Are you competing in the Singapore Math Kangaroo Contest (SMKC) this year? You might be wondering what are the topics tested in the competition. We’ve examined the Singapore Math Kangaroo Contest Past Year Papers to give you a complete analysis of the Singapore Math Kangaroo from 2019 – 2022.
About SMKC
The Singapore Math Kangaroo is distinctively different from the other Math Olympiad competitions for its syllabus testing on the Singapore Math curriculum. This also means that students with no math olympiad background stand a good chance of performing well at SMKC. Based on the topics tested, this competition is appropriate for Lower Primary students (Primary 1 and Primary 2) or beginner Math Olympians to participate in.
(Note: Students from Primary 1 and Primary 2 take the same SMKC paper but will be ranked based on their grade level)
Marking Scheme
The marking scheme and criteria is vastly different from the typical school examinations, where no negative marking is prescribed.
On the other hand, SMKC awards:
- 3 marks for correct answer in Section A; 4 points in Section B; 5 points in Section C
- 1 point deducted for each incorrect answer
- No point deducted for unattempted question
- Each student will be given 24 bonus points to start
Awards
Here are the various awards given out at the SMKC (and SASMO)
- Perfect Score
- Gold – Top 8%
- Silver – Next 12%
- Bronze – Next 20%
- Honorable Mention – Next 10%
- Certificate of Participation – Remaining 50%
SMKC Participation Rate
- Increasing participation in Primary 1 and Primary 2 students for SMKC from 2021 to 2023.
- More Perfect Scorers in Primary 2 than in Primary 1 as both levels are taking the same paper.
- Students are ranked based on their scores and awarded accordingly. From looking at SIMCC’s published awards list, we also noticed that multiple participants have received the same rank. Depending on the level of competitiveness for that year, a single point could make a difference in medal or ranking. (We will come back to this in our analysis)
2019-2022 SMKC Past Year Paper Analysis
Our curriculum team examined the SMKC past year papers and the primary skills tested in it. From analysing SMKC past year papers from 2019-2022, there are several things that we have noticed.
Spatial Awareness and Number Sense are key skills tested in more than 50% of the SMKC papers.
In the Singapore Math Kangaroo Contest past year papers from 2019-2022, questions testing students spatial awareness and number sense accounts for more than 50% of the number of questions in paper. Teacher Cherlyn, one of our Lower Primary Math Olympiad Coach, shared that typically Primary 1 and Primary 2 students are weak in spatial awareness. This is because students at that age might not be able to rotate and visualise 2D or 3D objects quickly and accurately without the help of visual aids.
As visualisation and spatial awareness skills are highly dependent on observation skills, parents can encourage children to observe details, shapes and sounds in their surroundings. This will in turn help to sharpen their ability to draw out distinctions and key differences in the real world. Parents can also use physical objects to help students to develop spatial awareness and observation in cases where students are unable to manipulate shapes and objects mentally.
Logical Reasoning questions appear frequently in Section C
The section with the highest weightage is Section C, where each correct answer is awarded 5 points. Even though the number of questions testing logical reasoning might range from 1-2 questions, the weightage of each logical reasoning question is relatively high (5 points).
Logical reasoning is a skill students need to develop their own judgement and conclusions through information given in a question. They are categorised into verbal and non-verbal questions. Verbal questions could be word problem or application questions while non-verbal questions could ask students to identify patterns in a picture.
Some ways to enhance students’ logical reasoning skills could include fun puzzles such as sudoku, tangram or even the once-popular 2048 game. These games give students an opportunity to observe and develop their own judgement and solution, strengthening their logical reasoning and analytical skills.
Lacking practice in exam-taking
With no major exams in Primary 1 and 2, students may have problem concentrating and completing a 90-minute math competition. In such cases, students might benefit from taking mock exams and practice papers. Parents can also simulate a learning environment during students’ practice. Exam-taking skills also include child’s ability to manage their time and positive habits such as checking their work thoroughly to ensure accuracy of their answers.
Especially for Lower Primary students, they often struggle with long word problems and application question. We often see students who rush to start working on the question without fully checking the details of the questions. As result, this could lead them to arrive a wrong answer or a strategy that leads them on a wild goose chase.
(Bonus) You need a SMKC strategy
Depending on your child’s objective for the SMKC, you will need a strategy. Firstly, ensure you have attempted all easy questions. For students who are aiming for Gold or Silver, deciding when and if you will attempt a question is very important. Here are some suggested questions that can help:
- Have I attempted all the easy questions?
- Is this question one of my weak topics?
- Is this question very challenging?
- How confident am I that my answer is correct?
If you are looking for a way to help your child to prepare for SMKC, look no further. We have created a 9-day intensive Daily Math Doses, a math practice that your child can follow along and get them up to speed.
- Learn knowledge points and problem solving strategies through our Livestream
- Targeted topical approach and practice through our Daily Math Doses
- Personalised feedback for each child
Not only will you get practice, follow our calendar and join our group to receive a report of your child’s progress from our Math Olympiad coaches!
Kindly note that these activities are available for students living in Singapore only.
