Did you know? MOE’s Approved Textbook List and your child’s school booklist answer different questions. Start with MOE’s Approved Textbook List to check approved resources, and use the school’s current booklist to identify what your child is actually asked to buy.
Find the school booklist through the school’s official website or its own parent communications, then select the correct academic year, level and subject arrangement. Check the exact title, edition, volume and textbook or workbook label. A book used by another school or an older sibling may not match the current list.
Your immediate next step is to compare each requested item with what you already own, and ask the school about any unclear entry before purchasing. MOE’s Approved Textbook List FAQ explains the approval framework. Approval alone does not make every listed book a compulsory purchase for every student.
Find your next step
Choose an official source · Check before acting · Read the next explanation
Which source answers your question?
| Your question | Start here | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Is a resource on the approved list? | MOE Approved Textbook List | Relevant level, subject, title and edition |
| What does my child need to buy? | The school’s official current-year booklist | Student’s level, subjects, options and required items |
| What does approval mean? | MOE Approved Textbook List FAQ | Scope of approval and how schools use resources |
| Does an older book match? | The current school booklist and the book’s publication details | Edition, volume, ISBN where supplied and school confirmation |
Find the current list through the school
Use the school’s official parent or student information page, or follow its own communication about book purchasing. Check the year printed on the document itself rather than relying on the page address.
Woodgrove Primary’s official parent resources, for example, link its 2026 approved textbook information even though an older year appears in the linked page address. The document heading and current school instruction are better clues than the URL alone.
Match the student’s actual subjects
Check which entries apply to the child’s level and subjects. Where a school provides different lists for subject arrangements or options, ask which one the child should use before buying.
For secondary school, keep the school’s confirmed subject information beside the list. Our Posting Groups and G1, G2, G3 guide explains the distinction between the posting category and individual subject levels.
Check edition, volume and book type
Lay the requested item beside the book you already have. Compare its full title, edition and volume, and use the ISBN if the school provides one. A similar cover is not enough to establish a match.
Keep textbooks, workbooks and supplementary materials separate in the purchase checklist. Ask whether a reused copy is suitable if exercises have already been completed or required components are missing.
Resolve uncertain purchases with the school
Make a short list of unclear entries and ask the school or its appointed booklist contact to confirm them. This is especially helpful when a subject choice is still being finalised.
Keep the confirmed current list with purchase receipts and label the books once the choices are settled. The aim is a usable set of materials for the child’s actual lessons, with fewer duplicate or mismatched purchases.
Read the next useful explanation
SEC syllabus downloads for every subject
School fees and additional cost checks
Explore the Singapore school pathways collection. For a local learning example, see Secondary 1 Mathematics small-group learning in Clementi.
Source guide prepared on 10 October 2026. Follow the linked official pages for current requirements and the student’s circumstances.
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