A Singaporean Parent’s Guide To Buying Maths Assessment Books

Buying Maths assessment books is not an easy task at all. However, every Singaporean parent go through this ordeal every year. The problem is that there are so many books available that it can get confusing and overwhelming.

It is also a problem when you buy books that your children don’t use and this is just money down the drain.

Did you know that only 60% of the assessment books that are bought are completed?

This means that you need to buy books you know your child will complete and use. Here is your complete guide to buying the right maths assessment books so your child can flourish in maths.

Figure Out How You Are Going To Buy

Before you even begin the buying process, you need to answer a few questions to help understand what you and your child needs. Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

1. How many assessment books do you need to buy?
2. How many types of maths assessment books are there?
3. What criteria do you need to tell if an assessment book is good?
4. Do you want to go for online maths assessment books or printed?
5. What assessment books come highly recommended for maths?

These are questions you need the answers to. Without this, you will end up buying books that will cost you a lot of money and may prove to be useless as well.

If you want the answers to all these questions so this process can become easier on you then keep reading.

How Many Math Assessment Books Do You Need To Buy?

The number should never matter. You know why?

Well, because it should always be quality over quantity. This is why you should not just buy all the books that come recommended or are needed for maths.

Focus on other things. For example, think about how much time your kid actually has to finish the maths assessment books. This is because if your child has limited time then they will not be able to finish all the books you buy anyway and that will be money and time wasted.

Do you know the recommended number of math assessment books you should buy for your kid? It's two. That's it. You don't have to feel pressured or overwhelmed because you only need two books.

One is the ultimate maths assessment book and the second book should serve as a support guide for your kid. This is the ideal number because your kid's focus will be on one book and finishing that.

This will ensure that the book is finished and your child understands different concepts and problems by the time they are done. Once this is done, the support book can be used for additional maths revision. After all, practice makes perfect.

This will also save storage space in your home and give your child’s brain attentive. Buying too many books will mean that their focus is dispersed and this way they will not be able to learn anything as well.

So, two books are all you need to buy.

How Many Types Of Maths Assessment Books Are There?

Mainly, there are at least 4 different types of maths assessment books that you can buy. However, all of them teach math differently and so you will need to figure out what is best for your kids learning process.

The four maths assessment books include:

#1. Topical Books

If you want your child to have a strong maths foundation then these are the assessment books you should get. They focus on teaching basic maths topics.

The books are arranged according to the different topics and they are usually in a proper sequence that is also used in school. These books are the ideal solution for children who need to revise their basics so they can have a better understanding of topics.

#2. Olympiad Books

Such books follow the Maths Olympiad Curriculum. It is specifically used for the Maths Olympiad competition that takes place worldwide. This is an ideal book for fast-paced and intelligent children that find assessment books easy.

So, if your child is great at maths and needs to just practice their skills even further with more challenging topics then these are the ideal books to buy.

#3. Heuristic Books  

These are also challenging books and should be used if your child already has a strong foundation of mathematical concepts. These books contain challenging questions and will take your kids revision game to the next level.

This is because these books will help them be even more skilled in the topics they are practising in schools. So, your kid will be able to solve problems and understand difficult topics once they are finished with this book.

#4. Practice Exam Books

Do remember, that these books are not for understanding and building concepts or mathematical skills. They simply are designed to get your kid the hang of giving an exam.

Papers are designed according to the format and topics so that your kid can practice sitting for the exam. They can time themselves, see their strengths and weaknesses, and keep on practising.

These should only be used as an additional support book once your child is done with the assessment book you have got for them.

What Criteria Do You Need To Tell If An Assessment Book Is Good?

The criterion completely depends on your child and what year they are in at school. So, a good rule of thumb here is to get an assessment book for math that covers the correct MOE syllabus (SEAB) for the year they are in.

This is important because if you don’t pick the right book with the right syllabus then your child’s learning will be affected and you wouldn’t want that.

Ideally, it should be reinforcing and supporting what your child is already being taught in his school. Apart from that, the book should also show an understanding of how different formulas are applied to different problems.

This way your child will have an in-depth understanding of a topic and will be able to perform better by the time they are done. If you still don’t understand then you can break it down even further.

For example, the quality of an assessment book can be seen through the publisher and author. There are a few publishers that are known for producing the highest-quality maths assessment books. These include:

1. GLM
2. Shinglee
3. Marshall Cavendish
4. EPH
5. Casco

These are reliable publishers and it is a guarantee that using books by these means that your child is getting the reinforcement they deserve. They have the lowest number of errors and your child will have no issues in learning from these.

Apart from this, you can also check the author. A few well-known authors for maths assessment books include:

1. Dr Yeap Ban Har
2. Loh Cheng Yee
3. Li Fanglan
4. Andrew Er
5. Bernice Lau Pui Wah

Their books are widely used in not just Singapore but all over the world. They also have revised versions that suit the curriculum of a specific year. However, the best part is that they are easily available everywhere and extremely affordable.

Do You Want To Go For Online Maths Assessment Books Or Printed?

This is completely dependent on what you prefer. It also depends on the different kinds of online assessment books that are available for Math. Practicle is an online maths assessment book that is powered by AI and provides over 10,000 questions for your kid to learn from.

It also has video explanations of different concepts and step by step solutions for your child to cross-check their work. So, you can use such a book. However, it is better that you opt for a printed book that is suited to your child’s curriculum.

What Assessment Books Come Highly Recommended For Maths?

Of course, the popular recommendations that are given for maths assessment books may not be necessarily suited for your child. This is because every child has a different set of strengths and weaknesses in maths.

So, understanding these areas is key to getting the perfect assessment book for your child. If you want a recommended book then you can simply check out your local bookstore and they will tell you the most popular and recommended books.

However, do not rely on them. Understand your child and their learning style. Apart from that, when you identify the strengths and weaknesses you should also understand why the weakness in a certain area arises?

This way you will be able to find the perfect maths assessment book for your child that will suit their needs and provide a practical solution for their weakness in math.

If you have a maths tutor for your child you can also ask them to recommend the best maths assessment book that will suit your kid.

Final Words

Math is everywhere and is a much-needed skill in today's time. We should recognize that getting the right maths assessment book is as important as getting maths tuition in Singapore. The process can be overwhelming but with this guide, you will find the perfect maths assessment book for your child in no time