TIMSS Student Questionnaire - Grade 8

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TIMSS 2011
Student
Questionnaire
Grade 8

© IEA, 2011

Directions
In this booklet, you will find questions about yourself. Some questions ask for facts
while other questions ask for your opinion.
Each question is followed by a number of answers. Fill in the oval 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 in one oval only.

Yes--- A

No--- 2

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

Every day
or almost
every day

2

Once or
twice a
week

Once or
twice a
month

Never or
almost
never

a) I talk with my friends ------------------ A

2

3

4

b) I play sports - ------------------------------ 1

A

3

4

c) I ride a skateboard - --------------------- 1

2

A

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

Example 3
What do you think? Tell how much you agree with these
statements.

Fill in one oval for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) Watching movies is fun ---------------- 1

A

3

4

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

2

3

4

c) I do not like waking up early --------- 1

2

A

4

d) I enjoy doing chores --------------------- 1

2

3

A

• Read each question carefully, and pick the answer you think is best.
• Fill in the oval next to or under your answer.
• If you decide to change your answer, completely erase your first choice.

Then, fill

in the oval next to or under your new answer.

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

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

3

About you
1
A. Are you a girl or a boy?

Fill in one oval only.

Girl--- 1

Boy--- 2

B. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

Fill in one oval only.

Yes, I am Hispanic or Latino--- 1

No, I am not Hispanic or Latino--- 2

C. Which of the following best describes you?

Fill in one or more ovals.

White--- 1

Black or African American--- 1

Asian--- 1

American Indian or Alaska Native--- 1

Native Hawaiian or other
Pacific Islander--- 1

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

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

a) Month

b) Year

January--- 0

1993--- 1

February--- 0

1994--- 2

March--- 0

1995--- 3

April--- 0

1996--- 4

May--- 0

1997--- 5

June--- 0

1998--- 6

July--- 0

1999--- 7

August--- 0

2000--- 8

September--- 0

2001--- 9

October--- 0

Other--- 0

November--- 0

December--- 0

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

5

 3
A. How often do you speak English at home?
Fill in one oval only.

Always---------------------------------------- 1 If Always, please go to question 4

Almost always----------------------------- 2

Sometimes---------------------------------- 3

Never----------------------------------------- 4

If Almost always, Sometimes, Never, please go to question 3B

B. What language do you speak at home (other than English)?

Fill in one oval only.

6

Spanish-------------------------------------- 1
Other--------------------------------------- 2 Please specify ________________

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

 4
A. Was your mother (or stepmother or female legal
guardian) born in the United States? (“United States”
includes the 50 states, its territories, the District of
Columbia, and U.S. military bases abroad.)

Fill in one oval only.

Yes--- 1

No--- 2

B. Was your father (or stepfather or male legal guardian)
born in the United States?

Fill in one oval only.

Yes--- 1

No--- 2

5
A. Were you born in the United States?

Fill in one oval only.

Yes--- 1

No--- 2

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

Fill in one oval only.

Older than 10 years old--- 1

5 to 10 years old--- 2

Younger than 5 years old--- 3

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

7

 6
How many days were you absent from school in the last month?
Fill in one oval only.

None--- 1

1 or 2 days--- 2

3 or 4 days--- 3

5 to 10 days--- 4
More than 10 days--- 5

7
Have you ever repeated a grade?
Fill in one oval for each line.

Yes

No

a) In elementary school -------------------- 1

2

b) In middle or junior high school-------

8

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

1

2

 8
About how many books are there in your home? (Do not
count magazines, newspapers, or your school books.)

Fill in one oval only.

None or very few
(0–10 books)--- 1

Enough to fill one shelf
(11–25 books)--- 2

Enough to fill one bookcase
(26–100 books)--- 3

Enough to fill two bookcases
(101–200 books)--- 4

nough to fill three or more bookcases
E

(more than 200)--- 5

9
Do you have any of these things at your home?

Fill in one oval for each line.
Yes

No

a) Computer ----------------------------------- 1

2

b) Study desk/table for your use -------- 1

2

c) Books of your very own (do not
count your school books) --------------- 1

2

d) Your own room ---------------------------- 1

2

e) Internet connection ---------------------- 1

2

f) Encyclopedia (a book or CD) ---------- 1

2

g) PlayStation®, Game Cube®, XBox®,
or other TV/Video game system------ 1

2

h) VCR, DVD or Blu-ray player --------- 1

2
Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

9

 10
A. What is the highest level of education completed by your
mother (or stepmother or female legal guardian)?

Fill in one oval only.

