If you are searching for questions related to 2023 PSLE, you are at the right place and chances are you’re preparing for PSLE soon or that you have a child who will be taking the PSLE. The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is nerve-wrecking formal examination, requiring students to prepare for multiple subjects thoroughly. Even though the PSLE Math papers have been known to be tough (yes, we are referring to the infamous Helen and Ivan Question), such questions can usually be solved if students have mastered the concepts taught.
2023 PSLE Math Analysis
From the marks distribution in Paper 1 and Paper 2, majority (67%) of the paper consist of topics from Number, Measurement and Geometry. We also noticed that the paper weightage for each topic from 2021-2023 has not changed drastically. For students who are set on AL1, those are the 3 topics that they must be able to complete accurately and efficiently. Equally important are the topics of statistics and ratio and percentage, making up 22% of the paper.
How to solve the 2023 PSLE Math
Now let’s take a look at some of the challenging questions that appeared in the 2023 PSLE Math paper.
2023 PSLE Math Paper 1 Question 26
Kalai threw a ball at a hoop 30 times. One point was scored when the ball passed through the hoop and one point was deducted when the ball did not.
For Kalai’s first 25 throws, the ball passed through the hoop 20 times.
(a) What was Kalai’s score from the first 25 throws?
Topic: Whole number word problem
First, the key point to the question is that one point is added when the ball is passed through the hoop while 1 point was deducted when it is not.
For 25 throws, the ball passed through the hoop 20 times (adding 1 point). Since the ball did not pass through the hoop the subsequent 5 times, points were deducted.
Kalai’s score will be: 20 – 5 = 15
(b) At the end of 30 throws, Kalai scored 18 points, How many times did the ball pass through the hoop for her last 5 throws?
This question can be completed with the assumption method or guess and check method. Both methods work and can be used to check against one another.
From the previous part, Kalai made 25 throws and had a score of 15 points. She has 5 throws left to make her an additional 3 points.
Assume all 5 throws passes through, Kalai’s score will be an additional 5 more points.
However, she scored only 18 and only received an additional 3 more points.
Big difference: 5- 3 = 2
Small difference (Difference between the 2 scores): 1 – (-1) = 2
Did not pass through: 2 ÷ 2 = 1
Note: When you apply the assumption method, by assuming all of the subject are A, your final result will always be the other subject.
If you need additional help in terms of mastering the assumption method, check out our tutorial on this topic!
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Paper 1 Question 28 – the Faizal and Elise Question
Topic: Speed Word Problem
Remember to draw your DST triangle!
Firstly, identify that Faizal is jogging consistently faster than Elise by 30m/min. This means that in the same time period , they cover the same distance but Faizal will cover a distance of 30m/min x (Time Period) more.
According to the question Faizal reached point R and turned around, meeting Elise at point Q. This means that Faizal covered an additional distance in the same duration.
Additional distance covered by Faizal in the same duration: 600 x 2 = 1200m
Time taken: D / S = 1200 ÷ 30 = 40 minutes
Since Faizal can cover 30m more per minute, you can find the time taken by taking the extra distance he covered divided by his additional speed.
Elise’s jogging speed: D / T = 4000 ÷ 40 = 100m/min
Paper 1 Question 29
Topic: Whole Number Word Problem
This question requires students to use logical reasoning and heuristics to work towards the final answer. Since the question states that Gopal poured 760 ml of paint from each tin,
Amount poured out: 760 ml x 3 = 2280 ml
Since the total amount of paint did not change and the amount left is equal to the amount of paint in 1 tin, we can deduce the the amount poured out is equal to the amount of paint in 2 tins.
Amount of paint in 1 tin: 2280 ÷ 2 = 1140 ml
2023 PSLE Math Paper 2 Question 9
Paper 2 Question 11 – Rod and Straw Question
Topic: Whole Number and Pattern question
The key to cracking this code is identifying the pattern of the sequence. Notice that to find the number of rods and straws (2 rods long and 3 straws wide),
Number of rods: 2 rods x 4 columns (number of straws wide + 1)
Number of straws: 3 straws x 3 rows (number of rods long +1)
To solve part (a) which is looking for 3 rods long and 4 straws wide,
Number of rods: 3 x (4+1) = 15 rods
Number of straws: 4 x (3+1) = 16 straws
Using the same formula, you will need to find the total number of rods and straws used for 4 rods long by 52 straws wide.
Number of rods: 4 x (52+1) = 212
Number of straws: 52 x (4+1) = 260
Total: 260 + 212 = 472
One of the common careless mistakes that students have made would be not adding the total number of rods and straws together.
