Curricula for Mathematics: A comparative study of the United States, China, and International Baccalaureate
PDF

Keywords

international comparison
mathematics curriculum;
high school;
gifted students

How to Cite

Lin, X., Xu, G., & Xiong, B. (2025). Curricula for Mathematics: A comparative study of the United States, China, and International Baccalaureate: Curricula of US,CN,IBDP. International Theory and Practice in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(5), 106–122. https://doi.org/10.70693/itphss.v2i5.83
Received 2024-10-24
Accepted 2024-11-08
Published 2025-05-28

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive textual analysis comparing the mathematical curriculum objectives across the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), China's Ordinary High School Mathematics Curriculum Standards, and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Using an analytic comparison methodology, the mathematical knowledge and competencies imparted by each curriculum were measured and contrasted. The findings reveal that, when advanced placement courses are excluded, students in China are exposed to the highest number of mathematical knowledge points. However, when including advanced placement courses, the Common Core marginally surpasses the others in the density of mathematical content. Notably, across all three curricula, there's a limited emphasis on technological applications, leading to a stronger focus on computational mathematics and scientific calculations. Methods such as variation and optimization are scarcely touched upon in these curricula.

https://doi.org/10.70693/itphss.v2i5.83
PDF

References

Alan H., S., and Jeremy, K. (2013). A US perspective on the implementation of inquiry-based learning in mathematics. ZDM-Mathematics Education, 45(6):901-

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11858-013-0531-5.

Amy, R., McDuffie, C., Jeffrey, C., Jon D., D., Margarita V., M., Cynthia, C. (2016). Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of the Common Core

State Standards for Mathematics and Related Assessment and Teacher Evaluation Systems. Educational Policy,31(2):139-179.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0895904815586850.

Anderson, S.E. (1990). Worldmath Curriculum: Fighting Eurocentrism in Mathematics. The Journal of Negro Education, 59(3):348. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2295569.

Boylan, M., Maxwell, B., Wolstenholme, C., Jay, T., and Demack, S. (2018).The mathematics teacher exchange and‘mastery’ in England: The evidence for the efficacy of component practices. Education Sciences,4, 202.

https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8040202

Cummings, W. (1999). The Institutions of education: Compare, compare, compare! Comparative Education Review, 43(4), 413–437.

Cheng, J., and Bao, J. (2019). The core idea of "four Basics" mathematics education system with Chinese characteristics. Journal of Mathematics Education,28(3):

-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68157-9_1

China Education Society. (2021). Information Technology Education Professional Committee for primary and secondary schools Artificial intelligence curriculum development standards for primary and secondary schools (Trial),T/CSE 001-2021.

David, B., Dennis, D., Shirley O, H. (2018). Barron’s AP Calculus 14th Edition. World Book Inc.ISBN978-7-51-923691-5.

De, E. (2012). Guide to Mathematics - Handbook of practical mathematics. Science Press.ISBN 978-7-03-032540-2.

Douglas H. C., Julie, S. (2013). Rethinking early mathematics: What is research-based curriculum for young children? Reconceptualizing Early Mathematics Learning, 121-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6440-8_7.

Fan, L., Cheng, J., Xie, S., Luo, J., Wang, Y., and Sun, Y. (2021). Are textbooks facilitators or barriers for teachers’ teaching and instructional change? An investigation of secondary mathematics teachers in Shanghai, China.

ZDM-Mathematics Education, 53, 1313-1330.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-021-01306-6

Feng, X. (2021). Social Research Methods(6th Edition). China Renmin University

Press. ISBN 978-7-300-30539-4.

Gwendolyn M., L., Melvin, W. (1998). Supporting innovation: The impact of a teacher's conceptions of functions on his implementation of a reform curriculum. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 29(3):248.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/749790.

ib Diploma Programme. (2019). Mathematics: applications and interpretation guide, International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd.Website: ibo.org

ib Diploma Programme. (2019). Mathematics: analysis and approaches guide,

International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd.Website: ibo.org

Janine T. R. (1999).Curriculum materials in mathematics education reform: A framework

for examining teachers’ curriculum development. Curriculum Inquiry, 29(3):315-342. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0362-6784.00130.

Jeannie C, H., Karen, N. (1999). The effects of a graphing-approach intermediate

algebra curriculum on students' understanding of function. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 30(2):220. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/749612.

Martin, S. (2018). Barron’s AP Statistics (9th edition).World Book Inc.

ISBN 978-7-51-924245-9.

Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2020). Mathematics curriculum standards for senior high schools (2017 edition and 2020 Revision), People's Education Press. ISBN 978-7-107-31842-9.

National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officials. Cai, J., Sun W. (2016). Common Core State Standards Initiative: History, Content and Implementation. People’s Education Press. ISBN 978-7-107-31177-2.

OECD. (2019). PISA 2018 result. http://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/

pisa-2018-results.htm. Accessed 31 May 2020.

OECD. (2021). PISA 2021 Mathematics Framework. http://www.oecd.org/pisa/data.

Pepin, B., Gueudet, G., Trouche, L. (2017). Refining teacher design capacity:

Mathematics teachers’ interactions with digital curriculum resources. ZDM- Mathematics Education, 49(5): 799-812.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11858-017-0870-8.

Shi, N., and Wang, S. (2019). Interpretation of mathematics curriculum standards for senior

high schools (2017 Edition). Higher Education Press, ISBN 978-7-04-049603-1.

Tan, C.(2013) Learning from Shanghai: Lessons on achieving educational success. Springer.

Tom, M., Sheila, H. (2010). Mathematics learners and mathematics textbooks: a question

of identity? Whose curriculum? Whose mathematics? The Curriculum Journal, 21(1):3-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585170903558224.

Xu, B., Li, M., and Wang, S. (2022).Chinese experience and international development of

Mathematics Education -- Analysis and prospect based on the 14th International Mathematics Education Conference. Global education ou tlook, 51, 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68157-9_4

Xu, H., and Xiang, Y. (2015) Comparison and Enlightenment between IBDP mathematics curriculum and ordinary high school mathematics curriculum, Foreign

primary and secondary education,7,53-59.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203416013_chapter_3

William H., S., Richard T., H. (2012). Curricular Coherence and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Educational Researcher, 41(8): 294-308. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0013189x12464517.

Wu, Y., & Bao, J.(2016). Looking into the typical features of Chinese mathematics classroom from the perspective of Shanghai experience. Modern Teaching,15(21), 16–17.https://doi.org/10.4337/9780857933546.00012

Zhang, M., & Kong, L.(2012). An exploration of reasons for Shanghai’s success in the OECD Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009. Frontiers of Education in China, 7(1), 124–162.https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315152684

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 Xuefei Lin, Guangyu Xu, Bin Xiong (Author)

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.