27 May 2025
The PSLE Foundation Maths subject is an alternative to the standard Maths subject that covers Primary 5 and 6. While developing crucial mathematical concepts and skills to help students with problem-solving and critical thinking is vital, the PSLE Foundation Maths subject differs from the standard version in several ways.
The PSLE Foundation Maths subject is a subset of the standard Maths subject, covering 75 percent of the syllabus. Much like standard Maths, the PSLE Foundation Maths exam consists of two papers, but the total exam time is two hours instead of 2.5 hours. Meanwhile, the total score for the Foundation Maths paper is 90 marks, compared to the standard Maths’ 100 marks score.
Compared to the standard Maths subject, the Foundation course revisits the maths concepts and skills students learned from Primary 1 to 4. It is meant to assist students in strengthening their core fundamentals before moving on to higher-level maths lessons in secondary school. The subject allows students ample time to further their comprehension of the concepts they have learned, ensuring they understand what they are learning.
Foundation Maths covers the following topics:
While both subjects share many similarities, their core differences primarily lie in the depth of the subject. Foundation Maths is generally considered the “easier” of the two, as it covers fewer topics than standard Maths to cater to different learning needs. The general Foundation curriculum is also spread out to allow students more time to grasp the critical fundamentals they need for higher-level maths problems, giving them the skills to analyse a maths question and use critical, deductive thinking to solve it.
Foundation Maths should not be viewed as an easy pathway to secondary school, but as a learning aid for students struggling with mathematics lessons in school or even at home. Students learn at different paces, and
Foundation Maths is one way to allow them to keep up, strengthen their fundamentals, and be prepared for the higher-level maths subjects awaiting them in secondary school. Taking Foundation Maths should not be considered a weakness, but a valuable method to allow students to thrive at a comfortable pace.
The other difference between the maths subjects is how they are graded. Standard Maths follows the current Achievement Level (AL) system, while Foundation Maths uses a modified AL system. With Foundation Maths, the scores are divided into three categories mapped to the standard Maths AL grades.
| Foundation Score | Foundation Grading | Standard Maths Grading |
|---|---|---|
|
75–100 |
AL A |
AL6 |
|
30–74 |
AL B |
AL7 |
|
Below 30 |
AL C |
AL8 |
For example, if a student scores 70 on their Foundation Maths paper, their Foundation level grade will be AL B. Translating it to the standard Maths grading, the student scores AL7. This equivalence grading ensures that students are graded fairly across standard and foundation levels.
Preparing for the PSLE exams can make students anxious, even if they have taken the time to study smart and face the exam confidently. Even with the smaller topic coverage of Foundation Maths, some nervousness is to be expected. Here is how students can better prepare themselves for the PSLE Foundation Maths papers when the day comes.
Since Foundation Maths is geared toward self-development at a comfortable pace, students can gradually improve their understanding of the mathematical fundamentals they have learned. With their teachers’ and parents’ support, they can become progressively more adept at solving basic questions, improving their confidence and mathematical knowledge over time. That can go a long way toward helping them understand how to solve higher-level mathematics problems, which can help drive them onward and achieve later success in their chosen field.
Study groups are an excellent way to help students better understand maths. Their peers can assist by giving valuable insights and perspectives that make understanding any topic easier. That can provide an avenue for further understanding that gives their friends who may have difficulty with that topic a much-needed advantage. The group can easily help one another, creating a helpful learning environment where everyone can thrive and fostering lasting friendships that will make the learning experience fun.
Scoring well is not the only thing that matters, so it helps manage realistic expectations from a student’s performance. A tailor-made plan that accounts for their strengths and areas for improvement can allow them to set clear goals to work towards, especially when reinforcing their fundamentals. It may help to break down each topic into separate components and then plan out the lesson plan to help students succeed, especially with topics they are still struggling with. Having reasonable expectations ensures that a student is not easily burned out and can confidently improve themselves with the support of parents and teachers.
At Matrix Math, we provide meticulous support to help students score well and confidently in their PSLE Foundation Maths lessons. While our lessons are structured according to the Standard Maths syllabus, we provide personalised guidance, valuable revision materials and targeted practice to strengthen core fundamentals. Contact us today to learn how we can empower students with these critical skills.
