will show the greatest weight.

d All will show the same weight.

1. 3.2.

Lithuania 88 pMoldova, Republic of 87 pRussian Federation 86 pChinese Taipei 85 pSlovenia 85 pLatvia 84 pHungary 79 pSingapore 79 pItaly 78 pEngland 76 pAustralia 74 OArmenia 74 ONetherlands 74 OUnited States 73 OBelgium (Flemish) 73 OIran, Islamic Republic of 72 OInternational average 72 OHong Kong, SAR 69 OScotland 68 qJapan 66 qNew Zealand 66 qCyprus 63 qMorocco 54 qNorway 54 qPhilippines 52 qTunisia 45 q

Correct Response:

87







PhysICal sCIenCe HeatandTemperature ConceptualUnderstanding

Whymadeofcopper

S011

014

Jessica gave some reasons why kettles and kitchen pans are often made of

copper. Which reason is correct?

a Copper is a good conductor of heat.

b Copper is easy to melt.

c Copper is difficult to shape.

d Copper dissolves in hot water.

Singapore 87 pChinese Taipei 84 pJapan 82 pRussian Federation 81 pEngland 79 pUnited States 74 pLatvia 73 pScotland 72 pAustralia 70 pNew Zealand 69 pHong Kong, SAR 66 pLithuania 65 OItaly 63 OBelgium (Flemish) 62 OInternational average 62 OSlovenia 61 OCyprus 57 qNetherlands 56 qMoldova, Republic of 55 qNorway 49 qIran, Islamic Republic of 45 qPhilippines 45 qMorocco 44 qHungary 38 qTunisia 37 qArmenia 36 q

a

88






PhysICal sCIenCe Light ConceptualUnderstanding

Twothingswrongwiththeshadow


S031072

There are two things wrong with the shadow of the man shown in thepicture above.

Write down the two things that are wrong.

1.

2.

Japan 63 pSingapore 48 pEngland 46 pHong Kong, SAR 44 pLatvia 39 pChinese Taipei 38 pAustralia 31 OHungary 31 pRussian Federation 31 pNew Zealand 30 pUnited States 27 OBelgium (Flemish) 26 OInternational average 25 OItaly 23 OLithuania 21 OCyprus 20 OScotland 18 qSlovenia 17 qNorway 13 qArmenia 10 qIran, Islamic Republic of 7 qPhilippines 5 qMorocco 4 qTunisia 3 qMoldova, Republic of 1 qNetherlands 0 q

89


Twothingswrongwiththeshadow(continued)Item Number: S031072

sCORInGNote: To receive full credit, responses must identify an error in both the direction/angle and the pose of the shadow of the man. Direction/angle: shadow should be on the other side of the man away from the sun. Pose: shadow of the left hand should be raised; shadow on the right hand should be down at his side.Partialcreditisgivenforresponsesthataddressonlyoneofthesefactors.statementsabouttheshadowofthemountainsdonotcontributetothecorrectnessofthescore.

Fully Correct Response

• Identifies an error in BOTH the direction/angle and the pose of the shadow of the man.Examples: The shadow should have the main raising one hand. The shadow should be opposite

the sun. The man’s hand is sticking out, but the shadow is not. The shadow is not behind him. The position of the shadow is wrong. The shape of the shadow is wrong. The man has his arm out and the shadow has it on his hip. The shadow is on the side

facing the sun.

• Otherfullycorrect

Partial Response

• Identifies only the direction/angle of the shadow of the man. [No mention of the pose.]Examples: The shadow is on the wrong side of the man. The hill has a bump, but its shadow

has a curve.

• Identifies only the pose of the shadow of the man. [No mention of the direction/angle.]Examples: He put out his hand, but the shadow did not show it right. His other hand is straight

but the shadow is not.

• Otherpartiallycorrect

Incorrect Response

• Responsetoovague.Examples: The shadow of the man. The shadow of the hill. The hands. The head.

• incorrect(includingcrossedout/erased,straymarks,illegibleorofftask)

Examples: He has no hair. He has no face.

90

Student Responses



Correct Response:

91



Student Responses(continued)

Partially Correct Response:

92


Incorrect Response:

Student Responses(continued)


Correct Response:

93






PhysICal sCIenCe Light FactualKnowledge

Whichcouldcauserainbow


D

S011029

Which pair together could cause a rainbow?

a Fog and clouds

b Rain and snow

c Clouds and ice

d Sunshine and rain

Belgium (Flemish) 98 pHungary 97 pLatvia 97 pNetherlands 97 pEngland 97 pScotland 97 pHong Kong, SAR 96 pChinese Taipei 95 pNew Zealand 95 pNorway 95 pSlovenia 95 pUnited States 95 pLithuania 94 pRussian Federation 94 pAustralia 93 pItaly 93 pJapan 93 pMoldova, Republic of 93 pSingapore 93 pInternational average 88 OArmenia 87 OCyprus 77 qIran, Islamic Republic of 67 qPhilippines 62 qMorocco 56 qTunisia 49 q



Correct Response:

94






PhysICal sCIenCePhysicalstates

andChangesinMatterConceptualUnderstanding

soapbubbles


S011017

When you make soap bubbles, what is inside the bubbles?

