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We aim to share Singapore's educational excellence with the world. Our educational objectives focus on preparing students for the future, instilling a strong national identity, and equipping them to participate in a globalized world.
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OVERVIEW

Introducing the Singapore Math Challenge (SMC), where we showcase the best practices in mathematics learning and provide students with a challenging platform to gauge their skills. Despite its worldwide reputation, Singapore Math needs constant energy and innovation to remain at the forefront of the field, and that’s where SMC comes in.

Last year, over 45,000 students participated in Singapore Math Challenge (SMC), previously known as the Singapore Math Competition. Countries that excel in mathematics consistently use international benchmarks to enhance their academic value. For example, Singapore’s mathematics syllabus was developed after analyzing syllabi from various countries worldwide.

Singapore’s students have achieved top rankings in global benchmarking surveys such as The International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), thanks to a strong foundation in primary mathematics. These surveys assess the students’ understanding, application, and reasoning skills in Mathematics and Science in primary 4 (grade 4) and secondary 2 (grade 8).

Mark your calendars for March, 2026, as we proudly host the Singapore Math Global Finals (SMGF). This event showcases the resources that have propelled Singapore students to the top rank in PISA for over 30 years. Contestants will be ranked based on their individual scores to determine who are the top math heroes globally.

OBJECTIVE

We are a team of dedicated mathematics educators who want to help students and teachers from all over the world to improve in math education. Singapore started with a very poor education base after independence from the British in 1965 and by 1980, we were at the rock bottom of world education rankings.

The “Singapore method” was first developed by a team of teachers in Singapore in the 1980s, who were given the task of creatinghigh-quality teaching materials by the ministry of education. They studied the latest behavioral science research as well as traveled to schools in other countries, including Canada and Japan, to compare the effectiveness of different teaching methods. Aiming to move away from simple rote-learning and to focus instead on teaching children how to problem solve, the textbooks the group produced were Bruner, who posited that people learn in three stages: by using real objects, then pictures, and then through symbols. That theory contributed to Singapore’s strong emphasis on modeling mathematical problems with visual aids; using coloured blocks to represent fractions or ratios, for example.

We hope to share the best of Singapore education with the world. In educating our students in Singapore, we seek to achieve our Desired Outcomes of Education so that our students are future-ready, have a strong sense of national identity, and are equipped to contribute in a globalized world. We aspire to bring out the best in our students so that they are empowered to live life to the fullest, contribute to, and care for their community and nation. We also aim to enable our students to develop their interests to pursue their passions and fulfil their aspirations.

FORMAT

SINGAPORE MATH CHALLENGE  is open to all students from G1 to G10/11 (Primary 1 to Secondary 4/5):

Singapore Math Challenge 2025

SMC is open to all Primary 1 to 6, Secondary 1 to 4/5 students (Grade 1 to 10/11 students from International schools).

  • Time given for contest is 90 minutes. Each level has a differentiated paper and contains 31 questions within 3 sections – Section A (MCQ), Section B and C (Non-routine Questions)
  • Primary 1 to 4 Calculator is NOT Allowed
  • Primary 5 to Secondary 4/5 Calculator is Allowed

AWARDS

Schools that participate in SMC for FREE will receive Online E-certificates and performance reports are provided for all participants, with each receiving an award E-certificate.

Schools that pay to participate in SMC will receive hard-copy certificates and performance reports for all participants.

All Award winners are also invited to compete in the Singapore Math Global Finals (SMGF) 2025.

For Singapore students, should you interested in purchasing the certificate or medal, kindly purchase it from our e-store.
For international students, please check with your country partner for more details.

From 2024, SMC will not qualify for Scholarship Points (SiS) for induction to the International Junior Honor Society (UHS).

SYLLABUS

SIMCC reserves the rights to change the syllabus without any prior notice.

-Lower Primary level Grade 1 to Grade 4
-Upper Primary to Secondary Level Grade 5 to Grade 11

Performance Statistical Report

Contest Information

Instructions for Conducting and Taking Singapore Math Global Finals (SMC)

For International Students, there are two modes for participating in the Singapore Math Challenge (SMC) :

1. Online Mode

  • The country can choose to take the competition online.
  • The online competition will be managed directly by SIMCC, who will provide all necessary details, guidelines, and support for the students.
  • Students will take the competition from their respective locations, ensuring that they adhere to the guidelines provided by SIMCC.

2. Paper-Based Mode

  • If the country chooses to participate in the paper-based competition, students must assemble at a designated contest venue.
  • The competition will be invigilated by the country partner to ensure proper conduct and adherence to competition rules.
  • The country partner will log in to our monitoring Zoom using a smart device to show the contest situation in real-time.
  • Important: Paper based competitions cannot be taken from home. All students must attend the designated venue in person

Instructions for Conducting and Taking Singapore Math Global Finals (SMC) Online

The students will participate in the SMC competition online via the SIMCC Online Contest System.

  1. Registration Confirmation: After the registration period closes, you will receive all the necessary details regarding the competition, including the date, time, and guidelines. Ensure that you have completed the registration process by the deadline to avoid any issues.
  2. Online Contest System: The competition will be conducted through our Online Contest System. You will be required to log in to the system on the competition day. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the platform before the event.
  3. Guidelines: SIMCC will provide you with comprehensive guidelines on how the competition will proceed. These will include important rules and instructions to follow during the event. Adherence to these guidelines is crucial for a fair and organized competition.
  4. Competition Location: You will take the competition from your own location. Ensure you have access to a stable internet connection, a suitable device, and a quiet space free from distractions during the event.
  5. Support: SIMCC will be available to assist you with any queries or technical issues. If you encounter any problems, please reach out to our support team, and we will respond promptly
We have partnered with Scholastic Trust Singapore Teachers’ Institute (STSTI) to bring you SMC & SMGF as well as training for teachers on how to use Formative and Summative Assessment data to diagnose students’ misconceptions about mathematics and plan lessons to correct these misconceptions.

Ms Foo Pau Choo - Dean, Scholastic Trust Singapore Teacher's Institute (STSTI)

• Experienced educator with more than 20 years of teaching
• Supervised teachers in the marking of Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Mathematics paper
• Presented in numerous Mathematics & Science Education Conferences and conducted academic & Pedagogical workshops for teachers and parents.

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