Online vs In-Person Math Olympiad Training: Does It Really Matter?

About the Author

Terry Chew, B.Sc. is a pioneering Singapore mathematics author and educator, best known as the first in Singapore to publish a Maths Olympiad workbook series in 2007. His acclaimed titles, including Unleash the Maths Olympian in You! and Wicked Mathematics, are widely used across Southeast Asia and internationally. Terry Chew Academy coaches students preparing for SEAMO, SMOPS, NMOS, RMO, and APMOPS, both in Singapore and online across the region.

Published Date

AI Summary

Terry Chew Academy runs a hybrid classroom where online and in-person students attend the same live lesson together with the same coach, same questions, same pace. The article argues that format is not the deciding factor; student attitude and engagement matter more. In-person suits younger students who benefit from fewer screen distractions, while online removes location barriers and suits overseas families. Key misconception addressed: online classes are live (not recorded), use the same curriculum (not watered down), and maintain full coach-led accountability.

Are online lessons as effective as classroom lessons? The question comes from an assumption that they are two different programmes. At Terry Chew Academy, they are not.

We run a hybrid classroom. Students attending online and students attending in person are part of the same lesson. They learn from the same coach, discuss the same questions, and progress through the same programme together. The only difference is where they are physically sitting.

A Primary 5 student in Ho Chi Minh City and a Primary 5 student in Bukit Timah sit in the same online class, taught by the same coach, working through the same problems. That is the real choice most families are making. It is not which format is better, but which one is actually possible for their child.

That was a deliberate decision. We never wanted to create an "online version" and a "classroom version." If the quality of learning depends on where a student is sitting, then we have not designed the lesson well enough.

Key Takeaways

• Terry Chew Academy operates a hybrid classroom: online and in-person students attend the same live lesson together.
• Math Olympiad is about thinking, discussing ideas, and developing problem-solving skills. Students in both formats participate, explain their reasoning, and engage with the lesson in exactly the same way.
• Format depends on the individual child, not on the programme itself. Some students focus better in a classroom; others prefer learning from home.
• Once students are actively engaged, their progress depends on their attitude and participation, not on where they are sitting.
• The goal is that a student joining from home receives the same quality of coaching, the same opportunities to contribute, and the same learning experience as a student sitting in the classroom.

Can Students Effectively Prepare for the Math Olympiad Through Online Training?

Yes, but not because online training for Math Olympiad is a separate "alternative" that happens to work well. It works because at our centre, online and in-person students are part of the same hybrid programme.

Our coaching runs through live video interaction (not pre-recorded lessons), following the same curriculum and framework as the in-person group. 

A student joining from home is expected to participate, explain their reasoning, and engage with the lesson in exactly the same way as someone sitting in the classroom. 

Math Olympiad is about thinking, discussing ideas, and developing problem-solving skills. Those things do not depend on a student's physical location.

Our online students prepare for the same competitions, such as SEAMO, SMOPS, NMOS, RMO, and APMOPS, and are coached by the same team members who set and assess questions for SEAMO.

What In-Person Training Offers

There is something about being in a room with a coach and other students that some children respond to more strongly. 

Body language, a coach pointing directly at a diagram on paper, and the low-level social pressure of classmates working through the same problem all add a texture that a screen cannot fully replicate for every child. It is also slightly easier for a coach to notice subtle body language or signs that a student is confused.

In-person sessions tend to suit younger students (Primary 3 to 4), or children who are easily distracted by screens, since the physical setting removes a layer of potential distraction.

What Online Training Offers

Online training entirely removes the constraint of location. We coach students enrolled in Singapore schools, as well as students overseas, using the same curriculum and with the same coaches.

It also suits families with tight schedules, since there is no commute. For a Secondary student balancing CCA commitments, or a family managing multiple children's schedules, saved time often makes the difference between fitting in Olympiad training consistently or not at all.

Over the years, we have also seen many students who prefer alternating between in-person and online once they are familiar with the setting and can manage their busy schedules. 

Some feel more comfortable asking questions from home, while others appreciate not having to spend time travelling before class. Once students are actively engaged, their progress depends far more on their attitude and participation than on whether they are sitting in the classroom.

Online vs In-Person at a Glance

Who Should Choose Which Format

For younger students, particularly Primary 3 to 4, or children who are easily distracted by screens, the in-person setting tends to work better. The physical classroom removes the layer of device distraction, and the coach can observe body language more directly and redirect attention when needed. 

For Primary 5 to 6 students who are already focused learners, the format genuinely does not matter. Both online and in-person students attend the same hybrid lesson with the same curriculum, so either option works equally well. 

Secondary students juggling a heavy CCA load often prefer online, since it removes the commute and gives them more scheduling flexibility. Overseas families also choose online to keep their child connected to the same Singapore-based coaches via live video. 

The one case with no choice is private one-on-one coaching, which is offered exclusively online.

What Stays the Same Regardless of Format

This is the part we think matters most. When parents ask which format to choose, we do not immediately think about online or in-person. We think about the child.

Can they stay focused independently? 

Are they comfortable asking questions when they do not understand? 

Do they enjoy working through challenging problems, or do they need more prompting to stay engaged? 

Those are the factors that really influence learning.

The same critical thinking framework applies, the same heuristics are taught, and the same progress tracking identifies a student's gaps and works to close them.

For a deeper look at the underlying benefits, see our guide on how Math Olympiad training builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Everything covered there applies just as much to a student learning online as to one learning in a classroom. The format is the delivery mechanism. The substance is identical.

Common Misconceptions About Online Math Olympiad Training

"Online means pre-recorded." 

No. Our online classes are live, with real-time coach interaction and immediate feedback. Also, our online students are part of the same lesson as those in the classroom.

"Kids can't focus on a screen for a full lesson." 

Some cannot; many can. Focus depends more on the child's age and temperament than on the format itself. We have also seen students who focus better from home because they feel more comfortable asking questions.

"Online classes use a watered-down curriculum." 

Same curriculum, same coaches, same assessments as the in-person programme. They are not separate programmes.

"Overseas students can't compete with Singapore standards." 

Our overseas students sit for the same competitions and are held to the same benchmarks in the same hybrid classroom.

"Online coaching means less accountability."

Progress tracking is coach-led and happens in every session, regardless of format.

The Format Is Not the Deciding Factor

Neither format is objectively better. The goal is that a student joining from home should receive the same quality of coaching, the same opportunities to contribute, and the same learning experience as a student sitting in the classroom. 

If we have done that well, then the format becomes a matter of convenience rather than educational quality.

What matters is how your child focuses and whether the flexibility of online training removes a barrier that would otherwise interrupt consistent practice.

At Terry Chew Academy, we invite you to try a free lesson and see for yourself how your child responds. We can discuss your child's age, temperament, and schedule to recommend the right approach. Whether that is in-person, online, or a mix of both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment does my child need for online Math Olympiad classes?

Students need a laptop or tablet with a working webcam, a stable internet connection, and ideally a stylus or writing tablet for working through problems visually. A quiet, well-lit space also helps focus during class.

How do you handle written work and scratch paper in online classes?

Students work through problems on paper as they normally would, and share their work with the coach through the camera or a writing tablet when needed. This mirrors how a coach would review scratch work in a physical classroom.

How many students are in an online Math Olympiad class?

Group classes are kept small to allow the coach to track each student's progress in every session. Private one-on-one coaching is also available online.

Can my child switch between online and in-person mid-year?

Yes, subject to class availability. Because both formats use the same curriculum within a single hybrid classroom, students can move between them without falling behind.