News of Singapore losing the top spot to China in an international student assessment has made its rounds recently on the Internet and on social media. The Programme for International Student Assessment or PISA, a worldwide benchmarking study that measures the performance of 15-year-old students from all around the globe in the following categories: reading, science, and arithmetic, has reported its latest findings, concluding that former consistent top-placer Singapore has been pushed back to second in all three categories and is now trailing behind China—a country that hasn’t even been in the top five for years.
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Image from https://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA-results_ENGLISH.png
Despite Singapore slipping into second place, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD—the organization that conducts the study every three years to serve as an indicator of students abilities from all around the world—reports that Singapore students still “significantly outperform” their peers from 79 other countries, with the average scores of Singapore students going up. In fact, Singapore boasts of a high percentage of top performers, especially in mathematics, wherein 37 percent of Singaporean students scored high compared to the 26 percent in reading and 21 percent in science. Ultimately, Singapore students are still far more knowledgeable in all three categories as results show that the number of low-performing Singapore students has dropped.
Overall, Singapore students continue to be a global force amongst same-aged teens from other parts of the world, what with Singapore’s comprehensive and effective education system, especially in the field of mathematics.
Turning to online Maths tuition
Despite the education system’s focus on mathematics in its curricula, traditional classroom settings do not always guarantee student’s knowledge and mastery in mathematics. In fact, recent years have seen a rise in Singapore’s tuition industry, which at present is declared as a billion-dollar-industry—S$1.4 B, to be exact—as a result of Singapore’s competitive education system that ultimately is a cause and effect of its competitive economy. As average household incomes rise due in part to Singapore’s modern dual-income families, couples invest in some form of tuition for their children to avoid “losing out” to their peers and to ensure a bright future for them.
Come 2020 and it will already be a decade of trustful reliance on tuition and its benefits. Be it traditional group tuition, one-to-one private tuition, or the more technologically-advanced live online tuition for either class or individual sessions, tutoring still remains as relevant and useful as when it first started. Up to this day, countless parents continue to turn to tuition for their children, and so we have summed up in this article a comprehensive list of online maths tuition platform in the country.
1. ACE LEARNING
About: ACE-Learning Systems started out in 2001 with the vision of becoming a "world-class" provider of e-learning solutions to make learning mathematics "fun." Their About section says that they have already become a popular choice among secondary schools in the country, although you will see on their website that they also offer Primary Maths services. Other than this, not much information is provided as to who are the pioneers or collaborators behind the platform.
Services: One-to-one live online tutoring; Self-practice modules and interactive online games for Primary Math; Learning packages and digital materials for Secondary Math; Online tutorial on PSLE Math, GCE O/N(A)/N(T) Level Maths
Website:https://www.ace-learning.com/
Features: One-to-one live online tutoring from Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm, GMT+8; Interactive whiteboard; Ask tutor-on-demand
Rates: Pay-as-you-go with a time plan that starts at S$20 per 30 minutes for Primary Math and S$30 per 30 minutes for Secondary Math; rates increase as the number of minutes increase
Payment methods: Debit or credit card
Free trial: Available by schedule
Mobile app: Downloadable via App Store or Google Play
Testimonials: No information on the website
2. CHAMPION TUTOR
About: ChampionTutor Online offers tuition services not only for math but for a broad range of subjects including geography, science, history,and even foreign languages such as Tamil, Chinese, and Hindi. Functioning simply as a one-to-one live online tuition marketplace that connects students to tutors, ChampionTutor Online isn't exactly a community that solely focuses on learning Mathematics, although it does offer that. The platform is pretty straightforward in its transactions as students simply need to post a job or ask for a tutor right when needed, chat shortlisted tutors to help the student decide on a tutor, after which the tutoring session commences in a learning space that comes with audio, video, chat, and recording features. Not much is mentioned about the team behind the platform, although it assures screening of its tutors.
Services: One-to-one live online tuition for Maths and other academic subjects and topics
Website:https://www.championtutor.com/online/
Features: Interactive whiteboard; Virtual classroom; Recordable tutorial sessions; 24/7 chatbot support
Rates: Starts at S$10 per hour and varies depending on tutor qualification and experience
Payment methods: Debit or credit card
Free trial: Available
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
3. TENOPY
About: Founded in 2017 by Chong Kian together with a team of thinkers and a board of advisors, Tenopy dubs itself as "Singapore’s leading education tech company." It offers interactive live online tuition programmes for primary and secondary school students in class sizes that range from small groups of 4-6 students to large groups of 15-30 students. Note that it offers programmes, not sessions, which means that it is an online group tuition platform and currently, nowhere in the website does it offer one-to-one sessions. It boasts, however, of an in-house-developed curriculum based on Singapore's syllabus, its own teaching methods, and experienced tutors.
