6 Most Challenging Math Questions for Primary 6 Students

Why is Primary School Leaving Examination Maths so difficult?

Over the years, the format of the primary school leaving examination (PSLE) Math may have changed but one thing remains constant – it is still a challenging examination for many students. But many parents and students have asked, why is it such a difficult subject? One of the main reasons PSLE Math is so challenging is because it builds on concepts that were taught in previous years. So if your child didn’t quite grasp a concept in Primary Three through Five, they will definitely find it difficult when they encounter it again in Primary Six.

Another reason PSLE Math can be tough for some students; is because of the way it’s taught in schools. Some children learn best by seeing examples and working through problems step-by-step. However, most Math textbooks present theories and then expect students to work out the examples on their own. This can be very daunting and off-putting for some children.

How is Primary 6 Math different from other subjects like English and Science?

The main difference between Primary 6 Math and other subjects is that Math is more abstract. In other words, it is not always easy to see the connection between the Math concepts you are learning and the real world. For example, when you are learning about fractions, you may be able to picture half of a pizza or a quarter of a pie, but it can be difficult to visualize what an “eighteenth” looks like. This can make Primary 6 Math seem more difficult than it actually is.

Another difference between Math and other subjects is that there is often only one correct answer (although there can be other methods to solve the question) for Math questions in school exam papers. In English or Science, there may be multiple ways to interpret a question or answer a question correctly. However, in Math, if your answer does not match the correct answer, it is considered incorrect. This can be frustrating for some students who are used to getting credit for their answers as long as they are close to the correct answer.

Hard math questions for Primary 6

While PSLE Math can be a difficult subject for some students, it can also be very rewarding. In this blog post, we will discuss 6 variations of the most challenging PSLE math questions for Primary 6 students (we have rephrased some of them). These difficult PSLE maths questions are not meant to stump or confuse you, but rather to help you prepare for the types of Primary 6 Singapore math questions that you may see on your next math test. We hope that you find these questions helpful and that you have fun solving them!

Question #1: How much less did Hong cycle than Jeya?

A bakery and a library are separated by 120 meters, and they exist between Hong’s home and Jeya’s home. The bakery is closer to Hong’s home while the library is nearer to Jeya’s home. In addition, the bakery is exactly midway between the two houses. One day, Jeya and Hong left their homes and began cycling simultaneously, arriving at the library at the same time. Jeya’s speed was 70 metres per minute while Hong’s speed was 15 metres per minute faster than Jeya.

(A) How much more distance did Jeya cover than Hong?

(B) What is the distance of Jeya’s home from the library?

Question #2: Which is the slower machine?

Two machines are used to print numerous copies of a newsletter. The first machine requires about 70 minutes to print a certain number of copies, while the second machine requires about 100 minutes to print the same number of copies. Overall, the faster machine printed six additional copies per minute as compared to the slower ones.

(A) Since the slower machine completed the printing task at 1pm, what was the starting time for the printing job?

(B) How many copies of the newsletter were printed by both machines?

Question #3: What was the amount of sweets that Ken bought?

Jim purchased some chocolates while Ken purchased some sweets from a store. Jim gave half of his chocolates to Ken, while half of Ken’s sweets were given to Jim. Ken then consumed 18 chocolates and Jim consumed 12 sweets. Consequently, the ratio of Jim’s sweets to his chocolates were 1 : 7, while the ratio of Ken’s sweets to his chocolates were 1 : 4. How many sweets did Ken purchase from the store in the beginning?

Question #4: What fraction of girls were there in the group?

A school’s children are divided into two groups for a learning experience. Group A has ⅖ of the children, and Group B has the rest. In Group A, the females make up ¼ of the children. The school has ³⁄₁₀ female children. What fraction of the children in Group B are females?

Question #5: How many rolls of ribbon can Jess buy?

Jess requires 200 pieces of ribbon, each 110 centimetres long, to adorn a room for a party. Each roll of ribbon is 25 meters in length. What is the fewest number of rolls of ribbon that Jess will require?

Question #6: Do you know how many chickens and ducks there are?

A farmer has a flock of chickens and ducks. When the farmer sells 2 chickens and 3 ducks each day, he will be left with 50 chickens if all of his ducks were sold. Conversely, there will be 25 chickens remaining if he sells 3 chickens and 2 ducks each day if all of his ducks were sold.

(A) What is the number of ducks?

(B) What is the number of chickens?

Closing thoughts

There’s no question that math can be challenging for some students. However, with a little extra effort and practice, Primary 6 students can definitely overcome any obstacle they may face in math class. Hopefully, this list of difficult questions has given you a better idea of what to expect in your upcoming exams. If you require further assistance for PSLE maths, consider joining a maths tuition centre. Such centres are equipped with experienced primary maths tuition teachers who are more than happy to help you achieve your academic goals. With their help, we’re confident that you’ll be able t