Some elementary or
junior/high middle school-------------------- 1

Completed junior
high/middle school-------------------- 2

Some high school-------------------- 3

Completed high school-------------------- 4

Completed a vocational/technical

certificate after high school-------------------- 5

Completed an Associate’s degree
(AA) in vocational/technical program-------------------- 6

Completed a 2-year or 4-year
college or university degree (i.e.,
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree)-------------------- 7

Completed an academic Master’s
degree, teaching certificate program,
or first professional degree (e.g., law,
medicine, dentistry) or higher-------------------- 8

I don’t know-------------------- 9

10

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

 10(continued)
B. What is the highest level of education completed by your
father (or stepfather or male legal guardian)?
Fill in one oval only.

Some elementary or
junior/high middle school-------------------- 1

Completed junior
high/middle school-------------------- 2

Some high school-------------------- 3

Completed high school-------------------- 4

Completed a vocational/technical

certificate after high school-------------------- 5

Completed an Associate’s degree
(AA) in vocational/technical program-------------------- 6

Completed a 2-year or 4-year
college or university degree (i.e.,
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree)-------------------- 7

Completed an academic Master’s
degree, teaching certificate program,
or first professional degree (e.g., law,
medicine, dentistry) or higher-------------------- 8

I don’t know-------------------- 9

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

11

 11
How far in your education do you expect to go?
Fill in one oval only.

Finish junior high/middle school-------------------- 1

Finish high school-------------------- 2

Finish a vocational/technical
certificate after high school-------------------- 3

Finish an Associate’s degree (AA)
in vocational/technical program-------------------- 4

Complete a 2-year or 4-year
college or university degree (i.e.,
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree)-------------------- 5

Beyond a bachelor’s degree-------------------- 6

I don’t know-------------------- 7

12
How often do you use a computer in each of these
places?
Fill in one oval for each line.

Every day
or almost
every day

12

Once or
twice a
week

Once or
twice a
month

Never or
almost
never

a) At home ------------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

b) At school ------------------------------------ 1

2

3

4

c) Some other place ------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

13
How often do the following things happen at home?

Fill in one oval for each line.
Every day
or almost
every day

Once
or twice
a week

Once
or twice
a month

Never
or almost
never

a) My parents ask me what I am
learning in school ------------------------ 1

2

3

4

b) I talk about my schoolwork with
my parents---------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) My parents make sure that I set
aside time for my homework --------- 1

2

3

4

d) My parents check if I do my
homework----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

13

Your School
14
What do you think about your school? Tell how much
you agree with these statements.
Fill in one oval for each line.

Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I like being in school -------------------- 1

2

3

4

b) I feel safe when I am at school ------- 1

2

3

4

c) I feel like I belong at this school ----- 1

2

3

4

15
During this year, how often have any of the following
things happened to you at school?
Fill in one oval for each line.

At least
once a
week

14

Once or
twice
a month

A few
times
a year

Never

a) I was made fun of or called names -- 1

2

3

4

b) I was left out of games or activities
by other students - ----------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) Someone spread lies about me ------- 1

2

3

4

d) Something was stolen from me ------ 1

2

3

4

e) I was hit or hurt by other student(s)
(e.g., shoving, hitting, kicking) ------- 1

2

3

4

f) I was made to do things I didn’t
want to do by other students --------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

Mathematics in School
16
How much do you agree with these statements about
Fill in one oval for each line.
learning mathematics?
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I enjoy learning mathematics -------- 1

2

3

4

b) I wish I did not have to
study mathematics ---------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) Mathematics is boring ------------------ 1

2

3

4

d) I learn many interesting
things in mathematics ------------------ 1

2

3

4

e) I like mathematics ----------------------- 1

2

3

4

f) It is important to do well
in mathematics --------------------------- 1

2

3

4

17
How much do you agree with these statements about
your mathematics lessons?

Fill in one oval 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 -------------------------- 1

2

3

4

b) I think of things not related to
the lesson ----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) My teacher is easy to understand --- 1

2

3

4

d) I am interested in what my
teacher says -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

e) My teacher gives me interesting
things to do - ------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

