Singapore Students Top Global Rankings Again in Maths and Science (2023 TIMSS Results)
Singapore students have once again ranked #1 globally in both Mathematics and Science, according to the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023. This marks the fourth time Singapore has topped all four categories — Primary Maths, Primary Science, Secondary Maths, and Secondary Science — following earlier sweeps in 2003, 2015, and 2019.
Conducted every four years, TIMSS evaluates Grade 4 and Grade 8 students (equivalent to Singapore’s Primary 4 and Secondary 2) on their ability to understand, apply, and reason using maths and science concepts.
Outstanding Performance at Both Primary and Secondary Levels
More than 11,000 Singapore students from 326 schools took part in the 2023 study, competing against students from 64 other education systems. Here’s how Singapore students fared:
Mathematics Scores:
- Primary 4: 615 (Top), ahead of Taiwan (607) and South Korea (594)
- Secondary 2: 605 (Top), ahead of Taiwan (602) and South Korea (596)
Science Scores:
- Primary 4: 607, beating South Korea (583) and Taiwan (573)
- Secondary 2: 606, ahead of Taiwan (572) and Japan (557)
The results show not only top-level excellence but also strong foundational skills across the board. Even students who were considered “academically weaker” scored above the international average.
High-Level Thinking and Application
The TIMSS assessment tests students in three main skill categories:
- Knowing (factual knowledge)
- Applying (using concepts to solve problems)
- Reasoning (critical and analytical thinking)
Singapore students performed especially well in the applying and reasoning categories — which are regarded as higher-order thinking skills — and exceeded global averages even in the bottom 20% of the student cohort.
Over 40% of Singapore students achieved the “advanced” benchmark, compared to the international median of just 7%. This highlights not only academic strength but also the ability to apply learning in real-world contexts — a key component in 21st-century education.
Building Environmental Awareness and Digital Skills
Singapore students also showed strong knowledge in environmental science topics such as climate change, biodiversity, and conservation — areas that are growing in global relevance.
In addition, they demonstrated high digital self-efficacy — the confidence to use technology for learning, such as finding information online or creating presentations.
Confidence Up, But Interest in Maths Has Fallen
While students continue to perform well and show confidence in both Maths and Science, there’s a noted dip in interest in Mathematics, especially at the Secondary 2 level.
In 2023:
- 42% of Primary 4 students said they “enjoy maths a lot” (down from 48% in 2019)
- 35% of Secondary 2 students said the same (down from 37%)
- Only 32% of Secondary 2 students agreed that learning Maths is helpful in daily life (down from 38%)
This highlights a growing disconnect between academic success and personal interest, particularly as students move into adolescence.
What Can Be Done to Reignite Interest?
Educators and curriculum planners are already taking steps to make Maths more engaging and relevant. According to Madam Low Leng, Master Teacher of Secondary Mathematics at the Academy of Singapore Teachers:
“Maths topics cannot be learnt in silos and should be taught in a way that can be relatable to everyday life.”
Activities such as measuring the school badminton court without standard tools or applying percentages during grocery shopping are just some examples of how parents and teachers can build practical connections.
Parents, too, play a key role by modelling a positive attitude towards Maths and showing how it is used in real life — from budgeting, cooking, and travel planning to analysing sports statistics and reading the news.
Why This Matters for Your Child
As Ms Liew Wei Li, Director-General of Education, noted:
“Maths and Science are subjects that foster critical thinking, which can drive technological innovation and help solve global challenges.”
If your child is struggling to stay motivated in Maths or having trouble applying concepts, it may not be about ability — it could be about how the subject is taught.
At Szducate, we help students strengthen their understanding through the CPF Method — a research-based approach that trains students to:
- Check their work (reduce careless mistakes)
- Pace themselves under time pressure
- Build Familiarity through structured exposure and retrieval
Our approach aligns with global best practices and complements Singapore’s world-class curriculum.
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