The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is a large-scale study conducted by the IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement). The TIMSS study tested learners from a large number of countries over extensive content domains in Mathematics and Science. The study is conducted (repeated) every four years. In 1995 a study called the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. In 1999 a repeat of the study was conducted and it was called TIMSS-R and in 2002/2003 the name was revised and it was called Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The South African results for Mathematics and Science achievement for TIMSS (1995) and TIMSS_R (1999) were very poor in relation to that of the other participating countries. South Africa scored the lowest amongst all countries that participated in both mathematics and science for both studies. Many questions have been raised about the reason for this but nothing much has changed that might have contributed to an improvement in the achievement in these two subjects.