Services: Interactive live online classes in English, Science, and Mathematics for small groups of primary and secondary level students
Website: https://www.tenopy.co/
Features: Virtual classroom; Homework marking; Lesson replay in video
Rates: Starts at S$24 per class per hour; rates go up for higher school level
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: None
Mobile app: None
Testimonials: No information on the website
4. SUPERSTAR TEACHER
About: Founded in 2011 by a team of curriculum specialists and quality teachers, Superstar Teacher is an online tuition platform that aims to connect students to "star-quality teachers" via the Internet to make learning easy and efficient. It offers assistance to primary- and secondary-level students with different learning capabilities to attain subject mastery and excel in their PSLE and O-Level exams.
Services: Online tuition for Primary Math, Science, English, and Chinese; Secondary Math Science, English, and Chinese
Website:https://www.superstarteacher.com.sg/
Features: Online video lessons; Homework help; Auto-marking assessment
Rates: No information on the website
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: Available
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
5. iSINGAPORE MATH
About: iSingaporeMath is an online tuition platforms that intervenes in children's difficulties in Mathematics by providing video lessons, quizzes, activities, and other e-learning resources with the help of either a parent or a tutor or guide (available by request). It aims to provide self-paced learning for students through its online programs, problem sets, and similar Maths assessment tools developed by teachers and professional development providers based on the curriculum approved by the Singapore Ministry of Education.
Services: Online tutoring through a suite of Singapore Math® online program and online problem solving sets; Singapore Math practice; Singapore Math test prep activities
Website:https://www.isingaporemath.com/
Features: Virtual study rooms; Tutor-guided course; Unlimited practice
Rates: No information on the website
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: None
Mobile app: None
Testimonials: No information on the website
6. NUMBERSKILL
About: Numberskill was founded in 2004 by math tutor Gary Ang and his wife and chemistry tutor Eileen Ang-Tan. It began as (and still is) a learning centre but eventually launched an online platform to cater to students who cannot physically attend live classes at their tuition centres due to distance or personal time constraints. Its main aim is to help students pass national standardized examinations such as O-Levels and A-Levels through classes conducted at one of their four tuition centres in the country or by viewing tutorial sessions online. For the latter, students can either livestream a tutorial session as it happens, or watch pre-recorded sessions by choosing a "Netflix-style" bundle plan that suits the student's need based on subjects or topics. It does not offer one-to-one live online tutorial in the strictest sense, but it has live online tutorials that students from anywhere can join.
Services: Live classes at their tuition centres and online tutorials for the following: GCE O-Level A/E Maths: Sec 1 to 4; GCE A-Level H2 Maths: JC1 to JC2; IP Maths; GCE A-Level H2 Maths: JC1 to JC2
Website:https://www.numberskill.com/
Features: Video recordings of live lessons; One-to-one consultation
Rates: Bundle plans of online lessons start at S$39 per month
Payment methods: Debit card or credit card
Free trial: None
Mobile app: None
Testimonials: No information on the website
7. TUTOPIYA
About: Tutopiya is a straight-up live online tutoring platform. It offers screened and qualified tutors for individual lessons on Maths, Physics, Chemistry and other subjects to students aged 8-18. Not much information is provided on the website as to who founded it or when it started or what its mission or vision is. However, it guarantees parents and students that its team is composed of tutors whose 50% are “first class honours graduates from the world's best universities.” It also boasts of being a global platform, with students from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and other countries.
Services: One-to-one live online tuition for International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) A-Level, and GCSE O-Level on Maths and other academic subjects
Website:https://www.tutopiya.com/#/
Features: Virtual classrooms; Customized lesson plans according to student’s weaknesses and gaps
Rates: Rates depend on the student's grade level, curriculum, and country of residence; Offers flexible plans beginning with a Starter Plan (exact rates not shown on website)
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: Free 60-minute trial class
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
8. TEACH ‘N’ LEARN
About: Teachnlearn is a tutoring marketplace founded in 2017 that offers one-to-one live online tutoring to students through an interactive online classroom, tutor booking system, and learning tools. It calls itself the "AirBnB of tuition" as it aims to make education accessible to all students with the help of its team of educators and pool of professional tutors.
Services: One-to-one live online tutoring for primary- and secondary-level Maths and other subjects; One-to-one live online tutoring for PSLE, O-Level and A-Levels Maths
Website:https://sg.teachnlearn.io/
Features: Virtual classroom; Interactive whiteboard; Re-playable tutorial sessions
Rates: Rates depend on tutor qualifications and experience; There is a service fee of 5% for the “processing cost”
Payment methods: Debit or credit card
Free trial: Available
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
9. MINDLAB
About: Mindlab regards itself as the "premier tuition centre in Singapore," offering tuition to students for their IB Diploma and IGCSE. It offers individual and group sessions, either online or in its tuition centre, through its tutors that range from former teachers to undergraduates, graduates, and research scholars.
