How to use the Placement Tests for Singapore Math?

[emilysmama]

Hello,

My dd just finished K in public school, but I am posting this in homeschooling thread because homeschoolers will be more likely to have used Singapore Math.

I want to try Singapore Math for my dd over the summer. I went to URL for Singapore Math Placement Test
and I find three, possibly 4, different sets of placement tests.
Primary Math 3rd and US Edition Series
Primary Math Standards Edition Series
New Elementary Math Series
New Syllabus/Discovering Math Series

So I see descriptions elsewhere about the differences between the US Edition Series and the Standards Edition Series, but it doesn't really mean anything to me.

Soooo, which series do I want to ultimately want to purchase? Because I can't figure out which group of placement tests to give her until I understand the answer to this question.

I haven't started this earlier because just trying to figure out which series of tests I should be giving, and ultimately which series of books I should purchase has intimidated me all year. But now the summer is upon me.

So I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

[moominmamma]

First of all, in Singapore "Primary" means grades 1-6, and "Elementary" means grades 7-10 (more like grades 8-12 in the US). "Elementary" also includes Discovery and New Syllabus, so you can disregard NEM / Discovering / NS placement tests.

That leaves you with just Standards and 3rd Ed. of the Primary Maths series. You'll find that the placement tests are very similar for the two. The Standards Ed. is more closely aligned with certain state standards (especially CA), in that it does a few things in the sequence used in those states. I believe this edition was published primarily in order to appeal to the schools market. Only if they met with these standards could Singapore Primary be adopted by public schools in the US as an in-class curriculum.

If there are reasons why you feel it's important that your child follow a more US-style scope & sequence rather than the Singaporean one (if, for instance, your child will be subjected to high stakes annual standardized testing, or is likely to be attending school starting in 3rd grade or something) then you might prefer that Edition. Overall the Standards Ed. has, I think, a slightly broader scope, too, including a bit more of the para-maths stuff like probability. We're in Canada and I prefer the 3rd Edition in part for its endearing Asian flavour and lack of US Standard measurement units (yards, gallons, etc.).

Anyway, I doubt there's much difference between the two placement tests in the early years. Just pick whichever program makes the most sense for you, and use that placement test.

Miranda

[Cassyt]

Singapore Math Placement tests

Looks like moominmamma has covered most of your questions, but I just wanted to point out that the placement tests on SingaporeMath.com are designed as exit assessments.

Since your daughter has completed kindergarten, she most likely will need to begin in the 1A books. If you give her the 1A placement test and she scores over 80%, then you could have her take the 1B placement test. If she scores below 80%, this is the place to start.

For classroom teaching, I find the Standards Edition offers more information to new teachers. The U.S. Edition is the most compact and most like what has been used in Singapore for the past 20 years. Both are strong choices.

[emilysmama]

Thank you very much mamas. You have no idea how helpful your information has been. Just telling me the fact that Primary and Elementary do not mean the same thing makes things so much clearer to me! (When I looked at the Elementary placement tests, I thought, "My, those are some really smart first graders in Singapore!")

My plan was to give the 1A and 1B tests. My guess is that dd will get more than 80% on the 1A, and not even close to that for the 1B. So I am relieved that your suggestions on how to proceed match what I originally had in mind. Your comments also helped me understand why the Standard and U.S. placement tests seemed to be identical to me (although I only glanced through 1A and 1B tests quickly).