Abstract
A comparative analysis of the results of the Second International Science Study conducted by IEA ascertained the science achievement of the fifth, ninth and twelfth graders in Japan. The science achievement of the fifth graders in Japan was ranked the highest in the world. The science achievement of the ninth graders was the second to that of Hungarians, and their point was slightly higher than at the time of the first study conducted in 1970. Examining the science achievement of the twelfth graders in Japan, the physics achievement of students learned physics was above the international mean. The chemistry achievement was also above the international mean, however, the biology achievement was below the international mean. Furthermore, then comparing students whose achievement on each science subject were in the top 3-5% of each country, Japanese achievement on physics and chemistry was at the top level, along with Hong Kong and Britain; however, it remained below mean in biology.
