The U.S. States in a Global Context report presents results from the 2011 NAEP-TIMSS Linking Study in mathematics and science at grade 8 for 52 states (includes the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense schools) and 47 education systems (38 countries and 9 subnational education systems).

Results are reported as average scores on the TIMSS scales (0–1,000 with an average of 500) and percentages of students scoring at or above the TIMSS international benchmarks: Advanced (625), High (550), Intermediate (475), and Low (400). Three linking methods¯statistical moderation, statistical projection, and calibration¯were applied to predict TIMSS results for 43 states that had participated only in NAEP. The three linking methods produced similar results. Of these, the statistical moderation linking method was selected to predict the TIMSS results that are reported for those states. Nine states participated in TIMSS 2011, and their actual TIMSS results are reported (Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and North Carolina).

Mathematics
Compared to the TIMSS average, 36 states scored higher, 10 states scored comparably, and 6 states scored lower. Massachusetts scored higher than 42 education systems. Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore scored higher than all 52 U.S. states.

Among the states, Massachusetts had the highest percentage of students scoring at the Advanced level (19 percent) and at or above the High level (57 percent). Among the education systems, Chinese Taipei had the highest percentage of students scoring at the Advanced level (49 percent), while Singapore had the highest percentage at or above the High level (78 percent).

Science
Compared to the TIMSS average, 47 states scored higher, 2 states scored comparably, and 3 states scored lower. Massachusetts and Vermont scored higher than 43 education systems. Singapore scored higher than all 52 U.S. states.

Among the states, Massachusetts had the highest percentage of students scoring at the Advanced level (24 percent) and at or above the High level (61 percent). Among the education systems, Singapore had the highest percentage of students at the Advanced level (40 percent) and at or above the High level (69 percent).