While maths is often feared by both parents and students due to the myriad of concepts and formulas to grasp, it is still very much relevant and essential in Singapore’s education system today. In fact, students in Singapore have taken the top spot in maths for the second consecutive year of an international study last conducted in 2019, further emphasising the importance of the subject.
But not every student excels in maths; some could be stronger in linguistics while others are more inclined toward the arts. Nevertheless, maths is still a prerequisite for advancing into higher education and hence, more should be done if your child is struggling with the subject.
With the right studying methods, attitude and help, students will be able to improve their math grades and reap the benefits of learning and mastering the subject.
Not sure how you can help your child as a parent? This guide to everything you need to know about acing PSLE and O-Level maths will come in handy.
Read on to find out more.
Part 2 – Parents’ introduction to maths
2.1 Why learning maths from a young age is beneficial
As parents, it is crucial to understand that learning maths from a young age can benefit your kid. This allows you to teach your child basic math skills at home that will pique their interest, encouraging them to love and enjoy studying maths for a headstart in primary school.
Many primary school math tutors have also observed that kids who had parental input in maths from a young age tend to do better in the subject compared to those who have never had the concept drilled into them. Additionally, unprepared students tend to wing it when it comes to learning the subject which also explains why they achieve less than desirable results.
Apart from giving your child leverage over other students, learning maths early has other benefits:
Good for the brain
Abstract thinking is required to help students find patterns and make connections when solving mathematical problems. Therefore, maths is found to be good for the brain, naturally developing your child’s brain muscles during the process. Systematic thinking and pattern recognition are skills your child will acquire while learning maths. This in turn boosts their overall intelligence.
Builds problem-solving skills
Learning maths is one of the best ways to strengthen competence in problem-solving such as thinking analytically and having strong reasoning abilities. These are indispensable skills to help your child not just solve math problems, but also overcome later challenges in life.
Essential skill in many different careers
A decent maths grade is key to progressing to tertiary level education while maths is also an essential skill needed in many different careers. Engineers, programmers, auditors, analysts and scientists are some of them, just to name a few. Thus, helping your child to excel in the subject is of the essence especially if they wish to pursue a career that involves mathematics in the future.
Read all about the other benefits of learning maths from a young age here.
2.2 Telltale signs that your child requires maths tuition
Exposing your child to math concepts while they are young may give them an edge over their peers but it is also key to note that not all students progress at the same speed. Your kid may do well in primary school maths and yet find themselves lacking behind when it comes to secondary school maths.
Some plausible reasons include struggling with more complex concepts introduced in secondary school and a change in attitude towards the subject as they grow older. Thankfully, there are plenty of math tuition centres in Singapore that pride themselves on their ability to help a range of students with varying foundations.
Enrolling your child in primary or secondary school math tuition may pull up their grades and allow them to get the basic concepts right to prepare for PSLE or O-Level.
If you are unsure whether your child needs additional help, these are some signs to look out for:
Failing or barely passing the subject
Constantly failing or barely passing math tests and exams is one of the most obvious signs your child may need a helping hand from a primary or secondary school math tutor. This often signifies that your child is lacking the problem-solving and comprehension skills to tackle mathematical questions. A math tutor will first assess the student’s weaknesses to identify any gaps in your child’s learning before coming up with a suitable curriculum.
Bad time management
Practice makes perfect when it comes to maths and to achieve that, sufficient time must be allocated daily for your child to hone their craft. However, distractions such as the laptop, television and phone can greatly disrupt your child’s learning. Pair that with bad time management skills and more hours will surely be spent on leisure than studying. Luckily, sending your child to a math tuition centre ensures that they spend a few hours every week clarifying any doubts and practising math questions. With consistent practice and the help of math tutors, your child’s grades will improve in no time.
Low academic confidence
You may also notice your child comparing themselves to their peers who are achieving better grades or catch them saying things like “I hate maths” and “I am not good at maths”. These point to low academic confidence which can be detrimental to not just your child’s grades, but also mental health. Consider signing your child up for primary or secondary school math tuition in Singapore to build their confidence. Tuition centres usually group students into classes based on their skill level so that everyone is on a similar frequency, facilitating learning as well as preventing prejudice.
