MATRIX MATH
BEST MATH TUITION SINGAPORE

As the PSLE examination draws closer, your child is doing their best to prepare for the papers. Classes, homework and tuition are beneficial in strengthening fundamentals and preparing your child for the math problems presented. Outside of these sessions, however, there may be occasions when your child has difficulty studying independently. It may be a good idea to suggest studying with their friends. After all, there are various benefits that they can also derive from it outside of helping each other keep up with lessons. Peer Learning Even with the help of a good tutor, it can take a while for your child to understand the complexities of a math solution. In times like this, peer learning can be a significant boon. Your child’s friends may have a better understanding of a particular math problem. They can provide your child with a simple breakdown of a math problem and clarify any confusing sections. The study group also helps your child spot mistakes they might have made. A mistake made may not be obvious, so having someone look over your child’s work can help pinpoint these mistakes and correct them. At the same time, they may offer a simpler or more efficient way to reach the solution, making it easier for your child to see the bigger picture. Peer learning is beneficial whenever the study group can meet, whether during tuition classes or while studying together in the library. Even without a tutor, your child’s friends can still provide assistance to help your child succeed. Motivation The success of a study group comes from each student’s ability to work together and learn how to solve various math problems effectively. This spirit of collaboration can be a strong motivator for each person in the study group, especially when everyone gets to celebrate each other’s successes, no matter how small. As a parent, you can contribute to their motivation in small ways. You could, for example, serve chocolate for everyone when they collaboratively solve a head-scratching math question. Some incentives would not hurt to keep spirits high. Every bit of motivation can go a long way to help your child and their friends. With continuous practice and encouragement, a study group creates a positive feedback loop where everyone is motivated to do their best. The stronger their motivation, the higher their confidence in solving complex math problems. In so doing, their motivation from their success only increases. Relaxed Atmosphere Studying together also creates a fun, casual environment where everyone can freely communicate about homework and other subjects. Classrooms aim to foster learning with the guidance of a teacher; however, the formal atmosphere of schools can add some difficulty for some students to express themselves. A study group comprises peers with unique personalities and strengths. Each person can add a unique element to discussions, including injecting much-needed humour and fun into study sessions. As everyone in the study group gets more comfortable with math and their abilities to solve math problems, they also enjoy a boost in motivation and confidence that takes them further. The positive reinforcement of math as fun can make it something they can look forward to! Tuition centres make a point of instilling a similar atmosphere where collaboration and self-expression are essential points to a student’s growth. Study groups can also thrive here as it reinforces the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Collaboration is Fun When the study group’s efforts show promising results, your child will find working with their friends to solve complex problems is enjoyable. Collaboration is fun, especially when it makes studying maths less stressful as everyone supports each other’s growth. It is also preferable to studying alone, which can make the study session seem monotonous and tedious. It can be very joyful to hear your child express their excitement over their next study group session, especially if the group dynamic has been very positive for everyone involved. The others would feel the same! Real World Application More importantly, a study group prepares these young, bright students for the real world. It may seem far off at their age, but developing various skills from a young age will carry over into adulthood. Your child and their friends can take what they learned from their study group sessions – collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills from their math studies – and apply them in the working world. Supplement Study Groups with Matrix Maths  Study groups are a great way for students to come together and collaborate to learn new things, improve their skills, and have a good time in the process. It is nonetheless essential that the study group focus on studying to minimise distractions. With everyone committed to it, a study group will yield plenty of exciting results while allowing everyone to bond closely with each other. Matrix Math encourages study groups, given the many benefits they provide students. In fact, study groups during tuition sessions at Matrix Math offer plenty of opportunities for students to showcase their collaborative spirit in understanding new topics and working on solving complex math problems. Tutors can also draw on a study group’s dynamic to encourage further student participation, bolstered by the support of their peers. Are you and other parents hosting study group sessions at your homes? With the PSLE being only a month away, study groups must study smart so that everyone is up to their best ahead of the exams. We have compiled a helpful series of videos in ourPSLE Final Revision Course that will further reinforce learned concepts!

