This article compares Saxon Algebra with the algebra lessons in Singapore Math. Saxon Algebra is a textbook well known among school teachers and in the homeschool world. Saxon Algebra starts in the 7th or 8th grade with pre-Algebra and continues in 9th grade with Algebra 1, with Algebra 2 generally taught in the 10th or 11th grade (Advanced Math is then taught in 11th or 12th grade). Singapore Math covers algebra lessons in four series of secondary level books, which all start in the 7th grade and cover the equivalent of algebra 1 and geometry and even some trigonometry, depending on the difficulty level of the particular series.
Singapore Math does not produce separate Algebra 1, Algebra 2, or Geometry textbooks, but uses an integrated approach in its secondary school level books. All four series start in the seventh grade and end in the tenth grade. At the end of the tenth grade (and in some cases before), students will have completed the equivalent of Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, and usually some trigonometry. They are ready to study Advanced Math, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus.
This is similar to Saxon in one respect, and that is that Saxon does integrate geometry with its Algebra. But Saxon titles its high school books in the conventional way, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Geometry is integrated into Saxon Algebra 1 and 2 and Saxon Advanced Math so that a student at the end of 11th grade will be at approximately the same place as a student who completes Singapore in the 10th grade and takes an advanced math course in 11th. However, a Saxon student would need to complete all three Saxon books (Algebra 1 and 2 and Advanced Math) in order to receive the equivalent of a complete course in geometry.
In this way, problems involving all stages of the concepts taught are reviewed throughout the book. This is a boon to students and teachers who might otherwise find themselves getting a bit rusty on earlier types of problems, even as they advance to more difficult topics. However, it is a drawback for bright students who may be bored by the constant repetition. One workaround is to focus on the practice sets and only work a problem set every few days or so.
Saxon Algebra is a thorough and rigorous presentation of the material. Students who study with Saxon in high school consistently perform well on tests and in college. Some of the features of the program that make it successful are the incremental approach and the constant review. Concepts are broken down into parts and taught one piece at a time. Lesson explanations are very clear and are cross referenced throughout the book for ease of referring back to the original presentation. Students practice this, then move on to a problem set which combines previous material in a set of 25-35 mixed-type problems.
Singapore Math, in most of the secondary level series, is slightly more accelerated than Saxon, with introductory algebra and geometry concepts introduced in the seventh grade and advanced algebra and geometry completed by ninth. The series concludes in the tenth grade with a review of algebra and geometry and an introduction to advanced mathematics.
For students entering the programs from a background with other publishers, the Saxon Algebra books will be slightly easier to decide where to plug in. Due to the earlier presentation of algebraic concepts in Singapore Math (starting in 7th grade in most of the series), and the fact that they are thoroughly integrated across three years of the program instead of two, there is no real one to one correspondence with other algebra programs. A student beginning Singapore Math after a year of Algebra 1 for instance, would need to take a placement test to see where he ought to start. A student who has completed Algebra 1 in another program normally would do fine jumping right in to Saxon Algebra 2 (although placement tests are available).
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