Paper 2 Question 13
Topic: Measurement and Geometry
Method 1: Algebra
You can opt to use the algebra method or the geometry method! To use the algebra method, let the height of tank X be z cm.
height of tank Y = z + 5
21400 = (20 x 10 x z) + (30 x 20 x (z + 5))
21400 = 200 z + 600z + 3000
800 z = 18400
z = 23 cm
Method 2: Work backwards
Alternatively, since you know that base area of Tank X is 20 cm by 10cm and Tank Y is 30 cm by 20 cm, rotate (in mind) Tank X anti-clockwise to match the length (20cm).
Tank Y has an excess height of 5cm, resulting in excess volume so let’s remove that!
5 x 30 x 20 = 3000 cm3
21400 – 3000 cm3 = 18400 cm3
You have removed the volume resulting from the excess height from Tank Y. Since Tank Y’s length 3 times of Tank X’s, the volume of Y : volume of X is 3:1 (4 units in total).
To find the volume of X, 18400 ÷ 4 = 4600 cm3
Find the height by taking the volume dividing by the base area.
Height of X : 4600 ÷ (20 x 10) = 23 cm
Part B can be found easily by finding the volume of tank Y.
Volume of Tank Y now: 30 x 20 x (23 + 5) = 16800cm3
16800 – 3300 = 13500 cm3
13500 ÷ 600 = 22.5 cm
22.5 x 2 = 45 cm
Paper 2 Question 14
Topic: Number and Algebra – Percentage Word Problem
Part (a)
Since 30% of his collection is postcards, we know that 70% will be magnets and badges.
Postcards: Magnets + Badges
3 : 7
If postcards are 3 units, and he had 51 fewer postcards than magnets,
Magnets: 3u + 51
With the number of badges given(85) and the number of units for magnets,
3u + 51 + 85 = 7u
Solve for 1u!
4u = 136
1 u = 136 ÷ 4 = 34
3u: 34 x 3 = 102 postcards
Part (b)
10 u – 34 x 10 = 340
100% – 340
His total collection decreased by 20%
20% – 68
This means that 68 postcards were given away.
Postcards left: 102 – 68 =34
% of postcards left: 34 / (340-68) x 100% = 12.5%
2023 PSLE Math Paper 2 Question 15
Paper 2 Question 16
Topic: Measurement and Geometry
We are given that the cards were pinned along the four sides of the rectangular board uses 24 pins. Let’s first find the number of cards used along the length of the Figure, excluding the triangles on each side.
Number of pins used on both lengths: 24 – (2 x 4) = 16
Number of pins used on one length: 16 ÷ 2 = 8
The cards on the length use only 1 pin at the apex of the triangle, we know that the number of triangles along the length is 8. Remember to add the height of the 2 triangles along the breadth.
To find the length of AB,
8 x 40 + (20 x 2) = 360 cm
Total triangles used: 8 x 2 + 3 x 2 = 22
Total area of 24 triangles: 22 x (1/2 x 40 x 20) = 8800 cm2
Paper 2 Question 17
Topic: Measurement and Geometry
(a) The perimeter of Figure 1 is 96cm. In Figure 2, given that we have 3 trapeziums, the perimeter should have been:
96 x 3 = 288 cm
But the perimeter given is actually 204 cm.
The difference in perimeter is due to the overlap of PQ (4 times): 288 cm – 204 cm = 84cm
84 ÷ 4 = 21 cm
(b) Area of 4 trapeziums: 1932 cm2
Area of 1 rectangle: 1932 ÷ 2 = 966 cm2
966 ÷ 21 = 46 cm
Length of rectangle: 21 + 12 + RS = 46
RS: 46 – 33 = 13 cm
Tips for PSLE preparation
Start Early
The best advice we give our students is to start early. Give yourself ample time to understand the definitions and key points in each topic. Challenge yourself by taking some time every morning to memorise basic formulas.
Review Concepts
Break down the problem-solving strategies for each topics and understand why certain methods are preferred in different scenarios. Review past worksheets and redo questions that you have completed incorrectly to ensure that you have truly mastered those topics. Then practice by applying techniques through topical worksheets.
Time Management
Time management is one of the most important skills you will learn and need along the way. You should plan out the topics you need to cover each day as well as how many practice papers you will commit to doing. Practice papers also gives you an opportunity to complete the questions under time pressure. As a rule of thumb, you should only be spending up to 1.5 minute per mark. Aim to complete easy questions in 30-45 seconds and complex questions with 2 minute per mark, leaving ample time for checking your work. We usually recommend students to attempt 1 full paper a day.
To help P6 students with their upcoming PSLE, Think Academy will be conducting in-person mock tests in September. To find out how you can join the in-person mock test, join our P6 community group to be kept in the loop!
