Online Singapore Maths Tutoring, Live 1-on-1

1What kind of maths tutoring does WuKong offer?

WuKong's online maths course is Singapore maths tutoring that focuses on problem-solving, with a competition track also available. A certified teacher works live with one child at a time, so the content follows that child's level and interests rather than a class average.

Before a plan is made, the teacher assesses your child's level and goals, and complete beginners follow a different path from children with a stronger background. The free trial, pricing and scheduling are covered on the parent FAQ page.

2What is Singapore maths?

“Singapore maths” is the name widely used for the style of mathematics teaching associated with Singapore. It is often summarised by two ideas: a Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) teaching sequence, and the bar model for picturing word problems.

In a CPA sequence, children first work with real objects, then with pictures and diagrams, and only then with numbers and symbols. The aim is that a written number sentence stands for something the child has already handled and seen.

These are general descriptions of the approach rather than a fixed lesson script. In WuKong's lessons, the teacher decides what each child needs after assessing their level.

3How does the bar model turn a word problem into a picture?

The bar model draws the quantities in a word problem as rectangular bars. The NCETM, England's National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, describes it not as a method for solving problems but as a way of revealing the mathematical structure inside a problem, which then helps a child solve it.

A single bar diagram can show addition and subtraction as two views of the same relationship. When two of the three quantities are known, the third can be found, and the same picture works for problems with an unknown.

• Part–whole: one long bar for the total, split into the parts that make it up.
• Comparison: two bars side by side, so the difference between two quantities is visible.
• Multiples and ratio: equal-sized units, which suit problems involving multiplication, division, ratio and proportion.

4What does a bar model solution look like, step by step?

Here is a typical comparison problem: “There are 3 times as many red beads as blue beads. There are 48 beads altogether. How many blue beads are there?” Drawing the bars first makes the relationship visible before any calculation.

• Draw one unit for the blue beads and three equal units for the red beads.
• Together that is 4 units, and the question says 4 units = 48.
• So 1 unit = 48 ÷ 4 = 12: there are 12 blue beads and 36 red beads.
• Check against the question: 12 + 36 = 48, and 36 is 3 times 12.

5Which problem-solving strategies help with harder questions?

Harder questions usually need a strategy before any calculation starts. A classic reference on this is George Pólya's How to Solve It, which includes a heuristic dictionary of ways to make problems more manageable, including starting from the goal and working backward to something already known.

• Draw it: a bar model or sketch shows what is known and what is missing.
• Work backward: start from the result the question describes and undo each step.
• Check the answer against the question: does it fit every condition in the problem?

6Problem-solving or competition maths: which path fits my child?

WuKong's maths course has two directions: core problem-solving tutoring and a competition track. Which one fits depends on your child's current level and goals, and the teacher assesses both before a plan is made.

• Problem-solving focus: suits a child who wants firmer footing with everyday maths, or who tends to get stuck on word problems.
• Competition track: suits a child who already enjoys maths and wants more challenging, contest-style problems.
• Not sure yet: the free trial lesson is a good place to find out, because the teacher sees how your child works through a problem.

7How can parents support Singapore-style maths at home?

Parents can follow the concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract idea at home without any special materials. The point is to let a child see and explain the structure of a problem before rushing to an answer.

• Use everyday objects, such as coins, buttons or snacks, to act out a word problem.
• Ask your child to sketch the problem as bars before writing a number sentence.
• Ask “How do you know?” so your child explains the answer in words.
• Leave room to struggle a little: a wrong first drawing is useful information for the next try.

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