Along with the implementation of the basic academic ability guarantee act in 2022, interest with respect to basic academic ability is particularly increasing in the mathematics subject. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the meaning and history of basic academic ability and the teaching methods to improve basic academic ability in mathematics education. In this paper, the meaning of basic academic ability in the mathematics subject and various aspects of institutional and academic activities that have been carried out in Korea have been examined. In addition, in the perspective of the systematic and hierarchical characteristics of mathematics, the teaching methods to improve basic academic ability are presented in several stages. The plan to improve basic academic ability presented in this study is only one proposal among several ways. It is necessary to search various ways to improve basic academic ability.