Hong Kong SAR

The Mathematics Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

The current mathematics curricula for the primary level and the junior (lower) secondary level were introduced in 2002 and 2001, respectively. In addition to emphasizing the importance of acquiring subject matter knowledge and skills, the mathematics curricula at the primary and junior (lower) secondary levels aim to help students develop general skills in and build up positive attitudes toward mathematics, as well as emphasizing the appropriate use of information technology.¹⁷

The mathematics curriculum guides, published by the CDC, set forth the goals of primary and secondary mathematics education clearly.^18,19 The goals of the primary mathematics curriculum are:

• Stimulate interest in the learning of mathematics
• Help students understand and acquire basic mathematical concepts and computational skills
• Help students develop creativity and the ability to think, communicate, and solve problems
• Help students develop number and spatial sense and the ability to appreciate patterns and structures of number and shapes
• Enhance students’ lifelong learning abilities through basic mathematical knowledge

The curriculum covers five content areas at the primary level: Number; Shape and Space; Measurement; Data Handling; and Algebra.²⁰ Algebra is introduced in Grade 5 (Primary 5). Exhibit 1 presents the mathematics topics taught in each content area at the primary level.

Exhibit 1: Mathematics Topics Taught at the Primary Level, Grades 1–6 (Primary 1–Primary 6)

Content Area	Topics
Number	Whole numbers The nature of numbers Fractions, decimals, and percentages Calculating devices
Shape and Space	Lines Angles Directions Two-dimensional shapes Three-dimensional shapes
Measurement	Money Length Time Weight Perimeter Area Volume Speed
Data Handling	Statistics (e.g., pictograms, bar graphs, etc.)
Algebra*	Algebraic symbols Equations
*Introduced in Grade 5 (Primary 5)

The goals of the secondary mathematics curriculum are as follows:

• Enable students to develop mathematical conceptualization, inquiry, reasoning, and communication skills and the ability to use mathematics to formulate and solve problems in everyday life, as well as in mathematical contexts
• Enable students to manipulate numbers, symbols, and other mathematical objects
• Help students develop number, symbol, and spatial sense, as well as a sense of measurement and the capability to appreciate structures and patterns
• Help students develop positive attitudes toward mathematics and the ability to appreciate the aesthetic nature and cultural aspects of mathematics

At the junior (lower) secondary level, the mathematics curriculum further integrates the five content areas taught in the primary grades into three main learning areas: Number and Algebra; Measurement, Shape, and Space; and Data Handling.²¹ Exhibit 2 presents the mathematics topics taught in each content area at the junior (lower) secondary level.

Exhibit 2: Mathematics Topics Taught at the Junior (Lower) Secondary Level, Grades 7–9 (Secondary 1–Secondary 3)

Content Area	Topics
Number and Algebra	Directed numbers and the number line Numerical estimation Approximation and errors Rational and irrational numbers Percentages Rate and ratio Formulating problems with algebraic language Manipulation of simple polynomials Laws of integer exponents Factoring simple polynomials Linear equations in one unknown Linear equations in two unknowns Linear inequalities in one unknown Identities Formulas
Measurement, Shape, and Space	Estimation in two- and three-dimensional figure measurement Area and volume Introduction to geometry Pythagorean theorem Trigonometric ratios and using trigonometry Transformation and symmetry Introduction to coordinates Coordinate geometry of straight lines Introduction to deductive geometry Congruence and similarity Angles related to lines and rectilinear figures Quadrilaterals
Data Handling	Introduction to various stages of statistics Construction and interpretation of simple diagrams and graphs Measures of central tendency Introduction to probability