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TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) are large-scale assessments designed to inform educational policy and practice by providing an international perspective on teaching and learning in mathematics, science and reading. The international studies are conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). 

In Australia since 2006 TIMSS is managed by ACER with funding from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and State/Territory Departments of Education. TIMSS conducts comprehensive state-of the-art assessments of mathematics and science for students in Year 4 and Year 8, supported with extensive data about country, school, and classroom learning environments. Australia has participated in all cycles of TIMSS in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Introduced in 2001, PIRLS is conducted every five years to measure progress in the reading achievement of students in their fourth year of schooling, as well as trends in the associated home and school contexts for learning to read. Data are also collected about reading practices at home and school, resources and training.

In 2011, the five yearly testing cycle for PIRLS comes into alignment with the four-year cycle for TIMSS, allowing countries who are participating in both of these international studies to gain comprehensive information about the achievement of their fourth grade students in three core curriculum areas: reading, mathematics and science. Australia is participating for the first time in PIRLS 2011. In Australia the main assessments was conducted in 2010, and involved a representative sample of primary and secondary schools and around 14,000 students in all states and territories.

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