You sit down to help your child with maths homework and see something like this: a horizontal rectangle divided into segments, with a question mark in one section and numbers in others. Your child calls it a “bar model.” You have no idea what it means or how to help.
If this sounds familiar, you are one of thousands of Dubai parents navigating the same confusion. Your child’s school likely uses “Singapore Math” — an approach to teaching mathematics that looks very different from the way most of us learned. This guide explains what Singapore Math is, why schools use it, and how you can support your child effectively.
What Is Singapore Math?
Singapore Math refers to the teaching approach developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education in the 1980s. After consistently ranking at the top of international maths assessments (TIMSS and PISA), Singapore’s methods were adopted by schools worldwide — including many in Dubai.
The core philosophy is simple: teach less, learn more. Instead of racing through topics, Singapore Math spends more time on fewer concepts, ensuring children understand the “why” behind mathematics, not just the “how.”
Three key methods define the approach: the CPA progression (Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract), bar modelling, and number bonds.
The CPA Approach — Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract
This is the backbone of Singapore Math. Every concept is taught in three stages:
- Concrete: Children use physical objects — blocks, counters, fraction tiles, base-ten rods — to explore the concept through touch and manipulation. For addition, they literally combine two groups of objects and count the result.
- Pictorial: Children draw representations of the concept — dots, bar models, ten frames, number lines. This bridges the gap between the physical and the abstract.
- Abstract: Only after concrete and pictorial understanding is secure do children work with numbers and symbols alone (3 + 4 = 7).
This progression is why your child’s homework might involve drawing pictures or diagrams rather than just writing number sentences. It is not a step backwards — it is building understanding that makes abstract maths easier later.
The Bar Model Method Explained
The bar model is Singapore Math’s most distinctive tool. It is a visual way of representing word problems using rectangular bars that show the relationship between known and unknown quantities.
Example: “Ali has 15 marbles. He has 8 more marbles than Sara. How many marbles does Sara have?”
A child using traditional methods might struggle with whether to add or subtract. With a bar model, they draw two bars — a longer one for Ali (15) and a shorter one for Sara — and see that the difference (8) must be subtracted. The bar makes the mathematical relationship visible.
Bar models scale beautifully. The same technique that solves simple Year 2 problems also handles complex fraction, ratio, and percentage problems in Year 6 and beyond. Children who master bar modelling develop a powerful problem-solving tool they carry through secondary school.
Number Bonds — Building Number Sense
Number bonds show how a number can be broken into parts. For example, the number 7 can be bonded as 3 + 4, or 5 + 2, or 6 + 1. Children learn to see numbers as flexible combinations rather than fixed values.
This matters because it develops mental arithmetic fluency. A child who knows that 8 + 5 = 8 + 2 + 3 = 10 + 3 = 13 (making ten first, then adding the remainder) can calculate mentally with confidence. This “make ten” strategy is fundamental to Singapore Math and far more powerful than rote memorisation of addition facts.
Singapore Math vs Traditional Maths — Key Differences
Understanding the differences helps parents see why the homework looks unfamiliar:
- Traditional: Teaches the standard algorithm (column addition/subtraction) early. Singapore: Delays the algorithm until children understand place value deeply through concrete and pictorial methods.
- Traditional: Emphasises memorisation of times tables through drilling. Singapore: Builds multiplication understanding through arrays, groups, and repeated addition before committing facts to memory.
- Traditional: Word problems are solved by identifying “key words” (total means add, left means subtract). Singapore: Word problems are modelled visually using bar models, teaching mathematical reasoning rather than keyword hunting.
- Traditional: Covers many topics quickly, spiralling back each year. Singapore: Covers fewer topics in greater depth, building mastery before moving on.
Why Singapore Math Works (The Evidence)
Singapore has ranked at or near the top of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) since 1995. Countries and schools that have adopted the approach consistently see improvements in mathematical understanding and problem-solving ability.
The evidence shows that children taught through CPA and bar modelling develop stronger conceptual understanding, are better at applying maths to unfamiliar problems, retain their knowledge longer, and make a smoother transition to secondary-level mathematics. Many IB PYP maths programmes and British curriculum schools in Dubai have adopted these methods specifically because of this evidence base.
Common Parent Frustrations (and How to Handle Them)
“This method is so slow — why can’t they just learn the standard algorithm?”
The standard algorithm is efficient but does not build understanding. Children who learn it too early can calculate correctly without knowing why. When they hit more complex maths (fractions, algebra, word problems), they lack the conceptual foundation. Singapore Math invests time early to save time later.
“I tried to help but my method confused my child.”
This is the most common issue we hear from Dubai parents. If your method conflicts with the school’s approach, your child ends up managing two competing systems. Either learn the Singapore method yourself (plenty of free resources online) or leave maths homework to the school and a tutor who uses the same approach.
“My child draws pictures instead of doing real maths.”
Drawing is the pictorial stage of CPA — it is real maths. The bar models and diagrams your child draws are mathematical representations that develop reasoning skills abstract numbers alone cannot build.
When to Consider a Maths Tutor
Consider specialist maths tutoring if:
- Your child is falling behind in maths and you cannot help because the methods are unfamiliar
- They have gaps in foundational concepts (place value, number bonds, basic operations)
- They can follow procedures but cannot explain their thinking or solve unfamiliar problems
- They are anxious or negative about maths
- They need extension and challenge beyond what the classroom provides
The critical thing is to find a tutor who understands and teaches the Singapore Math approach. A tutor who reverts to traditional methods will create confusion rather than clarity.
At GetYourTutors, our primary maths tutors are trained in Singapore Math methods — including bar modelling, CPA progression, and number bonds. They work within the framework your child’s school uses, reinforcing rather than contradicting classroom instruction.
Explore our other primary subject tutoring: primary English, primary science, and primary Arabic.