Difficult PSLE Past-Year Math Questions?
Our student, Ahsan, takes on challenging PSLE Past-Year Math questions. These two P6 maths questions are cross-topical questions covering:
- Percentage + Money
- Percentage + Mensuration
Percentage used to be Ahsan’s pet peeve topic, so watch how he solves these tricky questions!
Let your P6 child have a go at the two questions below before watching the video solution! Don’t worry – only 15% of PSLE exam questions are considered “difficult“.
1. Sarah usually spends 60% of her salary every month. Her salary was recently increased by 10% and now she spends $3960. How much was her salary before the increment?
2. 25% of the area of a square is 225 square centimetres. What is the length of its sides?
Sometimes, the best way to teach a kid is to have another kid explain a concept in their own terms. The results constantly surprise teachers and are often insightful, delightful, and effective.
Past-Year Exam Papers – worth practising?
Practicing past-year exam papers for PSLE Math is beneficial for several reasons:
1. Familiarity with exam format: Past papers help students understand the structure, types of questions, and topics typically covered in the PSLE Math exam. This reduces anxiety and increases confidence during the actual test.
2. Time management: By working through past papers under timed conditions, students learn to manage their time effectively, ensuring they can complete the exam within the allotted time.
3. Identifying weak areas: Practicing past papers highlights areas where students may struggle, allowing them to focus their revision on improving these topics before the exam.
4. Application of concepts: Past-year papers provide a chance to apply what students have learned in class to real exam-style questions, deepening their understanding of mathematical concepts.
5. Exposure to question variations: Exam papers often contain different ways of asking questions on the same topic. Practising these variations helps students become more adaptable to different problem-solving approaches.
6. Boosting confidence: Regularly completing past papers can build students’ confidence as they see their progress and become more comfortable handling exam questions.
Closing the Knowledge Gap – Applying Math concepts to Difficult Questions
If students can identify gaps in their understanding but are unable to find solutions or solve the problems, they should take the following steps:
1. Seek clarification from a teacher or tutor: Teachers can explain difficult concepts and guide students through the steps to solve problems they find challenging.
2. Work with peers: Studying with classmates can help, as students can explain concepts to each other or collaborate to solve problems together.
3. Review relevant topics: Revisit the textbooks, notes, or online resources to strengthen understanding of the specific topics where they face difficulties.
4. Use worked solutions: Many past exam papers come with worked solutions. Studying these can help students learn the step-by-step process for solving similar questions.
5. Focus on similar practice questions: After identifying gaps, students can practice additional questions on those topics to improve their skills.
6. Attend remedial classes or workshops: If the school or tuition centre offers extra classes, attending these sessions can provide further guidance and practice.
By taking these proactive steps, students can gradually overcome their difficulties and fill the gaps in their knowledge.
Please join our Primary Math Programmes if your child needs help in Primary Math. All our Math tutors are MOE-registered and are ex-teachers from the school system. Our curriculum is curated to help students master and apply math concepts to higher-order thinking questions. That’s why our students do well in the PSLE Math exam.
Better still, join our Free Trial class.
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