Primary 3 Singapore Maths (Grade 3): Topics, Textbook and Workbook
Primary 3 Singapore Maths (Grade 3) is for children aged 8 to 9. Students work with numbers to 10 000, complete the times tables, solve multi-step word problems with bar models, find equivalent fractions, and learn area, perimeter, angles and bar graphs. Explico's Singapore Maths supports every Primary 3 topic with a textbook, workbook, solution videos and AI assessment.
Last reviewed 24 September 2026 by the Explico Maths editorial team.
- Singapore: 2nd in the world for maths, PISA 2025
- Primary 1 to Primary 6, aligned to the MOE Singapore syllabus
- Written by MOE Singapore-trained Singapore teachers
- Print and eBook editions, taught in English
Primary 3 Maths Topics List (Grade 3)
Primary 3 students study the Singapore Primary 3 syllabus across three strands: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics. The year the bar model becomes a daily problem-solving tool.
Number and Algebra
- Numbers to 10 000: place value, compare, patterns
- Addition and subtraction of 4-digit numbers
- Multiplication tables of 6, 7, 8 and 9
- Multiplication and division of up to 3 digits by 1 digit
- Equivalent fractions; adding and subtracting related fractions
- Money: amounts to $100
Measurement and Geometry
- Length, mass and volume with unit conversion
- Time and the 24-hour clock
- Angles, perpendicular and parallel lines
- Area and perimeter of squares and rectangles
Statistics
- Reading and interpreting bar graphs
What changed in the updated syllabus: Under the updated syllabus, the 12-hour and 24-hour clock is now taught in Primary 3 instead of Primary 4. Explico's Singapore Maths follows this sequence.
Primary 3 Core Topics and Skills Compared
| Topic | Strand | What students learn | Common difficulty | How Explico helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers to 10 000 | Number and Algebra | Place value to thousands; compare; number patterns | Misreading place value in 4-digit numbers | Place-value charts and levelled practice |
| Four operations | Number and Algebra | Tables of 6 to 9; multiply and divide up to 3 digits by 1 digit | Remainders in division word problems | A solution video for every workbook question |
| Word problems | Number and Algebra | Two-step problems using part-whole and comparison models | Choosing the operation from keywords alone | Bar models taught in every chapter |
| Fractions | Number and Algebra | Equivalent fractions; simplify; add and subtract related fractions | Adding denominators together | Fraction bars before any rule |
| Measurement | Measurement and Geometry | Convert units of length, mass and volume; 24-hour clock | Converting 2 m 5 cm to 25 cm instead of 205 cm | AI assessment by learning objective |
| Angles and lines | Measurement and Geometry | Right angles; perpendicular and parallel lines | Judging angles by the length of the arms | Hands-on activities with paper folds |
| Area and perimeter | Measurement and Geometry | Area in square units; perimeter of squares and rectangles | Mixing up area and perimeter | Square-grid activities, then formulas |
| Bar graphs | Statistics | Read and interpret bar graphs; solve word problems | Reading values between scale marks | Online practice with instant marking |
Primary 3 or Grade 3? Schools outside Singapore often say Grade 3. The content is the same Singapore Primary 3 syllabus, for learners aged 8 to 9.
How Singapore Maths Teaches Primary 3: The CPA Approach and Bar Models
Singapore Maths builds understanding before speed, moving from objects to pictures to symbols so students know why a method works.
Concrete: learn by handling
Students handle counters, cubes and fraction pieces before meeting a rule.
Pictorial: see the problem with bar models
The bar model turns a word problem into a diagram, showing how quantities relate before calculating.
Abstract: move to numbers and symbols
Once the meaning is secure, students work confidently with numbers, symbols and written methods.
Problem-solving heuristics
Students follow a clear routine: understand, plan, solve, check, using heuristics like working backwards and spotting patterns.
A shop sold 6 boxes of pencils with 8 pencils in each box. It then sold 15 loose pencils. How many pencils did it sell altogether?
- Draw 6 equal units of 8 for the boxes: 6 × 8 = 48.
- Add a separate part for the loose pencils: 15.
- 48 + 15 = 63.
Answer: The shop sold 63 pencils altogether.
Every workbook question has a worked solution video that explains the method in the same way.
The Complete Primary 3 Learning Suite
Every Primary 3 topic is supported by six connected parts: a textbook in print or eBook, a workbook, a worked solution video for every workbook question, AI assessment with gap analysis, a Teacher's Guide, and analytics for teachers and parents.
Built for Teachers and Schools
A classroom-ready Primary 3 programme with a teacher interface and school-level analytics, by class, topic and learning objective.
Teacher interface
Assign chapters, review auto-marked work, see who needs support.
School leader interface
Compare classes and cohorts, track syllabus coverage.
Flexible delivery, in English
Print, eBook or blended, all in English, for English-medium and international schools.
Getting Ready for Grade 4
Grade 4 introduces decimals, factors and multiples, and harder fraction work. Secure multiplication tables and bar models from Grade 3 make these topics far easier.
- All times tables recalled quickly
- Two-step word problems with bar models
- Equivalent fractions
Singapore ranked 2nd in the world for maths in PISA 2025 and 1st for Primary 4 (Grade 4) maths in TIMSS 2023. See the full PISA and TIMSS results.
Choose the Right Start for Your Child or School
Help your child learn Grade 3 maths with confidence
- A free sample chapter from the Grade 3 textbook and workbook
- Worked video solutions, so homework never stalls
- Clear progress reports that show what to practise next
No payment details needed.
Bring the complete Grade 3 Singapore Maths programme to your school
- A demo account with the teacher and school leader views
- A walkthrough video you can share with your maths team
- Print, eBook or blended options for every grade
For principals, heads of maths and academic directors.
Primary 3 Singapore Maths (Grade 3): Frequently Asked Questions
Is Primary 3 Singapore Maths the same as Grade 3?
Yes. Schools outside Singapore often say Grade 3, while Singapore schools say Primary 3. Explico's Singapore Maths for Primary 3 follows the MOE Singapore Primary 3 Mathematics syllabus for children aged 8 to 9, so the content, sequence and teaching approach are the same.
What topics are covered in Primary 3 Singapore Maths (Grade 3)?
Primary 3 covers numbers to 10 000, the times tables of 6, 7, 8 and 9, multiplication and division up to 3 digits by 1 digit, equivalent fractions, money, measurement with conversion, the 24-hour clock, angles and lines, area and perimeter, and bar graphs.
Why does Primary 3 Singapore Maths focus so much on bar models?
Primary 3 is when word problems become two-step. A bar model helps students see how the quantities relate before they calculate, so they choose the right operation instead of guessing from keywords. The same skill later supports fractions, ratio and algebra.
Can my child use Primary 3 Singapore Maths at home, in print or online?
Yes. The Primary 3 textbook and workbook come in print or as an eBook. Every workbook question has a worked solution video, so your child can check a method without waiting for a teacher. The AI assessment shows which topics need more practice, and you receive clear progress reports.