Overview
The StemCo syllabus is inspired by the Singapore education curriculum. Singapore is known for its excellence in PISA tests for both Sciences and Mathematics for the last few years. Results from PISA indicate the quality and equity of learning outcomes attained around the world. By adopting the Singapore education curriculum as a reference, StemCo provides an opportunity for students globally to learn from one of the best practices of education in the world.
Our approach prioritizes understanding, application, and analysis of scientific and mathematical concepts over rote memorization of factual material. This shift in focus is intentional, recognizing the need for students to develop skills with long-term value in an increasingly technological world. Rather than concentrating on large volumes of factual information with limited short-term relevance, StemCo emphasizes critical thinking and practical application of learned concepts.
Categories and Exam Format
This document outlines the syllabus for each StemCo Mathematics category. The corresponding international grade levels and their Singapore grade-level equivalents are provided below for reference. All categories are assessed entirely through Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs).
| Category | International Grade Level | Singapore Grade Level Equivalent | Number of Questions (MCQ) | Exam Duration (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singa 1 | 1 | Primary 1 | 20 | 60 |
| Singa 2 | 2 | Primary 2 | 20 | 60 |
| Singa 3 | 3 | Primary 3 | 20 | 60 |
| Singa 4 | 4 | Primary 4 | 20 | 60 |
| Singa 5 | 5 | Primary 5 | 30 | 90 |
| Singa 6 | 6 | Primary 6 | 30 | 90 |
| Singa 7 | 7 | Secondary 1 | 30 | 90 |
| Singa 8 | 8 | Secondary 2 | 30 | 90 |
| Singa Junior | 9-10 | Secondary 3-4 | 40 | 120 |
| Singa Senior | 11-12 | Junior College 1-2 | 40 | 120 |
Syllabus
The StemCo syllabus is designed to cover essential areas and concepts crucial for a holistic understanding of subjects. While it provides a general framework for the topics featured in StemCo competitions, it is not intended to be exhaustive or overly detailed. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for students that encourages deep comprehension and real-world problem-solving, preparing them for future success in dynamic and unpredictable environments.
The syllabus includes a category called "Others" for concepts that don’t fit into the main topics. This section may include questions about recent advancements, trends, and discoveries related to the subject area, designed to be inspiring. Questions in this category can also be more advanced.
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Reading, Writing, Describing, Comparing, Simple Sequences & Patterns (up to 100) |
| Operations | Addition & Subtraction (within 100), Multiplication (within 40), Division (within 20) |
| Money | Dollars OR Cents (Up to $100, Manipulation of Either $ or Cents) |
| Measurement | Length (cm); Time (up to 5 minutes, using notations AM, PM, h, min) |
| Geometry | Identification, Description & Classification of 2D shapes |
| Statistics | Pictorial Graphs |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Reading, Writing, Describing, Comparing, Simple Sequences & Patterns (up to 1000), Odd & Even Numbers |
| Operations | Addition & Subtraction (3 Digits), Multiplication & Division (within Multiplication Tables 2, 3, 4, 5 & 10), |
| Fractions | Addition, Subtraction, Representing & Comparing Simple Fractions (denominator ≤12, within 1 whole) |
| Money | Dollars & Cents (Up to $100, Representing & Converting using Decimal Notation) |
| Measurement | Length (m), Mass (g/kg), Volume (l), Time (h & min, including interconversions) |
| Geometry | Identification, Description & Classification of 3D Objects; Patterns involving 2D shapes |
| Statistics | Pictorial Graphs with Scales |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Reading, Writing, Describing, Comparing, Simple Sequences & Patterns (up to 10000), Odd & Even Numbers |
| Operations | Addition & Subtraction (4 Digits), Multiplication & Division with Remainder (within Multiplication Tables 6, 7, 8 & 9; 3 digit by 1 digit Multiplication) |
| Fractions | Addition, Subtraction, Representing, Comparing & Simplifying Fractions (denominator ≤12) |
| Money | Dollars & Cents, Manipulation involving Decimal Notations |
| Measurement | Mass (kg/g), Length (cm/m/km), Volume (ml/l), Time (h/min/s, 24-hour clock) including easy interconversions of compound units |
| Geometry | Area & Perimeter (individual Squares or Rectangles; cm2 or m2); Comparison of Angles to a Right Angle, Parallel & Perpendicular Lines |
| Statistics | Bar Graphs with or without Scales |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Reading, Writing, Describing, Comparing, Sequences & Patterns (up to 100000); Approximation & using of ≈ |
| Operations | Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication (4 digits by 1 digit or 3 digits by 2 digits) & Division with Remainder (Up to 4 digits by 1 digit), Factors & Multiples |
| Fractions & Decimals | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division of Mixed Numbers, Improper Fractions & Decimals (up to 3 decimal places), Simplifying Fractions (≤2 denominators of ≤12) |
| Money | Dollars & Cents, Manipulation involving Decimal Notations |
| Measurement | Mass (kg/g), Length (cm/m/km), Volume (ml/l), Time (h/min/s, 24-hour clock) including interconversions of compound units |
| Geometry | Area & Perimeter (Composite Figures of Squares & Rectangles; cm2 or m2); Symmetry, Measuring Angles, Cube Nets of 2D Cubes & 3D Solids |
| Data Interpretation | Tables, Line Graphs & Pie Charts |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division (up to 10000000); Reading; Writing; Describing; Sequences & Patterns; Order of Operations & Brackets |
