PSLE Maths can seem hard at first – it’s an important exam that helps prepare your child for secondary school maths. But with the right tips and regular practice, it can get a lot easier.
Simple methods like “working backwards,” using visual tools like models or diagrams, and checking for careless mistakes can help your child do better in the exam.
At Descartes Learning Centre, we’ve helped many students not just pass PSLE Maths, but do really well. Since our inception in 2022, we’ve found helpful strategies that work, and we’re sharing some of the best ones below. Keep reading.
How to Pass PSLE Maths
1. Train to Work Backwards and Solve from the End
Many PSLE math questions are designed to test reasoning, not just content. Instead of always trying to solve from the beginning, encourage your child to look at the final answer and ask: how could they have reached that result?
This “working backwards” approach is especially useful in Paper 2, where heuristic thinking and problem-solving strategies are essential. It also helps them understand the types of questions that appear often in the real exam and apply the right method to each one.
This is particularly useful when tackling complex problem sums involving ratio, fraction, or transfer. Learning to reverse-engineer solutions helps develop stronger conceptual understanding – and prevents them from rushing through just to get a final answer.
2. Use Flexible Model Drawing
Model drawing is a strong visual aid taught in Primary 5 and Primary 6. But one common mistake students make is using a rigid model for every question type.
To ace the PSLE, students must be able to adapt, especially when two or more concepts are tested in the same problem.
Instead of following a set template, help your child think about the relationship in the question: Is something being compared, transferred, or divided? Are units involved? This habit of thinking before drawing sharpens problem-solving and helps them solve even unfamiliar problems more confidently.
Encourage your child to redraw or adjust their model if it doesn’t help. This flexibility allows them to tackle tricky PSLE math questions and boosts their score potential across Paper 1 and Paper 2.
3. Watch for Common Traps and Careless Mistakes
In the PSLE math exam, careless mistakes can easily cost marks – even when the concept is understood. Many students lose points for simple errors: writing the wrong unit, ignoring decimals, or missing key words like “more than”, “left”, or “total amount”.
To reduce these, train your child to slow down and highlight or underline key parts of the question. Reading the question carefully and double-checking what’s being asked can prevent these marks from being deducted unnecessarily.
A simple strategy like “pause before final answer” helps prevent last-minute errors, especially when under time pressure.
Encourage your child to check all answers for Paper 1 especially, since these simpler questions carry fewer marks but can be attempted quickly with extra time at the end. That extra time can be used to check for careless calculation errors that could affect the overall mark.
4. Start a Mistake Journal to Expose Patterns
One of the most effective ways to prepare for the PSLE math paper is to track mistakes, not just correct them. Keeping a mistake journal helps your child identify patterns in their thinking and avoid repeating the same error.
Each time they get a question wrong, ask them to write down the question type, what went wrong, and what to watch for next time. This builds metacognition, knowing how they think – and helps with exam readiness. It’s also a great way to make revision more meaningful, especially when reviewing old exam papers or mock tests.
Over time, your child will learn which types of PSLE math questions trip them up, whether it’s misreading measurement, confusion with units, or forgetting a step when solving word problems.
5. Focus on High-Yield Topics and Practice with Purpose
Not all topics are equal when it comes to PSLE math. To do well in PSLE math, focus your child’s revision on the major topics that carry the most weight, like fraction, whole numbers, volume, area, ratio, and speed.
Rather than spending hours on low-frequency topics, make sure they have a solid foundation in the most tested areas.
This helps maximise marks as possible and boosts overall confidence in the exam. Align their practice with the MOE syllabus, and use timed papers to improve time management.
Teach them to track how many marks each question is worth and pace themselves, aiming for about one minute per mark.
For example, if a question is worth 4 marks, they should spend no more than 4 minutes before moving on to the next. This technique ensures they manage their total time efficiently and avoid running out of time in Paper 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should We Prepare for the PSLE Math Exam?
The best way to prepare for the PSLE math exam is to focus on high-weight topics, revise consistently, and practise solving questions with a clear plan. Don’t just aim to complete worksheets, make sure your child is understanding and applying the concepts.
What’s the Difference Between Paper 1 and Paper 2?
Paper 1 focuses on shorter, straightforward questions without calculators. Paper 2 requires deeper problem-solving skills and includes complex problem sums. Both need strong time management and conceptual understanding.
How Can We Prevent Careless Mistakes?
Build habits like underlining keywords, checking units, and reviewing answers. Encourage your child to check their final answer and use any extra time to scan for careless calculation or misreading errors
From not only passing to excelling in PSLE maths, we at Descartes Learning Centre having your child covered.
We offer one-on-one lessons, with proven results. Contact us today!