Inability to concentrate in big classes
A typical class size in school consists of 30 to 40 students to one teacher. Although some students are able to learn in bigger settings and with distractions around them, others may find it more challenging. This is when online maths tutoring comes into play as a small number of students are paired with one tutor. Similarly, in-person classes are generally kept to just a handful of students so that tutors can provide tutees with optimal attention.
Has many unanswered doubts regarding maths
Your child may find it difficult to speak up in school during classes to clarify any doubts when other students seem to be coping well. All these unanswered questions hinder your child’s progress and improvement level. Thus, sending your child to primary or secondary school math tuition gives them the opportunity to ask questions without fearing judgement, since every student is there to learn.
Enjoys learning maths
On the other hand, math tuition is not just for those who are having a hard time excelling in the subject. Enrolling your child in math tuition is also a great way to help your child advance further without being held back by the curriculum in school.
2.3 Exploring different maths learning styles
Nonetheless, sending your child to math tuition is not a one-and-done deal. As parents, there is so much more you can do to make learning fun and enjoyable so that studying is no longer considered a chore.
One of the ways is to analyse your child’s learning style, ensuring tuition classes and home learning are catered to their preferences.
Here are the four types of learning styles and tips for each of them:
Visual
Students who are visual learners absorb information the best through seeing and reading pictures. Graphic depiction of diagrams, charts and symbols helps them to retain process and remember details better.
If your child is a visual learner, encourage them to take notes during lessons, use colour-coded highlighting, create charts and diagrams on graph paper and make flashcards.
Primary and secondary school math tutors will generally write and draw concepts on the whiteboard during lessons to aid visual learners in their learning.
Auditory
Like its name suggests, auditory learners prefer listening to information that is presented to them vocally. They tend to understand and remember things that they have heard and comprehend spoken instructions better than written ones.
If your child is an auditory learner, get them to read math questions and explanations out loud or listen to podcasts that explore different math concepts.
Signing them up for online maths tutoring in Singapore will also be beneficial, as classes can be recorded so that students are able to replay and listen to them again.
Reading and writing
These students prefer reading and writing while studying so you may notice your child leaning toward text-heavy resources.
If your child is a reading and writing learner, motivate them to rewrite and reread notes, make use of more textbooks and handouts, and copy down formulas.
Math tutors can also help by giving students worksheets and printed notes.
Kinesthetic
Lastly, kinesthetic learners prefer a hands-on approach and thrive on learning that engages their senses. Practical information trumps theoretical concepts most of the time.
If your child is a kinesthetic learner, incorporating props such as blocks, marbles and money that they can feel while solving mathematical problems, shuffling flashcards and cutting out charts or diagrams to rearrange are also great ways to stimulate the sense of touch.
Maths tuition classes may sometimes include these additional supplies to make learning more fun.
2.4 Common problems students face in maths and how they can overcome them
Beyond identifying your child’s learning style, recognising the common problems faced and mistakes made is equally important. This allows you to highlight errors in your child’s work or studying habits for quicker, more effective rectifications.
Messing up basic number facts
Multiplication, division, addition and subtraction are all foundations of maths and a complete understanding is required to enable students to solve problems as well as make sense of more complex concepts. If your child is still making careless mistakes when solving problems with these basic concepts, help them get the fundamentals right before progressing to prevent more problems in the future.
A primary school math tutor will ensure that your child has these groundworks down to a T during the first few lessons, empowering confidence and ease when solving more demanding mathematical problems.
Computational weaknesses
Some examples of computational weaknesses include carrying the wrong number during multiplication or division, writing down the wrong final answer, misreading signs and symbols, and putting decimals in incorrect positions. All these can cause your child to lose precious working marks, making a whole lot of difference in the final grade. As such, double or triple-checking is vital.
When you send your child to primary or secondary school math tuition, the experienced tutor will be able to spot these mistakes quickly and precisely and impart their knowledge on how to avoid them.
Blindly memorising instead of understanding
We have all been through blind memorisation a few days before a big exam but it often does more harm than good. While it may work to a certain extent, memorising instead of understanding mathematical principles can result in errors when nerves take over. Contrarily, when your child fully understands each concept, they will still be able to solve the problem regardless of how differently the question is phrased.
Math tutors will teach your child how to answer questions accurately and methodically to achieve the best results.
2.5 Creating a conducive studying environment for your child
As parents, there is always more that can be done for your children. Creating a conducive studying environment is crucial too, as children spend most of their time at home apart from school.