Services: Individual or private sessions and small group classes for IB Diploma and IGCSE; Live online IB Skype tuition
Website:http://www.mindlab-international.com/
Features: "Live" video instruction; Notes and worksheets; Practice exams; Essay-vetting
Rates: No information available other than a S$30 registration fee
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: None
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
10. IB SUPER
About: IB Super is a tutoring platform formed by a group of IB and IGCSE tutoring specialists. The group believes in the potential of every student and so aims to help them in their academic goals by offering tuition programmes in Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics, etc., and IGCSE and IB exams, as well as one-to-one live online tutoring on the same academic areas.
Services: Individual or private tuition, small group classes, and one-to-one live online sessions for IB and IGCSE tutorials
Website: https://ibsuper.com.sg/
Features: One-to-one live online sessions for IB and IGCSE Maths; Free assessment of student’s weakness or gaps; Practice exams
Rates: No information on the website
Payment methods: No information on the website
Free trial: None
Mobile app: None
Testimonials:
11. iMATH
About: iMath’s story began when its founder Yueh Mei—experienced educator, teacher trainer and mathematics education coach who holds a Master in Education (MEd) with NIE/NTU Singapore and Master of Arts in Education (MA) with Stanford University, USA, spent three years travelling and training people all around the globe. Here, she saw the universal need for students to learn and understand Mathematical concepts wherever they may be in the world, and this is where iMath was born. Combining the best of technology and a human-centered approach, iMath is not just a mere tutor marketplace—it is an online community of math experts and enthusiasts that ensures quality learning and coaching in its desire to make learning Mathematics a journey for every student. Here, learning is not only limited to students for even parents can share their insights as they find care at the core of the iMath community.
Services: One-to-one live online tutorial with sole focus on primary- and secondary-level Mathematics and related topics; 24/7 chat support; Free homework help; Tutor-booking based on student’s preference, availability, and schedule
Website: https://www.imath.sg/
Features: Community wall for posting and viewing up-to-date questions and content; Virtual classroom complete with audio and video capabilities, messaging, and online sessions that can be replayed and reviewed, notes on the Whiteboard included; Customizable “My Wall” which allows students to view Math topics most relevant to him or her; Tracking of confirmed sessions and upcoming session reminder; 24/7 chatbot support
Rates: Starts at $15 per 30 minutes
Payment methods: iMath wallet (Hassle-free payment method exclusively for iMath users); Credit card
Free trial: Available by request
Mobile app: Downloadable via App Store or Google Play
Testimonials:
At a glance, here are the basic features and rates offered by each online tuition provider
| Online Tuition Provider | Features | Rates | Free Trial | Downloadable App |
| Ace Learning | One-to-one live online tutoring from Mondays to Fridays, 9am-6pm; Interactive whiteboard; Ask tutor-on-demand | Starts at S$20/30 mins. for Primary Math; S$30/30 mins. for Secondary Math |
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| Champion Tutor | Interactive whiteboard; Virtual classroom; Recordable tutorial sessions; 24/7 chatbot support | Starts at S$10/hr |
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| Tenopy | Virtual classroom; Homework marking; Lesson replay in video | Starts at S$24/hour |
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| Superstar Teacher | Online video lessons; Homework help; Auto-marking assessment | Not shown on website |
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| iSingapore Math | Virtual study rooms; Tutor-guided course; Unlimited practice | Not shown on website |
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| Numberskill | Video recordings of live lessons; One-to-one consultation | Bundle plans start at S$39/month |
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| Tutopiya | Virtual classrooms; Customized lesson plans | Not shown on website |
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| Teachnlearn | Virtual classroom; Interactive whiteboard; Recordable tutorial sessions | Varies depending on tutor |
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| Mindlab | "Live" video instruction; Notes and worksheets; Practice exams; Essay-vetting | S$30 registration fee |
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| IB Super | One-to-one live online sessions for IB and IGCSE Maths; Free assessment of student’s weakness or gaps; Practice exams | Not shown on website |
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| iMath | One-to-one live online Maths tutoring; Community wall for posting and viewing up-to-date questions and content; Virtual classroom complete with audio and video capabilities, messaging, and online sessions that can be replayed and reviewed, notes on the Whiteboard included; Customizable “My Wall” which allows students to view Math topics most relevant to him or her; Tracking of confirmed sessions and upcoming session reminder; 24/7 chatbot support | Starts at $15 / 30 mins. |
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iMath takes the leap. . . Take the leap, too!
Out of the many online tuition options out there, very few have the heart and the smarts to focus on just one field of academic study, especially Mathematics, which is universally deemed as challenging as it is important. And yet iMath takes the leap in order to make high-quality Math tuition accessible, affordable, and convenient for students anytime, anywhere. And iMath does it not with one lone super tutor but with the help of a dedicated online community—because when it comes to Math, it is better to make your child gets all the help he can get.
Try iMath today to discover online Math tuition that is quick and hassle-free! With just a click or a swipe, get instant homework help, book a tutor that suits your child, choose a schedule that works for you, get reminders of upcoming sessions, and watch your child’s Math skills go from zero to hero. Download the iMath app today via App Store or Google Play.
This post was written by Louise O. Lopez
