Lesson format
Weekly 1.5-hour live online class
Targeted online practice with instant marking supports work between lessons.
SEC 1 IB MATHEMATICS
Build a strong Year 1 foundation for the IB Diploma pathway.
Year 1 of the IB-track Integrated Programme compresses the lower secondary syllabus, layers on enrichment, and orients students toward the IB Diploma in Year 5–6. Our weekly live classes follow the Year 1 IB-track scheme so students stay aligned to school assessments without falling behind.
What we cover (Year 1 IB-track Mathematics)
Year 1 of the IB-track Integrated Programme covers four terms and 14 chapters — from primes, real numbers, and basic algebra in Term 1, through equations, geometry, and ratio in Term 2, to percentages, sequences, linear functions, and area in Term 3, and finally volume, surface area, and data handling in Term 4.
Term 1
Factors and Multiples: primes, HCF and LCM; squares, square roots, cubes and cube roots
Real Numbers: integers; rational and irrational numbers
Approximation and Estimation: significant figures and estimation
Basic Algebra and Algebraic Manipulation: expansion, laws of indices, factorisation (common factors and grouping), and substitution
Term 2
Simple Equations in One Variable: linear and simple algebraic equations
Angles and Parallel Lines
Triangles, Quadrilaterals and Other Polygons; geometrical construction of triangles and quadrilaterals
Ratio, Rate and Speed; direct and inverse proportion; scales and maps (linear and area scales)
Term 3
Percentages: discount, hire purchase, taxes, GST and commission
Sequences and Number Patterns
Linear Functions and Graphs: Cartesian coordinates, gradient, and the equation of a straight line
Perimeters and Areas of Plane Figures: squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, parallelograms and trapeziums
Term 4
Volume and Surface Area of Prisms and Cylinders; composite solids
Data Handling: frequency tables; reading and interpreting tables and statistical diagrams
The Year 1 IB-track Mathematics syllabus is broadly consistent across local IB schools.
Common challenges for Year 1 IB students
Year 1 in an IB-track school is a real step up. Students often share these pressure points:
Algebra arrives faster and goes deeper
Year 1 covers basic algebra, expansion, laws of indices, and two factorisation techniques (common factors and grouping) — all in Term 1. Students who were strong in arithmetic but new to working with letters often stall here.
School assessments measure understanding, not just procedure
IB-track schools assess why a method works, not only whether students can apply it. Year 1 papers reward clear reasoning, not memorised steps.
Pace means small gaps compound quickly
A shaky understanding of, say, indices in Term 1 makes algebraic manipulation harder for the rest of the year. IB-track Year 1 doesn't leave room to revisit later — gaps need to be fixed when they appear.
A new school environment on top of new content
Year 1 is a transition year — new school, new subjects, new expectations. A calm, consistent space outside school helps students focus on understanding the Math without the noise.
How DeepThink helps Sec 1 IB students
Our Sec 1 IB class is built around the reality of Year 1 IB-track Mathematics:
Built around the Year 1 IB-track scheme
The Year 1 IB-track Mathematics syllabus is broadly consistent across local IB schools. Our class teaches that scope directly.
Build algebra so it actually makes sense
We teach why expansion, indices, and factorisation rules work, then drill them through targeted practice so they become reliable tools by the time students hit equations and inequalities.
Catch gaps before they compound
Our practice platform marks instantly and surfaces topic-level weaknesses every week, so a Term 1 indices gap is fixed before it shows up in Term 2 algebra.
Reasoning, not just answers
IB-track schools assess working and reasoning. We teach students to explain their steps clearly, not just write the final number.
A strong Year 1 sets the tone for the rest of the IB-track journey through to the Diploma in Year 5–6.
Program facts
What families should know about Secondary 1 IB support
The details parents usually want before deciding whether to book a trial.
Syllabus focus
MOE Secondary Mathematics
Full curriculum and chapter list shown in the syllabus section above.
Pricing
$30 per live class
Same fee across levels and streams.
Trial
Free trial class available
Parents can see the teaching pace, structure, and student experience before committing.
Best fit
Secondary 1 IB students who need weekly support matched to their exact stream and exam syllabus.
