TIMSS Student Questionnaire - Grade 8

Identification Label

DRAFT

Student
School ID:
Student
School Name:
OMB # to go here

TIMSS 2011
Field Test Version

Student
School
Questionnaire

National Center for Education Statistics

1990 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20006

xyz

NCES is authorized to collect information from this
questionnaire under the Education Sciences Reform Act
of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section 153). You do not
have to provide the information requested. However,
the information you provide will help the U.S. Departstudent achievement in the United States. There are no
penalties should you choose not to participate in this
study. Your answers may be used only for statistical
able form for any other purpose (Public Law 107-279,
Section 183 and Title V, subtitle A of the E-Government
Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-347)). Your responses will be
combined with those from other participants to
produce summary statistics and reports.
This survey is estimated to take an average of 30
minutes, including time for reviewing instructions, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is
not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any
other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Stephen
Provasnik, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S.
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW, Room
9034, Washington, DC 20006-5650. Do not return the
completed form to this address.

D

irections

while other questions ask for your opinion.
Each question is followed by a number of answers. Shade in the circle next to or
under the answer of your choice as shown in Examples 1, 2, and 3.

Example 1
Do you go to school?
Fill one circle only.

Yes --

O

No --

O

Example 2
How often do you do these things?
Fill one circle for each line.

1

Every day
or almost
every day

Once or
twice a
week

Once or
twice a
month

Never or
almost
never

a) I listen to music --------------------------

O

O

O

O

b) I talk with my friends ------------------

O

O

O

O

c) I play sports -------------------------------

O

O

O

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

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Example 3
What do you think? Tell how much you agree with these
statements.
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) Watching movies is fun ----------------

O

O

O

O

b) I like eating ice cream -----------------

O

O

O

O

c) I do not like waking up early --------

O

O

O

O

d) I enjoy doing chores --------------------

O

O

O

O

• Read each question carefully, and pick the answer you think is best.
• Fill in the circle next to or under your answer.
•
like this:

O.

• Ask for help if you do not understand something or are not sure how to answer.

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Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

2

A

bout you

1

Are you a girl or a boy?
Fill one circle only.

Girl --

O

Boy --

O

2
When were you born?
Fill the circles next to the month and year you were born.

a) Month

O
February -- O
March -- O
April -- O
May -- O
June -- O
July -- O
August -- O
September -- O
October -- O
November -- O
December -- O
January --

3

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

b) Year
1992 -1993 -1994 -1995 -1996 -1997 -1998 -1999 -2000 -Other --

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

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3
How often do you speak English at home?
Fill one circle only.

Always --

O

Almost Always --

O

Sometimes --

O

Never --

O

4
About how many books are there in your home? (Do not
count magazines, newspapers, or your school books.)
Fill one circle only.

DRAFT

None or very few
(0-10 books) --

O

(11-25 books) --

O

(26-100 books) --

O

(101-200 books) --

O

(more than 200) --

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

4

5
Do you have any of these things at your home?
Fill one circle for each line.
Yes

No

a) Computer ----------------------------------

O

O

b) Study desk/table for your use -------

O

O

c) Books of your very own (do not
count your school books) --------------

O

O

d) Your own room ---------------------------

O

O

e) Internet connection ---------------------

O

O

Encyclopedia (as a book or CD) -----

O

O

g) Play station, game cube, Xbox
or other TV/Video game systems ---

O

O

h) VCR/DVD Player ------------------------

O

O

O

O

f)

i)

5

Three or more cars, small trucks,
or sport utility vehicles ----------------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

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6
A. What is the highest level of education completed by your
mother (or stepmother or female guardian)?
Fill one circle only.
Some elementary or junior high/middle school
or did not go to school -- O
Completed junior high/middle school -- O
Some high school -- O

Completed high school -- O
Completed a vocational/technical certificate
after high school -- O
Completed an Associate’s degree (AA)
in vocational/technical program -- O
Completed a 2-year or 4-year college or university
degree (i.e., Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree) -- O
Completed a Master’s degree, teaching certificate
program, or professional degree (e.g., law,
medicine, dentistry) or higher -- O
I don’t know -- O

B. What is the highest level of education completed by your
father (or stepfather or male guardian)?
Fill one circle only.
Some elementary or junior high/middle school
or did not go to school -- O
Completed junior high/middle school -- O
Some high school -- O

