The results of an independent international assessment study of the mathematics and science knowledge of grade 9 learners, released by the HSRC on 11 December 2012, showed some improvement for the first time since 1995 in the national average mathematics score of grade 9 learners in public schools.

This finding forms part of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). In 2011 TIMSS was conducted in 45 countries. Of these, 42 countries participated at the grade 8 level, and three countries, namely Botswana, South Africa and Honduras, participated at the grade 9 level. These three countries were at the lowest level in both mathematics and science.