Tips to improve in PSLE Mathematics

The 3 points mentioned below are important to get a good score in mathematics. Students must first improve on these fundamentals first. Then they go on to individual topics practice. Maths is one subject that a 15 to 20 mark improvement can be made in a few months with close coaching.


1. Multiplication Tables

At primary 4, students have to learn addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions. He will be at a disadvantage as he cannot find the common denominator or simplify the fraction to a simpler form easily compared to a fellow student who has his multiplication tables at his fingertips.

As in every maths exam, time plays a crucial factor, especially for paper 1 of PSLE maths. If the student has to do working for simple calculations, he will have less time for the more difficult questions and for checking his work.

2. Concept of Fractions.

”Fraction” questions play an important part in P5 and P6 maths. For students that do not have a strong foundation of this topic, they will not be able to do problems sums that are worth 4 or 5 marks each.

Some problem sums mix topics like percentage and fraction, or even algebra and fraction together, hence it is crucial to grasp the concept of Fractions and its operations early.

3. Modeling skills.

Modeling techniques are taught to students as early as primary 3. It helps the students to simplify the question by using visualization. Some problem sums require models to be shown as part of the working.
When it comes to primary 5 and 6, as the level of questions get higher, modeling skills will definitely be useful.

Primary 6 Maths - Percentage

Sandra had 360 pears and apples at her store. After selling 30% of the apples and 40% of the pears, she had 230 fruits left.

How many apples did she sell?

How many apples did she have at first?

1. For percentage questions, its easier to view it like a units question.

30% of apples – 3 unit out of 10 is sold.

40% of pears – 4 parts out of 10 is sold.

70% of apples – 7 units is left.

60% of pears – 6 parts is left.


1)------7 units + 6 parts = 230
(multiply by 2 throughout) --> 14 u + 12 p = 460

2)------3units + 4 parts = 360-230 = 130
(multiply by 3 throughout) -->9 u + 12 p = 390

Take the first eqn minus the second, (get rid of one unknown)
14 u + 12 p – 9 u – 12 p = 460-390

5u = 70 ( we have successfully get rid of 1 unknown)
1u = 14
3u = 42--- apples sold

10 u = 140 ----apples at first