Can you solve these 2021 PSLE Math Questions?

October 2021 – This year’s Primary 6 students faced lots of challenges and learning disruptions in the lead up to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Steady, Steady…
Source Credits: donkdonkconk

Covid-19 started just as Primary 5 life beganthe primary level where most PSLE topics and skills are taught. They experienced several rounds of Home-Based Learning (HBL) in Primary 5 and Primary 6. Co-curricular activities (CCAs), enrichment and tuition classes were not spared (but Live Online Learning Math, GEP & Math Olympiad classes like us carried on!).

They are also the pioneer batch of students to be assessed under the new PSLE scoring system. After in-depth consideration, MOE and SEAB announced reduced tested content to ease the stress on both students and teachers (thankfully!).

For our young pre-teens, these constant changes can affect their social and emotional wellbeing, and increase stress levels.

It’s therefore unsurprising that many Primary 6 PSLE parents and students have publicly expressed their sentiments about the difficulty of this year’s PSLE Math questions. Here’s a glimpse of just some of the comments:

Source: Facebook post

Are this year’s PSLE Mathematics questions really that difficult?

Are the 2021 PSLE Math Questions as tough as the star shaped fine motor skills task in Squid Game's Game #2?
Are the 2021 PSLE Math Questions as tough as the star shaped fine motor skills task in Squid Game’s Game #2?
Image source: sgfollowsall

Let’s take a close look at FIVE of the PSLE 2021 Math Questions with our Primary 6 PSLE Teachers, Teacher Jason and Teacher Wei Jie!

Think Academy’s PSLE Math dynamic teaching duo – Teacher Jason and Teacher Wei Jie! Helping students understand and learning how to apply Upper Primary Math concepts easily.

We’ve analysed the questions based on the Think Academy 7 Math Module and 7 Math Abilities it falls under, what’s interesting about each question, plus how to solve it.

Ready? Let’s begin!

We begin with the Easiest of them all…

PSLE 2021 Question 1

There were several brown and green beads in a box. The green beads took up 40% of the beads in the box. After some yellow beads were added, the percentage of green beads reduced to 26%. What percentage of the final number of beads are yellow?

Think Academy Math Module: Word Problem Solving

Think Academy Math Ability: Practical Application

Teacher Jason’s Question Analysis & Comments:

This question did not mention the numerical amount of brown, green and yellow beads. Despite giving the percentage of their amount amongst all the beads in the box, it is not easy to deduce their individual sums without comparing the ratio of the beads.

Teacher Jason’s Worked Solution:

PSLE 2021 Math Question and Answer by Think Academy PSLE Math Teachers

All warmed up! Gearing up our difficulty level now…

PSLE 2021 Question 2

There were 3 friends, A, B and C, sharing the cost of a toy.
The ratio of A’s share to the total of B and C is 1:3.
The ratio of B’s share to the total of A and C is 1:5
C spent $80 more than B. Find the cost of the toy.

Think Academy Math Module: Word Problem Solving

Think Academy Math Ability: Practical Application

Teacher Wei Jie’s Question Analysis & Comments:

The question does not give you the proportion of money between any two of the three friends. This makes it hard to calculate the amount of money each friend is sharing out of the whole cost. However, we note that the three friends were all sharing the same cost of the toy.

Teacher Wei Jie’s Worked Solution:

psle 2021 math questions and answers by think academy - singapore's number 1 live online math classes by math experts - oxford, cambridge, ucl, princeton, nus, ntu, raffles, hwa chong, nanyang girls', acs independent, catholic high school alumni, ex gifted education programme students or gepers and former nie trained and moe teachers

Whoo, flexed those Word Problem muscles! Let’s head on to… Question 3!

PSLE 2021 Question 3

The difference between the perimeter of the two regions is 4 cm.
a) Find the length of AB.
b) What is the area of the shaded region?

PSLE 2021 Math Question and Answer by Think Academy PSLE Math Teachers

Think Academy Math Module: Geometry

Think Academy Math Ability: Geometric Cognition 

Teacher Jason’s Question Analysis & Comments:

The base of the triangle is given, but the height of the triangle is not, and it is not easy to resolve the height of the triangle with the information provided in the Figure. This question actually requires students to be able to manipulate the shapes given to discover new perspectives to solve it. They would appreciate that there is excess length when comparing the two figures. Students who have Math Olympiad training might have come across similar questions.

