Researchers Cite Uniform Standards in Singapore’s Success

Singapore’s domination over the United States in students’ math performance stems from the Southeast Asian country’s uniform expectations for student learning, its use of textbooks rich with problem-solving exercises, and a commitment to producing well-trained teachers, a report to be released this week finds.

The United States, by contrast, lacks consistent standards for teaching the subject, according to the study, “What the United States Can Learn From Singapore’s World-Class Mathematics System.” The report also says that American textbooks emphasize “definitions and formulas” at the expense of broader mathematical understanding.

In addition, it says, standardized exams in this country do not present challenging mathematics, compared with required tests in Singapore. And far too many American teachers are unprepared to cover core subject matter, contends the report by the American Institutes for Research, a nonprofit Washington-based organization that focuses on...