
Singapore has consistently ranked among the top 3 countries for mathematics in international tests by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), as run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and has topped the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The PISA test is conducted every 3 years and measures the ability of 15-year-old students from countries around the world in reading, mathematics, and science, while TIMSS measures performance of 10 and 14-year-olds. So why does Singapore perform so well for mathematics in international tests? A reason why could be the Singapore mathematics curriculum.
Singapore’s maths curriculum, otherwise known as Singapore Maths, has seen an uptick in popularity around the world owing to its students’ performances in international tests. Singapore Maths has been adopted by different countries around the world, including the United States, India, and France.
Singapore Maths mainly consists of 3 components: concrete, pictorial, and abstract (CPA).
In the concrete stage, students are given tangible objects in order to solve mathematical problems. This way, students are able to visualise the question and concept. For example, students will be given actual pieces of fruit when first encountering a mathematical problem involving fruit.
In the pictorial stage, students will be given pictures of the objects used in the mathematical problems. For example, having pictures of fruit instead of actual fruit when solving a mathematical question. This will help students associate the tangible object with what the picture represents. The use of pictures and models will also help students better understand complex and intangible concepts, such as percentages and ratios.
In the abstract stage, students will use symbols such as the plus and minus sign in a mathematical equation. Instead of using physical objects or pictorial representations, numbers are used instead. At this stage, students should be aware of what the number represents and the meaning of the various mathematical symbols used.
If you are interested in learning more about Singapore Maths, you may consider looking into Singapore Maths from Singapore Children’s Publishing House. Written by a former Singaporean mathematics teacher, the series is suitable for children aged 7-12 and is tailored to Singapore’s mathematics syllabus, ensuring that users will achieve excellence in the subject.