Having distractions around your child while they study maths may result in poor memory, concentration and ultimately, mistakes.
Hence, here are some tips for creating a conducive home environment for your child to maximise their learning:
Keep distractions away
Distractions such as televisions, laptops and phones should be kept at a distance, but make sure to allocate break time every few hours for the usage of electronic devices. Reducing screen time is also great for avoiding excessive blue light emissions that can cause tiredness.
Let natural light in
Consider positioning your child’s table towards the window to create a sense of openness. Letting natural sunlight stream in, in this manner, may enhance your child’s mood for better studying.
Keep the area organised
Your child’s study desk should always be organised and free of clutter. A messy table can create feelings of anxiety or stress, overwhelming your child and disrupting their learning.
Always study at the desk
Encourage your child to study at the desk as the bed or sofa may result in sleepiness and laziness. As studying may induce pressure, it is recommended to keep places of rest such as the bed separate from work. This ensures that feelings of stress are kept at bay when your child is resting for the night.
2.6 Career paths math lovers will excel in
Excelling in primary and secondary school maths paves the way for a brighter future. Maths is, in fact, necessary in many careers and being skilful in it gives them leverage in the workforce.
Some career paths that math lovers can consider include auditor, data analyst, computer programmer, financial analyst, and statistician.
If your child is interested in any of these career options, help them pursue their passion by enrolling them in math tuition in Singapore for that competitive edge over their peers.
Part 3 – Supporting your child through PSLE and O-Level maths
3.1 Preparing your child for the PSLE maths exam
As PSLE is the first national exam that your child faces, it is only natural for them to feel daunted but there are some things you can do as a parent to help them prepare for it.
Understand the exam format and syllabus
Keep yourself abreast of the latest changes in format or syllabus for the PSLE maths exam so you can advise your child on the best way to study and prepare for it. The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board’s (SEAB) website offers relevant and updated resources.
Currently, students who are taking the PSLE maths exam will need to have a good understanding of mathematical facts, concepts, rules and formulas. They must be able to perform computations and algebraic calculations too. Most importantly, students should interpret information, analyse questions and apply the right mathematical concepts in a variety of contexts.
The PSLE maths exam consists of paper 1 and paper 2, and includes multiple choice questions, short answers, and long answer questions. Students get a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete both papers with a break in between, so time management is key.
Calculators are also permitted during the exam. Hence, make sure to remind your child to check that it is in working order and bring it along on the day of the exam.
Identify your child’s learning styles, strengths and weaknesses
As mentioned earlier, there are four different types of learning styles and each one of them requires varying teaching and studying techniques. After identifying your child’s learning style, advising them on suitable studying and preparation tips can be done effortlessly and effectively.
Additionally, knowing their strengths and weaknesses allows you to pay more attention to the areas they are lacking in. For instance, your child may struggle more with algebraic procedures so focusing more time on this area brushes up their skills.
Provide constant encouragement
Instead of reprimanding your child when they are unable to solve a problem, providing constant encouragement aids in building resilience and patience, two essential traits to excel in maths.
Refer to PSLE math exams from previous years
Referring to past years’ test papers is one of the best ways to prepare your child for the PSLE maths exam. To further simulate the real deal, get your child to try completing the papers within 2 hours and 30 minutes independently. This gives them a better idea of the environment during the actual PSLE maths exam.
Using exam papers from previous years also exposes your child to questions and concepts that may appear in the exam.
Be proactive in your child’s learning
Get involved when your child is doing revisions or homework to track their progress. This helps you to make informed decisions when considering whether you need to employ extra help, such as hiring a math tutor.
Strike a balance between studying and relaxing
As much as you want your child to focus on their studies to achieve good results, striking a healthy balance between mugging and relaxing is essential. This motivates them to work even harder so that they can enjoy their free time without guilt.
Enrol your child in PSLE math tuition
You may also want to consider enrolling your child in in-person or online PSLE math tuition to give them an extra last lap boost before they advance to secondary school.
Math tutors who are coaching students preparing for PSLE will usually curate a specialised curriculum to help them absorb as much as possible before the big day. Alternatively, start getting your child ready by sending them to tuition classes even before they are in primary 6.
3.2 Preparing your child for O-Level maths
Secondary school maths will undoubtedly present an increase in difficulty for students, particularly in upper secondary when they might choose to study both E-maths and A-maths.