| Fractions & Decimals | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division of Mixed Numbers, Improper Fractions & Decimals (up to 3 decimal places), Simplifying Fractions |
| Money | Dollars & Cents; utilising Percentage to Calculate Tax, Simple Discounts & Annual Interest |
| Measurement | Length (cm/m/km); Time (h/m/s); Mass (kg/g); Volume (ml/l) - Including conversions & using Decimals |
| Geometry | Perimeter (cm, m) & Area (cm2, m2) of Triangles, Composite Figures of Squares, Rectangles & Triangles; Volumes (cm3, m3) of Cubes & Cuboids |
| Angles | Angles on Straight Line, at a Point, Vertically Opposite Angles; Triangles (Isosceles, Equilateral, Right-Angled), Parallelograms, Rhombus & Trapeziums |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers & Decimals | Reading; Writing; Describing; 4 Operations, Sequences & Patterns; Order of Operations & Brackets |
| Fractions & Ratio | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division of Mixed Numbers, Improper Fractions, Simplifying, Comparing & Interchanging Fractions & Ratios, Percentage |
| Money | Dollars & Cents; Tax, Simple Discounts & Annual Interest |
| Measurement | Length (cm/m/km); Time (h/m/s); Mass (kg/g); Volume (ml/l/cm3/m3) - Including conversions & using Decimals |
| Geometry | Perimeter (cm, m) & Area (cm2, m2) of Composite Figures of Squares, Rectangles, Triangles & Circles (Including Semicircles & Quarter-Circles); Volumes (cm3, m3) of Cubes & Cuboids, use of Square & Cube Roots; Calculation of Angles in Composite Geometric Figures |
| Algebra | Simple Interpretations & Representations of Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division |
| Statistics | Average (links to total value & number of data) |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Real, Rational, Negative Numbers & Integers; Prime Factorisation, Highest Common Factor & Lowest Common Multiple, Inequalities, Significant Figures, Number Line |
| Algebra | Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division; Order of Operations & Brackets, Common Factor Extraction, Linear Fractions, Inequalities, Expressions & Simple Graphs |
| Kinematics | Speed (km/h & m/s) - Including Unit Interconversion, Average & Constant Speeds; Rate |
| Geometry | Perimeter & Area (Parallelograms, Trapeziums & Composite Figures) in cm2 & m2; Volume & Surface Area (Prisms, Cylinders & Composite Solids) in cm3, m3 |
| Angles | Right, Acute, Obtuse & Reflex Angles; Angles on Straight Line, at a Point, Vertically Opposite Angles, Corresponding, Alternate & Interior/Exterior Angles; Properties of Polygons |
| Statistics | Tables; Bar Graphs; Line Graphs; Pie Charts; Pictograms |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Quadratic Expressions & Expansions, Subject of Formulae; Factorisation of Quadratic & Complex Linear Expressions, Manipulation, Simplification & Factorisation of Fractions with Quadratic &/or Linear Denominators, Inequalities |
| Graphs | Positive & Negative Quadratic Functions, Symmetry, Maximum & Minimum Points, Intersections of Linear & Quadratic Plots |
| Kinematics | Speed (km/h & m/s) - Including Unit Interconversion, Average & Constant Speeds; Rate |
| Geometry | Pythagoras’ Theorem; Simple Trigonometry, Congruence & Similarity, Volume & Surface Area (Pyramid, Cone & Sphere), Perimeter & Area involving Map Scales |
| Angles | Right, Acute, Obtuse & Reflex Angles; Angles on Straight Line, at a Point, Vertically Opposite Angles, Corresponding, Alternate & Interior/Exterior Angles; Properties of Polygons |
| Statistics | Dot Diagrams, Histograms, Stem & Leaf Diagrams; Mean, Mode & Median, Simple Probability of Single Events |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Numbers & Money | Index Notation; Matrices; Set Language & Notation; Compound Interest; Complex Currency Exchanges |
| Algebra | Quadratic Inequalities; Simultaneous Linear Equations; Partial Fractions; Surds; Exponential & Logarithmic Functions; Binomial Theorem; Graphical Analysis |
| Trigonometry | Normal & Inverse Functions (Degrees & Radians); Rules; Double Angle Formula; Solving, Proof-ing & Simplifying Expressions; Graphical Analysis; Area of Triangle |
| Geometry | Geometrical Proofs (Including Midpoint & Tangent- Chord Theorem); Symmetry & Angle Properties, Arc Length & Segment Area of Circles; 2D Vectors |
| Calculus | Differentiation & Integration (Implicit Differentiation, Integration by Parts & Integration of Inverse Trigonometric Functions NOT required) |
| Statistics | Cumulative Frequency Diagrams; Box & Whisker Plots; Quartiles; Percentiles; Interquartile Range; Standard Deviation; Probability of Combined Events |
| Others | ... |
| Areas | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Inequalities; Functions & Inverse Functions; Graph Transformations, Utilisation of Graphing Calculator; Binomial Expansion; Maclaurin Series |
| Sequences & Series | Arithmetic & Geometric Series: Limits; Infinity; Convergence, Sum & Differences of 2 Series; nth Term Expression; Mathematical Induction |
| Geometry | 3D Vectors; Dot, Cross Products & their Geometrical Interpretations; Ratio Theorem; Cartesian Equations & Relationship between Lines & Planes |
| Calculus | Differentiation & Integration (Includes Implicit Differentiation, Integration by Parts & Integration of Inverse Trigonometric Functions) |
| Complex Numbers | Addition & Subtraction; Cartesian Form; Argand Diagrams; Manipulation of Quadratic Equations; Modulus, Argument & Conjugate |
| Statistics & Probability | Permutations & Combinations; Probability; Binomial, Poisson & Normal Distributions; Hypothesis Testing; Correlation & Linear Regression |
| Others | ... |
