the importance of elementary mathematics
O-Level E Math requires a clear understanding and a lot of practice. It can be considered one of the essential subjects. It is taken by most, if not all, secondary students in Singapore. It is also one of the deciding subjects for entry to most Polytechnic courses and serves as an essential base for JC Mathematics.
It may be a walk in the park for some, but it can be challenging to understand for others. However, under the ideal E Math tuition, it can be a subject many would appreciate once they can grasp the concepts.
According to E Math tutors, here are some simple tips on approaching this secondary school subject:
Understanding the formulas
Mastering the formulas is not just understanding of the formulas, it’s also knowing how and when to apply them. This could mean the difference between scoring an A1 or a mere pass.
Constant practice
Do attempt past-year papers or the Ten-Year Series to expose you to possible questions that you will encounter during O-Levels. It helps test your understanding of the topics, so you know your strengths and weaknesses.
It is recommended to try and master the topics in Paper 1 first because they are comprised of the Lower Secondary topics. After all, they are the baseline of understanding how the topics work.
Upper Secondary topics involve more formulas, such as trigonometry, arc length and sector area, and statistics.
Hence, before trying out the questions, the students should understand the formulas inside out.
While practice is challenging, the rewards that come with it is worth it.
Answer the questions properly
When answering questions, you must pay attention to how you express them. Ensure that you include every working of your answer, as an omission from an essential working can cost you some marks.
In most cases, the final answer only gives one mark, called the answer mark. Hence, not assume that you would get full marks as long as you get the final answer because most of the marks given in the questions are method marks.
Read the instructions carefully
Don’t rush to start your paper, because you may miss crucial details in the instructions, which can cost valuable marks.
For example, some questions may require you to leave your answers un fractions, to the nearest cent, to the nearest second, or in two decimal places. Do note that they will penalise for wrong rounding off of answers.
After all, if you know the answers, it will be a pity to waste valuable marks because of this oversight. Read each word carefully, and have your results prove your best.
In our centre, our E-Math tutors in Singapore aim to help you with:
Content Mastery
Understanding why and how each formula is used
Applying mathematical logic to real world problems
Answering Techniques
Analysing and understanding the requirements of the question
Using relevant formulas and steps to systematically solve each question
our secondary math tuition goals include:
Cultivating a Kaizen mindset that will motivate your child to continue to improve in studies
Relying on conceptual understanding and critical thinking, rather than memorising
Quickly identifying and recognising different types of questions and their topical strategies
Self-reflecting to see if there are gaps in their understanding and seeking clarification
Learning to think-out-of-the-box when handling complex questions that require innovative solutions
Knowing how to handle stress and manage time well in the exam hall