Kangaroo Study P5 PSLE Math Term 4 & P6 Term1 Enrolment

Kangaroo Study's research team has analyzed the topics of each question from the past three years and divided them into 12 topics according to the school curriculum: Whole Numbers, Ratio, Fractions, Decimals, Rate and Speed, Algebra, Percentage, Measurement, Area and Volume, Geometry, Data Representation and Interpretation, and Data Analysis.

The key topics are those with a higher proportion of the total score. We analyzed the proportion of each topic in the papers from 2021 to 2023 to identify these key topics.

Through this analysis, we found that the three key topics we need to focus on are Area and Volume, Fractions & Ratio & Percentage, and Geometry.

(1) Easy to learn, hard to master, PSLE math makes children cry

In recent years, the PSLE exam has become more challenging than the school curriculum.

Area and Volume is a key topic in the PSLE exam. We selected a "container water pouring problem" to explain this in detail. In school, both Primary 5 and Primary 6 have chapters dedicated to this topic, but the difficulty level varies.

Below is a P5 question from a school, which only examines the basic concept of volume calculation, which is relatively straightforward and simple.

8.   A rectangular tank 27 cm by 18 cm by 39 cm is half filled with water.
The water is poured into a cubical tank of edge 15 cm until it is  full.
How much water is left in the rectangular tank? Give your answer in litres.

Below is a P6 question from a school, focusing on the reverse application of the volume formula, and nothing more.

TRY   A cubical container of edge 30 cm is  filled with water. All the water is poured into an empty rectangular tank measuring 25 cm by 20 cm by 35 cm. Find the height of the water level in the rectangular tank.

And what about the container water pouring problem in the PSLE?

PSLE 2023, Paper 2, Question13：

There was a total of 21400cm3 of water in rectangular tanks X and Y at first. The height of the water level in tank Y was 5cm above that of tank X.

(a)   Find the height of the water level in tank X.

(b)   Ann poured 3300 cm3 of water out of tank Y. Tank Y was then half filled with water.

What was the height of tank Y?

Compared to the single-point questions in school, this PSLE question is more comprehensive, requiring flexible application of volume formulas and understanding how to convert different heights into the same height, and how to use the same height for quick calculation. Such comprehensive questions are rarely encountered in school, making it hard to score full marks.

(2) Many PSLE topics, too little revision time

The timeline for the 2024 PSLE exam is as follows:

By the end of May next year, students will complete all P6 topics. June is the mid-year holiday, leaving 92 days for revision in July, August, and September. Considering school classes in the mornings and some students preparing for DSA exams, plus PSLE oral and listening exams in mid-August and mid-September, the actual revision time is tight. On average, each subject gets: 92 ÷ 4＝23 days for revision and each math topic gets about: 23 ÷ 12 ≈ 1.92 days, which is insufficient.

Kangaroo Study's PSLE system has two key features to address the above challenges:   

(1) Increasing difficulty in teach topic, practice harder questions so PSLE is easy

By analyzing the past three years' papers, we found that the difficult questions each year focuses on different topics, indicating the variability of PSLE key questions. To help students calmly face the exam and achieve good results, we expand the knowledge and difficulty level of each topic  beyond the PSLE level, ensuring they are well-prepared.

Below is one of the water pouring problems from our PSLE class:

Q6  There are three rectangular tanks, labeled X, Y, and Z, respectively. Initially, tank X is partially filled with water (with a water height of 10 cm), while tanks Y and Z are empty. Then, all the water from tank X is poured into tanks Y and Z. Eventually, the height of the water in tank Y is 6 cm higher than that in tank Z. It is known that the dimensions of tank X are 15 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm. The base areas of tanks Y and Z are 100 cm² and 300 cm², respectively.

(a)   What was the height of the water level in Z?

(b)   Lucy pours out 350 cm³ of water from tank Y. Afterward, the water height is one-third of the height of tank Y. What is the height of tank Y?

(2) Four-Stage Comprehensive Review for Efficient Preparation

For math, scientific study planning involves completing P6 PSLE topics (9 chapters), followed by two rounds of review, a full revision of all topics (22 chapters), two rounds of focused review on key points (6 chapters), and four mock exams. Our four-stage comprehensive learning plan helps students achieve AL1.

a. Solving Commonly Tested P6 Topics Early

During the critical period at the end of Primary 5 (Term 4), Kangaroo Study's PSLE system helps students tackle commonly tested P6 topics early, laying a solid foundation for comprehensive review in P6 Term 1.

For example, in Term 4, Lesson 3 and Lesson 4 will cover advanced percentage problems. Lesson 5 will discuss circles and sectors, Lesson 7 will teach how to represent numbers with letters, Lesson 8 will focus on the topic of distance, speed, and time, and Lesson 9 will study solid shapes.During this holiday, we will complete the commonly tested PSLE topics in advance, clearing the obstacles for comprehensive review and the final sprint  in Primary 6.

b. Comprehensive Review

In the first half of Primary 6 and the mid-year holidays, we conduct a comprehensive "Carpet" review based on the analysis of 470 past questions over the past ten years, summarized into 12 topics and 60 review points, with deep extension for each point.

c. Tacking Difficult Points

After undergoing the comprehensive review phase, achieving full marks in Paper 1 is generally no longer an issue. The next step is to tackle the difficult points in Paper 2.

According to our analysis of the proportion of each module's scores in Paper 2 over the past three years, we know that Area and Volume account for 29.1%, Percentage accounts for 25%, and Geometry accounts for 14.5%, making them the three main obstacles in the PSLE exam.

Two months before the exam, we will enter the "obstacle clearing" phase, where we will review and organize the challenging and key question types. This will help students become familiar with the characteristics of difficult questions and the methods to solve them, laying a solid foundation for achieving full marks in Paper 2.

d. Mock Exam Stage

After comprehensive review and tackling difficult points, it is necessary to thoroughly check and strengthen students' exam skills and habits.

The research department will set the number and difficulty of questions according to the module score proportions in the real exam. After each exam, personalized test paper analysis will be conducted to ensure nothing is overlooked in achieving AL1.

Teacher Smith

Graduated with Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai University and Masters from Singapore. Teacher Smith has 3+ years of experience in teaching Maths and Computer Science. This helped him simplify intricate problems into easily understandable solutions for his students. He ensures a vibrant classroom atmosphere while maintaining discipline, ensuring active participation from every student.

He is the lead teacher of the P5 & P6 Math and is committed to assisting students in excelling in NMOS, RMO, and APMOPS competitions.

Teacher Ma Zhangchi

Graduated in Computer Science from Murdoch University. Studied for Math Olympiad and won several first-place titles during primary school. Coming from a family of math teachers, Teacher Ma gained teaching experience as a teaching assistant during college.

He teaches PSLE Math. He prioritizes clarity and encourages active engagement and he is dedicated to guiding students toward their highest potential in the PSLE Math exam.