15

18
How much do you agree with these statements about
mathematics?
Fill in one oval for each line.

Agree
a lot

16

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I usually do well in mathematics - -- 1

2

3

4

b) Mathematics is more difficult
for me than for many of
my classmates ----------------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) Mathematics is not one of
my strengths - ----------------------------- 1

2

3

4

d) I learn things quickly
in mathematics --------------------------- 1

2

3

4

e) Mathematics makes me confused
and nervous -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

f) I am good at working out
difficult mathematics problems ------ 1

2

3

4

g) My teacher thinks I can do well in
mathematics classes with difficult
materials - ---------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

h) My teacher tells me I am good at
mathematics ------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

i) Mathematics is harder for me
than any other subject ------------------ 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

18 (continued)
How much do you agree with these statements about
mathematics?

Fill in one oval for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

j) I think learning mathematics will
help me in my daily life ---------------- 1

2

3

4

k) I need mathematics to learn other
school subjects ---------------------------- 1

2

3

4

l) I need to do well in mathematics
to get into the college or university
of my choice -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

m) I need to do well in mathematics
to get the job I want --------------------- 1

2

3

4

n) I would like a job that involves
using mathematics ---------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

17

Science in School
19
How much do you agree with these statements about
learning science?
Fill in one oval for each line.

Agree
a lot

18

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I enjoy learning science ---------------- 1

2

3

4

b) I wish I did not have to study
science --------------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) I read about science in my
spare time ---------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

d) Science is boring -------------------------- 1

2

3

4

e) I learn many interesting
things in science -------------------------- 1

2

3

4

f) I like science ------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

g) It is important to do well
in science ----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

20
How much do you agree with these statements about
your science lessons?

Fill in one oval 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 -------------------------- 1

2

3

4

b) I think of things not related to
the lesson ----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

c) My teacher is easy to understand --- 1

2

3

4

d) I am interested in what my
teacher says -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

e) My teacher gives me interesting
things to do - ------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

19

21
How much do you agree with these statements about
science?
Fill in one oval for each line.

Agree
a lot

20

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

a) I usually do well in science ------------ 1

2

3

4

b) Science is more difficult for me
than for many of my classmates ----- 1

2

3

4

c) Science is not one of
my strengths - ----------------------------- 1

2

3

4

d) I learn things quickly
in science ----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

e) Science makes me confused
and nervous -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

f) I am good at working out
difficult science problems -------------- 1

2

3

4

g) My teacher thinks I can do
well in science classes with
difficult materials ------------------------ 1

2

3

4

h) My teacher tells me I am good
at science ----------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

i) Science is harder for me than
any other subject ------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

21 (continued)
How much do you agree with these statements about
science?

Fill in one oval for each line.
Agree
a lot

Agree
a little

Disagree
a little

Disagree
a lot

j) I think learning science will help
me in my daily life ----------------------- 1

2

3

4

k) I need science to learn other
school subjects ---------------------------- 1

2

3

4

l) I need to do well in science to
get into the college or university
of my choice -------------------------------- 1

2

3

4

m) I need to do well in science to get
the job I want - ---------------------------- 1

2

3

4

n) I would like a job that involves
using science - ----------------------------- 1

2

3

4

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

21

Homework
22
A. How often does your teacher give you homework in
mathematics?
Fill in one oval only.

Every day--- 1

3 or 4 times a week--- 2

1 or 2 times a week--- 3

Less than once a week--- 4

Never--- 5

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

22

My teacher never gives me
homework in mathematics--- 1

1–15 minutes -- 2

16–30 minutes--- 3

31–60 minutes--- 4

61–90 minutes--- 5

More than 90 minutes--- 6

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

23
A. How often does your teacher give you homework in
science?

Fill in one oval only.

Every day--- 1

3 or 4 times a week--- 2

1 or 2 times a week--- 3

Less than once a week--- 4

Never--- 5

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

Fill in one oval only.

My teacher never gives me
homework in science--- 1

1–15 minutes -- 2

16–30 minutes--- 3

31–60 minutes--- 4

61–90 minutes--- 5

More than 90 minutes--- 6

Grade 8 Student Questionnaire

23

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timssandpirls.bc.edu

TIMSS 2011
Student
Questionnaire
Grade 8

© IEA, 2011
International Association
for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement