01 October 2020
Singapore students are renowned for their high performance in mathematics compared to their global peers. For instance, in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2019, students from Singapore were ranked second in the world in terms of mathematical ability.
Mathematics is a subject that requires good teachers who can convey abstract ideas in a concrete, relatable manner through the use of well-crafted explanations, illustrations, and examples. In Singapore, our Ministry of Education has devised a unique math curriculum that builds up each concept layer by layer, and which also deploys powerful methods of visualization such as the usage of boxes and models.
Another possible reason for the success of our students in mathematics is the willingness of parents to seek help, in the form of tuition for example, whenever the student encounters difficulty. This is particularly crucial for mathematics, which requires students to thoroughly grasp simpler concepts first before moving on to a higher one.