Teacher Jason’s Worked Solution:

PSLE 2021 Math Question and Answer by Think Academy PSLE Math Teachers
find the area of the shaded region - worked solution for psle 2021 math questions by think academy, singapore's number 1 live online math classes by math experts

That worked up quite a sweat – but let’s push on!

PSLE 2021 Question 4

Given that the shaded regions in the two figures have the same area,
a) Find the perimeter of Figure 2.
b) Find the area of Figure 2.

PSLE 2021 Math Questions and Answers by Think Academy PSLE Math Teachers - Singapore's Number 1 Math Experts - Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, Princeton, NUS, NTU Graduates, Raffles, Hwa Chong, Nanyang Girls', ACS and Catholic High Alumni, Math Olympiad Winners of SMOPS, APMOPS, NMOS, AMC, AIME, CMO, CGMO and more and Former MOE Teachers who are NIE Trained

Think Academy Math Module: Geometry

Think Academy Math Ability: Geometric Cognition

Teacher Jason’s Question Analysis & Comments:
The figure is divided into 4 sections and the thickness of the shaded area was not mentioned within this question. Students are required to deduce the thickness of the figure by sectioning Figure 2 into 4 sections and using the radius given in Figure 1. Students need to have strong abstract thinking skills to manipulate figures mentally to do, which may be less common in the school syllabus but common in Math Olympiad enrichment and training plus competitions.

My Upper Primary Math Olympiad course students gain exposure and learn how to solve such questions.

Glad that we had also spotted such question types for this year’s PSLE and had included it in Think Academy’s PSLE Mock Paper for our Primary 6 Students!

PSLE Math Question Spotted by Think Academy - Singapore's Number 1 Primary School Math, Math Olympiad and GEP Math Experts
Yeah – we spotted it!

Teacher Jason’s Worked Solution:

PSLE 2021 Math Questions Answers by Think Academy - Singapore's Number 1 Live Online Math Lessons and Classes by Singapore's Top Math Experts

Four of five questions Done and Dusted!

ANDDDDD for our Grand Finale, we finally get to meet Singapore’s beloved Helen and Ivan

Helen Ivan Says Hello PSLE 2021 Math Questions and Answers by Think Academy's Math Expert Teachers

PSLE 2021 Question 5

Helen and Ivan have the same number of coins. Helen has some 50-cent coins and 64 20-cent coins. Her coins weigh a total of 1.134 kg. Ivan had some 50-cent coins and 104 20-cent coins.

a) Who has more money, and how much more does he/she have?
b) If the mass of one 50-cent coin is 2.7 g heavier than one 20-cent coin, what is the mass of Ivan’s coins in kilograms?

Think Academy Math Module: Word Problem Solving

Think Academy Math Ability: Practical Application 

Teacher Wei Jie’s Question Analysis & Comments:

This question does not provide information about the number of Helen’s nor Ivan’s 50-cent coins, but already asks the student to determine who has a greater amount of money. Moreover, the question only gives the difference in mass of both coins rather than the direct weight of either of the coin, making the question that much harder. Students who have Math Olympiad training or competition experience may be able to solve this question easily because of their ability to recognise the difference in monetary value of the coins.

Teacher Wei Jie’s Worked Solution:

PSLE 2021 Math Questions and Answers with Helen and Ivan and Their Coins by Think Academy Singapore's Math Experts for Primary Math, Math Olympiad and GEP
PSLE 2021 Math Questions and Answers with Helen and Ivan and Their Coins by Think Academy Singapore's Math Experts for Primary Math, Math Olympiad and GEP

If you’re a Primary 3 to 5 primary school parent reading this, don’t forget to get your FREE Full-Year Examination Practice Papers & Answers that we’ve specially prepared for you!

Oxford. Cambridge. Princeton. UCL. NUS. NTU. Ex-GEPers. Multi-award Winning Math Olympians. Raffles Girls' School. Raffles Institution. Hwa Chong Institution. Nanyang Girls' High School. ACS Independent. Catholic High School. Ex-MOE Teachers. Think Academy's Excellent Teachers.

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