A French math teacher’s insight in math classes in Germany (15 years old = Secondary 3) and France (16/17 years old in Sec 4 & Pre-U / JC 1):
The French Math is more theoretical while the German Math (like English Math) is applied. So the result is Germany produces excellent precision engineers with Applied Math, while France produces 1/3 of the World’s Fields Medalists in theoretical Pure Math.
Many English GCE A-level top Math students from Singapore studying in French Universitues face the same dilemma: while their French Math professors think they are “weak” in Math (i.e. French abstract Pure Math), yet they beat the French classmates in Applied Math.
Mathtuition88 