a Air

b Soap

c Water

d Nothing

Japan 82 pRussian Federation 81 pHungary 80 pSingapore 80 pEngland 78 pNetherlands 77 pUnited States 76 pMoldova, Republic of 75 pItaly 70 pLatvia 70 pLithuania 70 OAustralia 69 ONew Zealand 67 OInternational average 66 OArmenia 64 OChinese Taipei 64 OCyprus 64 OSlovenia 64 OBelgium (Flemish) 64 ONorway 60 qScotland 57 qHong Kong, SAR 51 qIran, Islamic Republic of 48 qPhilippines 48 qMorocco 43 qTunisia 38 q

a

Correct Response:

95








Boilingwater


C

S011030

What happens to water when it boils?

a It changes color.

b It becomes heavier.

c It changes into water vapor.

d It stops bubbling.

Italy 95 pJapan 93 pLatvia 91 pMoldova, Republic of 91 pSlovenia 91 pHungary 90 pCyprus 88 pHong Kong, SAR 88 pRussian Federation 88 pEngland 88 pChinese Taipei 87 pSingapore 87 pNetherlands 86 ONorway 86 pBelgium (Flemish) 85 pLithuania 83 OUnited States 82 OInternational average 82 OIran, Islamic Republic of 78 qArmenia 76 qAustralia 72 qNew Zealand 72 qScotland 69 qMorocco 66 qPhilippines 66 qTunisia 62 q

96








Differencebetweensolidsandliquids


sCORInGCorrect Response

• Referstodifferencesinarrangement(space,distance)orspeedofparticles(molecules).Examples: In solids molecules are packed together. Liquid particles are more spread out and fast.

• Refers to solids having a fixed shape OR liquids taking the shape of their container (or similar)Examples:Liquidscanfilltheshapeofanycontainer,solidscannot. A liquid can take any form.

• Refers to solids as hard OR liquids as soft, wet, flowing, runny, poured (or similar).Examples: Solids can’t spill and liquids can. Liquids can be poured. You can drink liquids, you cannot drink solids. Solids are hard and liquids are soft.

• OthercorrectExamples: Solids can be melted into liquid, but liquids are already liquid.

Incorrect Response

• Refersonlytoexamplesofsolids/liquidswithnoorincorrectpropertygiven.Examples:Waterisaliquidandiceisasolid.

• Otherincorrect(includingcrossedout/erased,straymarks,illegible,orofftask)Examples: Solids are cold. One is harder than the other. A solid is strong.

S031370

Describe one difference between solids and liquids.England 74 pSingapore 73 pUnited States 67 pChinese Taipei 66 pAustralia 64 pHungary 64 pNew Zealand 62 pJapan 59 pScotland 57 pHong Kong, SAR 56 pItaly 55 pSlovenia 51 pRussian Federation 49 pLatvia 44 OInternational average 44 OCyprus 41 OMoldova, Republic of 37 qBelgium (Flemish) 32 qLithuania 30 qIran, Islamic Republic of 29 qPhilippines 22 qArmenia 21 qNetherlands 21 qNorway 16 qTunisia 11 qMorocco 8 q

97

Student Responses


Differencebetweensolidsandliquids(continued)Item Number: S031370

Correct Response:

Incorrect Response:

98







andChangesinMatterReasoningandAnalysis

solid,liquid,andgasinacontainer/identify

Item Number: S031372A

S031372

The figure above shows a box that contains a material that could be a solid,a liquid or a gas. The material is then put into a box four timesas large.

Look at the figures below. They show how the different types of materialwill look when put into the larger box.

A. Identify which figure shows a solid, which shows a liquid and whichshows a gas. (Write the word solid, liquid or gas on the line next to eachfigure below. Use each word only once.)

__________________

__________________

__________________

B. Explain your answers.

sCORInGNote: If any state (solid, liquid or gas) is listed more than once, then none of the duplicated responses willbeconsideredcorrect.Forexample,aresponseof“liquid,gas,gas”shouldbescoredincorrect.

Correct Response

• Identifies all 3 correctly: Liquid – Solid - Gas

Incorrect Response

• Onlyliquidiscorrect.

• Onlysolidiscorrect.

• Onlygasiscorrect.

• Otherincorrect(includingcrossedout/erased,straymarks,illegible,orofftask)

Singapore 83 pHong Kong, SAR 81 pLatvia 77 pItaly 76 pEngland 74 pHungary 72 pChinese Taipei 71 pJapan 70 pRussian Federation 70 pLithuania 68 pSlovenia 66 pUnited States 61 pNew Zealand 60 OMoldova, Republic of 59 OInternational average 57 OAustralia 56 OScotland 55 OCyprus 49 qBelgium (Flemish) 45 qNetherlands 41 qIran, Islamic Republic of 37 qPhilippines 35 qNorway 34 qArmenia 33 qTunisia 26 qMorocco 20 q

99

Student Responses


solid,liquid,andgasinacontainer/identify(continued)Item Number: S031372A

Correct Response:

100


solid,liquid,andgasinacontainer/identify(continued)Item Number: S031372A

Student Responses (continued)

Incorrect Response:

101







andChangesinMatterReasoningandAnalysis

solid,liquid,andgasinacontainer/explain

Item Number: S031372B

S031372

The figure above shows a box that contains a material that could be a solid,a liquid or a gas. The material is then put into a box four timesas large.

