Abstract
Over the last few years, data obtained from high school seniors for the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS, 1995) has led to several simplistic and controversial interpretations. One of these controversies is related to the results from Cyprus: although Cypriot students did not perform well in mathematics in elementary, middle school, and in the non-advanced sectors of high school, the students in the advanced mathematics courses managed to perform exceptionally well. In a previous article, an American commentator has suggested that either Cyprus has a dual educational system or Cypriot students have cheated on this test. In this article, the authors revisit this claim and examine whether it is possible for an educational system that does not allow students to perform well in mathematics relative to other countries, to produce students who could perform exceptionally well when they are high school seniors.