2001-2020

Measuring and evaluating of the achievement of students is one key for any improvement of the skills of the population (Allen and Velden, 2012). According to TIMMS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study) in 2015, US fourth-graders’ average score in mathematics was 539 (Rank 12/45). In 1995-2015, US fourth-graders’ average mathematics scores increased from 518 to 539.

Moreover, PISA records that US 15-year-old students' scores are under the OECD average in 2001-2020. A more detailed data is depicted by the graph above.

In terms of students’ perception, Erik De Corte found that many US students still think that the word problems in mathematics courses are not realistic (Hallett, 2003).