Look at the figures below. They show how the different types of materialwill look when put into the larger box.

A. Identify which figure shows a solid, which shows a liquid and whichshows a gas. (Write the word solid, liquid or gas on the line next to eachfigure below. Use each word only once.)

__________________

__________________

__________________

B. Explain your answers.

Japan 30 pLithuania 28 pSingapore 28 pChinese Taipei 26 pNew Zealand 25 pHungary 24 pAustralia 22 pLatvia 21 pEngland 20 pItaly 19 pUnited States 18 pRussian Federation 17 OCyprus 16 OInternational average 15 OSlovenia 12 qHong Kong, SAR 11 qNetherlands 10 qScotland 10 qNorway 7 qBelgium (Flemish) 7 qIran, Islamic Republic of 6 qPhilippines 4 qArmenia 3 qMoldova, Republic of 3 qMorocco 1 qTunisia 1 q

102


sCORInGFully Correct Response

• Explanation refers to at least one property of each of the three states that differentiates them:

i)Liquids: flow (or take the shape of their container); cannot be compressed; have a definite or fixed volume; seek the lowest level (or similar).

ii)Solids: keep a definite or fixed shape (volume); are hard (objects); cannot be compressed.

iii)Gases: expand or can be compressed (to fill a container of different sizes/shapes); can spread out,canrise(orsimilar).

Examples: Liquid can take any shape or form; solid can be hard; gas can take up a lot of room. Liquidrunsandfindsthelowestlevel;solidkeepsthesameshape;gastakesupallthe

room.Liquidwouldflowdownandcoverthebottom;solidisformedintoashapeandleave some room on the bottom; gas would spread out.

Watercannotbecompressed;solidisanobject;aircanbecompressed.

• Otherfullycorrect

Partially Correct Response

• explanationincludesapropertythatcorrectlydifferentiatesatleastoneofthestates(solid,liquidorgas)butnotallthree.Examples: Solids remain the same, gases go everywhere. Liquids run, gases evaporate; solids don’t go anywhere. The solid stays the same. The gas expands all the way. Liquidandgasbothfollowtheshapeofthecontainer;solidshaveadefiniteshape.

• Otherpartiallycorrect

Incorrect Response

• Referstoobservations,usesorexamplesofsolids,liquidsorgases,butinadequateforansweringquestion.Examples: The liquid is water; the solid is a block of wood; the gas is oxygen. Solids are heavier. Blocks are made of solids.

• Otherincorrect(includingcrossedout/erased,straymarks,illegibleorofftask)

solid,liquid,andgasinacontainer/explain(continued)Item Number: S031372B

103

Student Responses


Correct Response:


104




Partially Correct Response:

105


Incorrect Response:



106






sCORInGCorrect Response

• Referstowaterexpandingorincreasinginvolume(explicitlyorimplicitly).Examples:Waterexpanded. Its volume increased. There was not enough room in the bottle for the water to freeeze. The water got bigger when it froze. Whenwaterfreezesitexpands.

• Othercorrect

Incorrect Response

• Refers ONLY to water freezing or turning into ice (or similar). [No mention of water expansion.]Examples: It turned into ice and broke. It turned into solid. Because of the ice. The freezer was too cold and it froze the water so hard it broke the glass.

• Refers ONLY to pressure or force of ice (or similar). [No mention of water expansion.]Examples: The pressure on the inside. The force of water and cold air broke the glass. Because of the pressure from the ice.

• Otherincorrect(includingcrossedout/erased,straymarks,illegible,orofftask)Examples: The glass froze and turned to ice. It got too cold


Closed glass bottle filled with water

PhysICal sCIenCe PropertiesandUsesofWater ReasoningandAnalysis

S031005

A closed glass bottle filled with water was left in the freezer overnight.In the morning the glass was found broken.

Why did freezing the water cause the bottle to break?

Russian Federation 39 pAustralia 29 pJapan 27 pMoldova, Republic of 27 pSingapore 27 pItaly 25 pNorway 24 pEngland 24 pHong Kong, SAR 23 pUnited States 23 pLithuania 22 ONew Zealand 22 OLatvia 21 ONetherlands 21 OHungary 19 OInternational average 19 OArmenia 18 OBelgium (Flemish) 15 qChinese Taipei 14 qSlovenia 14 qScotland 13 qCyprus 9 qMorocco 7 qIran, Islamic Republic of 6 qTunisia 4 qPhilippines 1 q

107

Student Responses


Correct Response:

Incorrect Response:

Closed glass bottle filled with water (continued)Item Number: S031005

Documents

Content Domain Main Topic Cognitive Domain …nces.ed.gov/timss/pdf/TIMSS4_Science_ConceptsItems_2.pdfPhysICal sCIenCe Light Conceptual Understanding Two things wrong with the shadow