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Homeschool Math Curriculum Comparison

Saxon Math vs Singapore Math

Trying to choose between Saxon Math and Singapore Math-Dimensions for your homeschool? Both are among the most popular homeschool math curricula, and Nicole the Math Lady teaches both — with video lessons and automated grading on one Math Pass. Below, see how they compare feature by feature — teaching philosophy, practice and review, mental math, and grade coverage — then watch a free sample lesson of each and take a quick placement test.

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Saxon Math vs Singapore Math at a glance

Saxon Math

Available now

Math 3–Advanced Math

Repetition that makes it stick

Plenty of examples in the teaching and enough repetition for memory recall.

May fit best if…

  • Your child does well with repetition and routine
  • You want strong cumulative review
  • You prefer a steady, worksheet-driven structure
Explore Saxon MathWatch a free sample lessonTake the placement test

Singapore Math

Available now

Grades 1–5

Mental math & word-problem strategies

Good teaching of mental math strategies and a good framework for how to attack word problems.

May fit best if…

  • Your child enjoys understanding why math works
  • You want strong conceptual teaching
  • You like a mostly mastery-style path with visual models
Explore Singapore MathWatch a free sample lessonTake the placement test

Saxon Math vs Singapore Math, feature by feature

A high-level look at how the two programs differ in approach — from Nicole's curriculum matchmaker.

FeatureSaxon MathSingapore Math
Teaching PhilosophyTraditionalConceptual
Mastery vs. Spiral in TeachingStrong SpiralMostly Mastery
Mastery vs. Spiral in AssignmentsStrong SpiralStrong Mastery
Instructional StyleTeacher-LedMostly Student-Driven
Built-In PracticeMostLess
Mental Math InstructionMinimalExtensive
Mental Math PracticeModerateLess

The bottom line

Saxon Math uses a spiral approach with small daily increments and constant review, and is the most worksheet-driven — a strong fit for students who thrive on routine, repetition, and clear step-by-step practice.

Singapore Math-Dimensions is mastery-based around the concrete-pictorial-abstract method and bar-model problem solving, and explicitly teaches mental-math strategies — well suited to visual, conceptual learners who enjoy the “why” behind the math.

There is no single “best” math curriculum — the right fit depends on your student. The fastest way to decide between Saxon Math and Singapore Math is to take Nicole's curriculum quiz, watch a free sample lesson of each, and take the placement test.

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Nicole the Math Lady has been such a positive change for math in our home. My boys, ages 9 and 11, had tolerated and even dreaded math time before, but now they look forward to it.
Samantha Hamilton

Samantha Hamilton

Homeschool Mom

Saxon Math vs Singapore Math — Common Questions

Saxon Math uses a spiral approach with small daily increments and constant review, and is the most worksheet-driven — a strong fit for students who thrive on routine, repetition, and clear step-by-step practice. Singapore Math-Dimensions is mastery-based around the concrete-pictorial-abstract method and bar-model problem solving, and explicitly teaches mental-math strategies — well suited to visual, conceptual learners who enjoy the “why” behind the math.
On Nicole the Math Lady's high-level comparison, Saxon Math rates most for built-in practice and Singapore Math rates less. Neither approach is better — it's a difference in style: programs with more built-in practice revisit previously learned topics more often, while mastery-leaning programs use fewer, deeper problems per concept.
Yes. You're not paying for a particular curriculum — you're paying for the Math Pass ($79/year), which includes Nicole's video lessons and automated grading for every curriculum she teaches. Start with whichever of Saxon Math or Singapore Math looks like the right fit for your kid — and if you later find out it isn't, of course you can change it: switch to another curriculum at no extra cost, up to four times a year.
It depends on how your child learns. Saxon Math may fit best if your child does well with repetition and routine; Singapore Math may fit best if your child enjoys understanding why math works. The fastest way to decide is to take Nicole's curriculum quiz, watch a free sample lesson of each, and take the placement test.

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Saxon Math curriculum overviewSingapore Math curriculum overviewCompare all four math curriculumsTake Nicole's math curriculum quiz

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