Completed high school -- O
Completed a vocational/technical certificate
after high school -- O
Completed an Associate’s degree (AA)
in vocational/technical program -- O
Completed a 2-year or 4-year college or university
degree (i.e., Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree) -- O
Completed a Master’s degree, teaching certificate
program, or professional degree (e.g., law,
medicine, dentistry) or higher -- O
I don’t know -- O
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Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

6

7
How far in school do you expect to go?
Fill one circle only.

Finish high school -- O
Finish a vocational/technical
certificate after high school -- O
Finish community or junior college -- O
Completed high school -- O
Completed a vocational/technical
certificate after high school -- O
Complete a bachelor’s degree
at a college or university -- O
Beyond a bachelor’s degree -- O
I don’t know -- O

8
A. Was your mother (or stepmother or female guardian)
born in the United States?
Fill one circle only.

Yes --

O

No --

O

B. Was your father (or stepfather or male guardian) born in
the United States?
Fill one circle only.

7

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

Yes --

O

No --

O

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9
A. Were you born in the United States?
Fill one circle only.

Yes --

O
(If Yes, go to question 10)

No --

O

B. If you were not born in the United States, how old were you
when you came to the United States?
Fill one circle only.

DRAFT

Older than 10 years old --

O

5 to 10 years old --

O

Younger than 5 years old --

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

8

10
A. Do you ever use a computer?
Fill one circle only.

Yes --

O

No --

O
(If No, go to question 11)

B. How often do you use a computer in each of these places?
Fill one circle for each line.
Every day
or almost
every day

Once or
twice a
week

Once or
twice a
month

Never or
almost
never

a) At home ------------------------------------

O

O

O

O

b) At school -----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

c) Some other place ------------------------

O

O

O

O

C. How often do you use a computer to do these things?
Fill one circle for each line.
Every day
or almost
every day

Once or
twice a
week

Once or
twice a
month

Never or
almost
never

a) Look up information for school -----

O

O

O

O

b) Look up information on a topic
you like (e.g., your favorite athlete,
animals you like, or places
you have traveled to) -------------------

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

c) Exchange information about schoolwork
online (e.g., homework, discussion
boards, asking for help) --------------- O

9

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

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11
How often do the following things happen at home?
Fill one circle for each line.
Every day
or almost
every day

Once
or twice
a week

Once
or twice
a month

Never
or almost
never

a) I talk about my schoolwork with
my parents --------------------------------

O

O

O

O

b) My parents help me with my
schoolwork --------------------------------

O

O

O

O

c) My parents make sure that I set
aside time for my homework --------

O

O

O

O

d) My parents ask me what I learned
in school ------------------------------------

O

O

O

O

e) My parents check if I do
my homework ----------------------------

O

O

O

O

My parents help me practice
to improve my math skills ------------

O

O

O

O

g) My parents help me practice
to improve my science skills ---------

O

O

O

O

h) I talk with my parents about
what I am reading ----------------------

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

f)

i)

DRAFT

My parents like to know where
I am after school -------------------------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

10

Y

our School

12

What do you think about your school? Tell how much
you agree with these statements.
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I like being in school -------------------

O

O

O

O

b) I feel safe when I am at school ------

O

O

O

O

c) I feel like I belong at this school ----

O

O

O

O

13
How often have any of the following things happened to
you at school?
Fill one circle for each line.
At least
once a
week

Once or
twice
a month

A few
times
a year

Never

a) I was made fun of or called names -

O

O

O

O

b) I was left out of games or activities
by other students ------------------------

O

O

O

O

c) Someone spread lies about me ------

O

O

O

O

d) Something was stolen from me -----

O

O

O

O

e) I was hit or hurt by other student(s)
(e.g., shoving, hitting, kicking) ------ O

O

O

O

O

O

O

f)

11

I was made to do things I didn’t
want to do by other students --------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

O

DRAFT

14
What do you think about the teachers and students
in your school? Tell how much you agree with these
statements.
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I think that students in my school
try to do their best ----------------------

O

O

O

O

b) I think that teachers in my school
want students to do their best ------

O

O

O

O

c) I think that students in my school
are not interested in learning -------

O

O

O

O

d) I think that teachers in my school
listen to what students have
to say ----------------------------------------

