Answer: The TIMSS achievement results are summarized using item response theory (IRT) scaling and reported on 0 to 1,000 achievement scales. TIMSS mathematics and science achievement items are designed to measure learner knowledge and proficiency which could range quite widely from one learner to another. TIMSS has created a set of international benchmarks to provide countries with more meaningful descriptions of what learners know. TIMSS defines four categories of benchmarks namely: 400 (achieving at a low level), 475 (achieving at Intermediate level), 550 (High level) and 625 (Advanced level) score points. With each successive assessment, TIMSS works with the Science and Mathematics Item Review Committee (SMIRC) to conduct a scale anchoring analysis to describe student competencies at the benchmarks.