The most comprehensive studies of mathematics attainment have used mathematics as a vehicle for examining cross national differences in educational systems. These have been studies undertaken by the international association for the Evaluation of educational Achievement. which has conducted studies of several school subjects. The first IEA mathematics study began its data collection in 1964 in 12 countries and reported its findings in 1967 The second IEA mathematics study was more oriented toward questions raised by mathematics educators and featured more detailed analyses of curricula and greater efforts to characterize instruction in the different countries. Data collection began in 1980 in 21 countries and the international findings were reported in 1989.