O

O

O

O

e) I think that students in my school
work hard on their schoolwork -----

O

O

O

O

I think that teachers in my school
understand that some students
------------

O

O

O

O

g) I think that students in my school
pay attention in class ------------------

O

O

O

O

students ----------------------------------- -

O

O

O

O

I think that students in my school
feel that they can ask teachers for
extra help ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

I think that teachers in my school
care about all students ----------------

O

O

O

O

f)

h) I think that teachers in my school

i)

j)

DRAFT

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

12

M

athematics in School

15

How much do you agree with these statements about
learning mathematics?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I enjoy learning mathematics -------

O

O

O

O

b) I wish I did not have to
study mathematics ---------------------

O

O

O

O

c) Mathematics is boring -----------------

O

O

O

O

d) I learn many interesting
things in mathematics -----------------

O

O

O

O

e) I like mathematics ----------------------

O

O

O

O

Learning mathematics takes
hard work ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

g) It is important to do well
in mathematics --------------------------

O

O

O

O

f)

13

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

DRAFT

16
How much do you agree with these statements about
your mathematics lessons?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I know what my teacher
expects me to do -------------------------

O

O

O

O

b)

--

O

O

O

O

c) I think of things not related to
the lesson ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

d) My teacher is easy to understand --

O

O

O

O

e) I am interested in what my
teacher says -------------------------------

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

f)

DRAFT

My teacher gives me interesting
things to do --------------------------------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

14

17
How much do you agree with these statements about
mathematics?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

O

O

O

O

for me than for many of
my classmates ----------------------------

O

O

O

O

c) Mathematics is not one of
my strengths ------------------------------

O

O

O

O

d) I learn things quickly
in mathematics --------------------------

O

O

O

O

e) Mathematics makes me confused
and nervous -------------------------------

O

O

O

O

-----

O

O

O

O

g) My teacher thinks I can do well in
mathematics classes with
------------------------

O

O

O

O

h) My teacher tells me I am good at
mathematics ------------------------------

O

O

O

O

a) I usually do well in mathematics --b)

f)

15

I am good at working out

i)

Mathematics is harder for me
than any other subject -----------------

O

O

O

O

j)

I keep working on mathematics
--------

O

O

O

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

DRAFT

17 (continued)
How much do you agree with these statements about
mathematics?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

O

O

O

O

I need mathematics to learn other
school subjects ---------------------------

O

O

O

O

m) I need to do well in mathematics
to get into the university or
college of my choice ---------------------

O

O

O

O

n) I need to do well in mathematics
to get the job I want --------------------

O

O

O

O

o) I would like a job that involved
using mathematics ---------------------

O

O

O

O

k) I think learning mathematics will
help me in my daily life --------------l)

DRAFT

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

16

S

cience in School

18
How much do you agree with these statements about
learning science?
Fill one circle for each line.

17

Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I enjoy learning science ---------------

O

O

O

O

b) I wish I did not have to study
science --------------------------------------

O

O

O

O

c) I read about science in my
spare time ---------------------------------

O

O

O

O

d) Science is boring -------------------------

O

O

O

O

e) I learn many interesting
things in science -------------------------

O

O

O

O

f)

I like science ------------------------------

O

O

O

O

g) Learning science takes
hard work ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

h) It is important to do well in
science --------------------------------------

O

O

O

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

DRAFT

19
How much do you agree with these statements about
your science lessons?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I know what my teacher
expects me to do -------------------------

O

O

O

O

b)

--

O

O

O

O

c) I think of things not related to
the lesson ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

d) My teacher is easy to understand --

O

O

O

O

e) I am interested in what my
teacher says -------------------------------

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

f)

DRAFT

My teacher gives me interesting
things to do --------------------------------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

18

20
How much do you agree with these statements about
science?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

O

O

O

O

than for many of my classmates ----

O

O

O

O

c) Science is not one of
my strengths ------------------------------

O

O

O

O

d) I learn things quickly
in science ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

e) Science makes me confused
and nervous -------------------------------

O

O

O

O

I am good at working out
difficult science problems ------------

O

O

O

O

g) My teacher thinks I can do well in
science classes with difficult
materials ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

h) My teacher tells me I am good
at science ----------------------------------

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

a) I usually do well in science ----------b)

f)