Decision support
When Secondary 1 IB support is the right fit
These are the situations where extra support tends to make the biggest difference.
Your child has just entered ACS(I) or SJI and is finding Year 1 unexpectedly hard
IB-track schools expect faster algebra, deeper reasoning, and more independent problem-solving from Term 1. Even academically strong students may need support adjusting to the IB-track culture before Term 1 algebra gaps compound through the year.
Term 1 algebra is exposing gaps from primary school
Year 1 introduces basic algebra, expansion, indices, and two factorisation techniques inside Term 1 alone. Students whose primary arithmetic was procedural rather than conceptual often stall here — and the Year 1 pace doesn't loop back to revisit.
You want continuous support so Year 1 gaps don't compound through to the IB Diploma
The IB-track is a six-year continuous programme, and Year 1 foundations carry all the way to the Diploma in Year 5–6. Proactive weekly support keeps students ahead of difficulties rather than reacting to declining marks two terms later.
If any of these patterns sound familiar, this is likely the right level of support for your child — a trial class is a good next step.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for parents
What does Sec 1 IB Math (Year 1) cover at ACS(I) and SJI?
Year 1 IB-track Mathematics runs across four terms and 14 chapters. Term 1 covers primes, real numbers, approximation, and basic algebra (expansion, laws of indices, and factorisation by common factors and grouping). Term 2 introduces simple equations, angles and parallel lines, polygons, and ratio, rate, speed and proportion. Term 3 moves into percentages, sequences, linear functions and graphs, and perimeter and area of plane figures. Term 4 closes with volume and surface area of prisms and cylinders, and data handling. The scheme is broadly consistent across local IB-track schools.
Which Singapore schools offer the IB-track Integrated Programme?
Two: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), commonly known as ACS(I), and St. Joseph's Institution (SJI). Both are six-year IP schools whose pre-university qualification is the IB Diploma rather than the GCE A-Level. Students enter at Sec 1 through PSLE posting or DSA-Sec, follow the IB-track scheme in Year 1–4, and sit the IB Diploma in Year 5–6. ACS(I) also runs a parallel A-Level track for students who prefer it.
How is Year 1 IB-track Math different from mainstream Sec 1 G3?
Topic overlap with G3 is high — algebra, equations, geometry, and statistics all appear in both. The differences are pace, depth, and assessment culture. Year 1 IB-track papers reward reasoning and explanation, not just procedure, and schools expect students to handle unfamiliar problem framings and proof-style steps that mainstream G3 introduces later. The destination is also different — the IB Diploma in Year 5–6, not the SEC exam in Sec 4.
My child just entered ACS(I) or SJI — when should they start tuition?
The first term of Year 1 is the best window to assess fit. Term 1 alone introduces basic algebra, expansion, indices, and two factorisation techniques — and pace matters because Year 1 doesn't loop back to revisit earlier topics. If your child is keeping up comfortably, they may not need support. If they are spending excessive time on homework, scoring noticeably below their primary baseline, or losing confidence with the algebra, starting early prevents Term 1 gaps from showing up in Term 2 equations and ratio.
Do Sec 1 IB students sit the SEC exam or O-Levels?
No. IB-track students bypass the national secondary exam entirely. The Singapore-Cambridge SEC replaces O-Level, N(A)-Level, and N(T)-Level for mainstream G1, G2 and G3 students from 2027, but ACS(I) and SJI students do not sit it. Internal school assessments across Year 1–4 serve the same gatekeeping function — they shape Core and Advanced placement in Year 3, and the Analysis and Approaches (AA) versus Applications and Interpretation (AI) decision in Year 5.
How does Year 1 IB-track Math prepare for the IB Diploma?
Year 1 builds the algebra and reasoning that everything later depends on. Indices and factorisation underpin Year 2 quadratics and Year 3 polynomial work; linear functions and coordinate basics seed Year 3 graphs and Year 4 calculus. Most importantly, the habit of writing clear, justified working — which Year 1 IB-track papers already reward — is exactly what IB Diploma examiners look for in Year 5–6. The IB pathway is long but continuous, and Year 1 sets the tone for the whole journey.
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