With the PSLE drawing closer, it is almost inevitable to hear parents worrying about their child’s performance in the Mathematics paper. The MOE has previously stated that challenging questions are capped at 15% annually, and they are meant to differentiate a student’s mastery of the subject. In a previous article, we have discussed how we can help prepare students for the PSLE through various teaching strategies. But sometimes, even the best students can find themselves caught off guard. Here are the top 3 reasons how students may be losing precious marks in the PSLE Math papers: 1. Showing Full PSLE MATH Working Steps Understandably, the exam consists of a range of level of difficulties. But this does not mean that a student should instantaneously give up attempting a question when he/she deems it to be “too difficult for them” during the exam. Instead of being overwhelmed by the challenging questions, they should focus on extracting information from the question and working through what they can gather and understand. Even if they may not get the final answer or have parts that they are unsure, showing their thought process and recording the working steps can potentially earn them method marks. These partial marks can significantly contribute to their overall score. By remaining composed and methodically working through the problem, students can vastly increase their chances of scoring better. 2. PSLE Math Question Example – Not Understanding the PSLE Question Sometimes, it is not because students do not know how to apply a concept that they have learnt before, but that these questions are phrased in a way that is unfamiliar to them. Afterall, MOE’s objective is to shift away from rote learning and towards nurturing critical thinkers. Instead of giving up, students should take a moment to break down the question into smaller, manageable parts. By identifying key information within the question, they can gain a better understanding of what the question is asking for. Breaking it down often reveals that the question is in fact testing familiar concepts, thus allowing students to apply the appropriate knowledge effectively. By tackling the question one step at a time, students can navigate through the confusion and increase their chances of working out the correct answer. An example of such a question is the infamous “Helen and Ivan” question from 2021 PSLE Math paper. Image sourced from MOE Facebook page One strategy would be to highlight key points in the question. These can be the values needed to be used or sentences that explain what you need to do to arrive at the solution. In the case of the above question: Helen and Ivan have the same total number of coins Helen has 64 twenty-cent coins Ivan has 104 twenty-cent coins The total mass of Helen’s coins is 1.134 kg Breaking down the given problem into smaller components greatly helps one to understand the question. In this question, you know that they have the same total number of coins and a specific number of twenty-cent coins. From there, you can deduce that Ivan has 40 fewer fifty-cent coins than Helen and work from there to solve the first question on who has more money. Moreover, that difference in coin quantity also provides the solution to the second question. As long as a student can stay calm and focused, and break down a question into digestible components, they are more likely to figure out what the question wants and how to arrive at the answer. 3. Not Having Enough Time The PSLE Math exam is divided into two papers with different durations. Paper 1 has a duration of 1 hour, while Paper 2 requires 1 hour and 30 minutes (due to the more complex and open-ended questions presented). It can feel like there is not a lot of time to work with, hence, it is a no wonder some students feel stressed out as the exam goes on. Effective exam time management starts with planning. Students should have a rough gauge of the amount of time allocated for each section of the paper based on the total exam duration. For example, Booklet A (multiple-choice questions) is worth about 40% of the marks in Paper 1, so students should spend roughly 40% or less of their time on it, as they will need to cater time for checking as well. It is important not to spend too much time on the harder questions at the expense of the remaining questions which could possibly be much easier to obtain the marks. Students should move on if they find themselves stuck at a challenging question after a few minutes and return to them later if there is time after. In doing so, all parts of the paper would be addressed, and this will help to maximise the overall score by reducing the risk of leaving easier questions unanswered. What to do Ahead of the PSLE Exams? Consistent practice under timed environment with both PSLE and various schools past year papers will help students develop the much-needed exam skills to tackle the paper more efficiently and effectively. Track results and always review the mistakes made after completing each set of papers to ensure that the right knowledge and skills are internalised. To help students with their practices, we have consolidated various schools past year prelim papers, complete with video walkthroughs and worked solutions. While exam skills are important, we should not neglect the need to brush up on important conceptual knowledge and strengthen the foundations while there is still time. At Matrix Math, we aim to simplify Math so as to empower students to excel in the subject. For the preparation of PSLE for the P6s, we have put together a series of videos in our PSLE Final Revision Course. Check out the video below to learn more! http://matrixmath.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Reel-PSLE-Final-Revision-Course.mp4