Singapore Math vs Saxon Math: Which Homeschool Math Fits Your Child?

Singapore Math vs Saxon Math: the short answer

These are two of the most-used print math programs in American homeschools, and they come from opposite design ideas.

Singapore Math (Primary Mathematics) teaches each topic thoroughly before moving on. Children see an idea with objects, then pictures, then numbers, and they solve a lot of multi-step word problems. A parent teaches most lessons.

Saxon Math teaches in small increments. Each day adds one new idea, then a long mixed problem set reviews almost everything learned so far. Older students can read lessons alone, and the series runs from kindergarten to calculus.

If you want deep understanding in elementary and can teach daily, pick Singapore. If you want steady routine, strong retention and one series through high school, pick Saxon.

Teaching approach

Singapore Math uses a concrete-pictorial-abstract sequence and bar models to turn word problems into pictures. Mental math and number sense show up early, and geometry and early algebra thinking appear sooner than in most US programs. It is light on fact drill, so many families add practice.

Saxon Math is really two programs. Math K–3, by Nancy Larson, is scripted and parent-led, with a daily "Meeting" for calendar, money and counting. From Math 5/4 up, by Stephen Hake and John Saxon, it becomes a textbook: warm-ups, one new increment, a few practice problems, then a mostly-review problem set.

What a lesson looks like

Singapore: You work a problem together with counters or blocks, look at how the Student Book draws it, then your child does the Additional Practice pages. Each grade is split into A and B halves. By grades 4 and 5, many kids read the examples alone, but word problems still go better when you talk them through.

Saxon (5/4 and up): Your child does fact practice, a mental math item and a word problem, reads the new lesson, tries a few practice problems, then works 20 to 30 mixed problems. A parent checks answers with the solutions manual. Tests come every few lessons.

Price and value

Both are inexpensive next to boxed curricula, but they price differently. As of October 2026, a Singapore 2022 Edition semester (Student Book, Additional Practice and Home Instructor's Guide) is about $53 at list price, so a full grade is two semesters. Shipping applies to orders under $100.

Saxon homeschool kits usually run about $120 to $200 per level at major homeschool retailers, with higher HMH list prices. K–3 levels need a manipulatives kit, about $75 at Christianbook, and workbooks and tests are consumable for each child.

Singapore's edition choices (2022, US, Standards) and Saxon's skill-level names (5/4, 6/5, 7/6) both trip up first-time buyers, so take the free placement tests first.

Who should choose Saxon

• Kids who like routine and do well with lots of practice
• Students who forget skills unless they review them often
• Families who want one series from K to calculus
• Older students who can learn from worked examples on their own

Who should choose Singapore Math

• Children who enjoy puzzles and thinking problems through
• Parents who can teach most lessons, especially in K–3
• Families who want strong mental math and bar-model problem solving
• Kids who get bored with long sets of mixed review

Alternatives to both

• Math-U-See: mastery with blocks and video. See Math-U-See vs Singapore Math and Math-U-See vs Saxon Math.
• Math Mammoth: Singapore-style depth for less, and easier to use independently. See Math Mammoth vs Singapore Math.
• Beast Academy: puzzle-heavy for strong students.
• Dimensions Math: Singapore Math Inc.'s more guided series that continues into middle school.
• Teaching Textbooks: independent and auto-graded.

See the best homeschool math curriculum and best elementary math curriculum.

Can you use a scholarship for either?

Often, yes. Print curriculum like Saxon and Singapore Math is commonly an allowable expense in education savings account programs such as the Arizona ESA and Florida's FES-UA. Each program decides what it covers and which vendors you can buy from, and some require purchases through a marketplace. Save both to your wishlist and apply once to the scholarships your family may qualify for.