Nevertheless, there are some things you can do as a parent to help your child feel more confident and be more prepared for the O-Level maths exam.
Understand the exam format and syllabus
Similar to preparing your child for the PSLE maths exam, you will also need to be familiar with the exam format and syllabus for O-Level maths.
Students who are taking O-Level E-maths must:
Organise and analyse data
Formulate and solve problems
Select and apply the appropriate techniques
Interpret mathematical solutions
Solve higher order problems
Write mathematical explanations and solutions
Paper 1 consists of short answer questions and students are given 2 hours to complete it. Paper 2 includes questions of varying marks and lengths, and students must complete the paper in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
A range of subject content will be tested, from numbers and their operations to ratios and proportions, percentages, functions and graphs and much more. See the full list on SEAB’s website here.
Students who are taking O-Level A-maths must:
Apply standard techniques such as using facts, terminology, notation, graphs and tables
Solve problems in a variety of contexts through relevant mathematical concepts, rules and formulas
Reason and communicate mathematically by justifying and explaining
Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 include questions of varying marks and lengths, and students are given 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete each paper.
Subject content for A-maths consists of quadratic functions, surds, binomial expansions, trigonometric functions and more. See the full list on SEAB’s website here.
Calculators are allowed for both papers for E-maths and A-maths.
Provide your child with extra resources
Purchase assessment books and Ten Year Series for your child to help them prepare for the O-Level maths exam.
More practice means that they get to familiarise themselves with various concepts, allowing them to complete questions faster and more accurately.
Encourage the use of planners or timetables
Secondary school students oftentimes have packed schedules due to CCAs and supplementary classes provided by the school. Therefore, encouraging your child to use a planner or timetable promotes better time management and allocation for revisions. This keeps them academically on track, without the excuse of extracurricular activities for poor grades.
Enrol your child in O-Level maths tuition
Consider hiring an O-Level maths tutor for your child if they are struggling with the subject.
Math tutors will ensure your child has the basics right before teaching them the more complex concepts to ace O-Level maths. However, do note that it is highly advisable to send your child to a tuition centre as early as possible even before O-Levels.
3.3 Tips and tricks to acing maths
Want to guide your child in acing maths? Here are some tried and tested tips to incorporate into their learning:
Complete all homework – homework doubles up as practice questions to help students understand concepts and solve problems
Ask for help – encourage your child to consult their teacher outside of class or consider hiring a maths tutor
Look out for common mistakes – pay attention to careless mistakes, then review them and make corrections to ensure your child fully understands where they went wrong
Complete the easier questions first – advise your child to answer the easier questions first before working on the more challenging ones. This builds up their confidence, which is essential when tackling difficult math problems.
Take note of handwriting – look out for illegible handwriting that will cause your child to lose marks in the event the marker is not able to decipher it
Be careful with rounding and units – make sure to round up or down numbers properly and take note the right unit is written down
Double and triple-check – advise your child to double or even triple-check their work if they have the time to avoid losing working marks due to carelessness
3.4 Common questions parents may have about maths tuition
If you are still considering whether sending your child to math tuition is worth the investment, these common questions answered will help you to make a decision.
Is it necessary to send my kid to maths tuition if I can just teach them myself?
You can teach your child at home but math tutors usually keep themselves abreast of the latest changes in syllabus or new problem-solving methods. Hence, it is still advisable to send your child to maths tuition to ensure their learning is optimised.
Are maths tuition classes expensive?
In-person tutoring will usually cost more, especially if one-to-one lessons are requested. But parents can choose group classes and online or hybrid lessons to save on transport costs and offline resources for a more cost-effective option.
What are the benefits of sending my kid to maths tuition?
Aside from the obvious benefit of improving your child’s maths grade, maths tuition can also help to build academic confidence, master new concepts, develop a solid foundation and create a stress-free environment for studying.
Enrol your child in maths tuition in Singapore today
CalibreMath is one of the best math tuition centres in Singapore and a one-stop spot for parents with primary or secondary school students who are looking to boost their grades.
We have a team of experienced tutors who are able to provide in-person, online and hybrid tutoring to meet different needs and learning styles.
We also provide additional resources such as free math worksheets to help our students who need a bit more practice outside of classes.
Check out our YouTube channel where we have a collection of videos teaching students how to solve challenging and common math problems.
Students are also able to submit questions they are unable to solve via our student portal and we will provide the solutions on our website.
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