19

i)

Science is harder for me than
any other subject ------------------------

j)

I keep working on science

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

--------

DRAFT

20 (continued)
How much do you agree with these statements about
science?
Fill one circle for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

m) I need to do well in science to get
into the university or college
of my choice -------------------------------- O

O

O

O

n) I need to do well in science to get
the job I want -----------------------------

O

O

O

O

o) I would like a job that involved
using science ------------------------------

O

O

O

O

k) I think learning science will help
me in my daily life ---------------------l)

DRAFT

I need science to learn other
school subjects ---------------------------

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

20

H

omework

21

A. How often does your teacher give you homework in
mathematics?
Fill one circle only.

Every day --

O

3 or 4 times a week --

O

1 or 2 times a week --

O

Less than once a week --

O

Never --

O

B. When your teacher gives you mathematics homework,
about how many minutes do you usually spend on your
homework?
Fill one circle only.

21

My teacher never gives me
homework in mathematics --

O

1 - 15 minutes -

O

16–30 minutes --

O

31–60 minutes --

O

61–90 minutes --

O

More than 90 minutes --

O

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

DRAFT

22
A. How often does your teacher give you homework in
science?
Fill one circle only.

Every day -- O
3 or 4 times a week -- O
1 or 2 times a week -- O
Less than once a week -- O
Never -- O

B. When your teacher gives you science homework, about
how many minutes do you usually spend on your
homework?
Fill one circle only.

My teacher never gives me
homework in science -- O
1 - 15 minutes - O
16–30 minutes -- O
31–60 minutes -- O
61–90 minutes -- O
More than 90 minutes -- O

DRAFT

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

22

[The following questions are national options that will
be added to the questionnaire. They will be formatted
and appropriately placed among the existing items.]

4. Absenteeism
How many days were you absent from school in the
last month? Fill in one oval.

1. Student race and ethnicity

None --------------------------------------------------------------- O

Are you Hispanic or Latino? Fill in one or more ovals.

1 or 2 days -------------------------------------------------------- O

No, I am not Hispanic or Latino ----------------------------- O

3 or 4 days -------------------------------------------------------- O

Yes, I am Mexican, Mexican American, or Chicano ---- O

5 to 10 days ------------------------------------------------------ O

Yes, I am Puerto Rican or Puerto Rican American ------ O

More than 10 days --------------------------------------------- O

Yes, I am Cuban or Cuban American ---------------------- O

More than 10 days --------------------------------------------- O

Yes, I am from some other Hispanic or Latino
background ------------------------------------------------------ O
Which of the following best describes you? Fill in one
or more ovals.
White -------------------------------------------------------------- O
Black or African American------------------------------------ O

5. Academic advancement
Have you ever repeated a grade? Fill in only one oval for
each line
No
Yes
In elementary school-----------------------------O
O
In middle or junior high school----------------O
O

Asian --------------------------------------------------------------- O

6. Activities outside of school

American Indian or Alaska Native ------------------------- O

The following questions ask about activities you do
outside of school.

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander ---------------- O

2. Language spoken at home
What language do you speak at home (other than
English)?
Fill in one oval only
Spanish ----------------------------------------------------------- O
Other -------------------------------------------------------------- O
Please specify __________

3. Family composition
Does your mother live at home with you?

Y/N

Does your stepmother or foster mother live at
home with you?

Y/N

Does your father live at home with you?

Y/N

Does your stepfather or foster father live at
home with you?

Y/N
______

How many brothers or sisters live with you?
Does your grandmother or grandfather live at
home with you?
Y/N
How many OTHER family members live at
______
home with you?
How many people live at home with you who
______
are not part of your family?

Do you play on a sports team outside of school?
Do you often play a musical instrument outside
of school?
Are you studying something in a class outside
of school?
Do you belong to a club outside of school (like
Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, or 4-H)?

Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N

Thank You!
Thank you for filling out the questionnaire!

TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center
Lynch School of Education, Boston College
timssandpirls.bc.edu

DRAFT

TIMSS 2011
Field Test Version

Student
Questionnaire
Grade 8

©2010
International Association
for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement