PRIMARY 5 MATHEMATICS

Treat Primary 5 as the foundation of a strong PSLE Math grade.

Weekly live online classes for Primary 5 Standard Math students in Singapore, paired with targeted practice that builds the problem-solving habits PSLE will test next year.
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Syllabus

What we cover

Chapters12
Sub-topics52

Primary 5 is widely treated as the most critical year of Singapore primary Mathematics. The MOE Primary 5 Standard Math syllabus introduces ratio (basic and equivalent), percentage (% of, % increase / decrease), rate problems, decimals × and ÷ as multi-step operations, area of triangle, volume of cuboid, properties of parallelograms, rhombuses, and trapeziums, advanced fraction operations, and the first formal algebra (one variable, simple equations). These are the topics that will return — combined and extended — across PSLE Paper 2 long-answer questions in Primary 6. DeepThink covers the full syllabus, with bar-model and heuristic patterns drilled across topics so they are second nature by Primary 6.

Chapter 1Numbers to 10 Million

  • Numbers to 10 Million

Chapter 2Four Operations of Whole Numbers

  • Multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000
  • Multiplying by Tens, Hundreds and Thousands
  • Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000
  • Dividing by Tens, Hundreds and Thousands
  • Order of Operations
  • Order of Operations with Use of Brackets
  • Word Problems

Chapter 3Fraction and Division

  • Division of Whole Numbers as Fractions
  • Expressing Fractions as Decimals

Chapter 4Four Operations of Fractions

  • Addition and Subtraction of Mixed Numbers
  • Word Problems (Addition and Subtraction)
  • Multiplying a Fraction and a Whole Number
  • Multiplying Two Fractions
  • Multiplying a Mixed Number and a Whole Number
  • Word Problems

Chapter 5Area of Triangle

  • Base and Height of a Triangle
  • Area of Triangle
  • Area of Composite Figures

Chapter 6Volume

  • Volume of Solids in Cubic Units
  • Volume of Solids in Cubic Centimetres (cm³) and Cubic Metres (m³)
  • Drawing Cubes and Cuboids on Isometric Grids
  • Drawing Different Views of Solids on Square Grids
  • Volume of Cubes and Cuboids
  • Volume of Liquids
  • Word Problems

Chapter 7Decimals

  • Multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000
  • Multiplying by Tens, Hundreds and Thousands
  • Dividing by 10, 100 and 1000
  • Dividing by Tens, Hundreds and Thousands
  • Converting Measurements
  • Word Problems

Chapter 8Rate

  • Rate
  • Word Problems

Chapter 9Percentage

  • Percent
  • Conversions between Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
  • Percentage Part of a Whole
  • Percentage in Pie Charts
  • GST, Discount and Annual Interest

Chapter 10Angles

  • Angles on a Straight Line
  • Vertically Opposite Angles
  • Angles at a Point
  • Finding Unknown Angles

Chapter 11Properties of Triangles

  • Types of Triangles
  • Angle Sum of a Triangle
  • Finding Unknown Angles
  • Drawing Triangles

Chapter 12Properties of Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium

  • Properties of Parallelogram
  • Properties of Rhombus
  • Properties of Trapezium
  • Finding Unknown Angles
  • Drawing 4-sided Figures
Note

Primary 5 is also the first year of Subject-Based Banding under the new SBB framework, with most Singapore schools placing students into Standard or Foundation Mathematics based on their Primary 4 results. DeepThink classes follow the Standard Mathematics syllabus.

Common challenges at this level

Primary 5 students often face:

Ratio is a brand-new way of thinking

Ratio is not just "the same as fractions" — it requires keeping multiple quantities in proportion, recognising when units must be made the same, and using bar models in a new pattern. Students often try to solve ratio problems with fraction logic and get stuck.

Percentage piles on top of ratio and fractions

Percentage problems often combine percentage, fraction, and ratio reasoning in one question. Students who do not have all three secure end up guessing which to apply.

Rate problems require careful unit thinking

Rate (e.g. 5 sweets per dollar, 3 pages per minute) demands that students track both quantity and the unit of measurement. Word problems that change the unit mid-question catch many students out.

Bar models need to evolve

Primary 5 problems often need before-after bar models or models with multiple chained units. Students whose bar-model skill stopped at simple comparison shapes hit a clear ceiling.

Step-up to multi-step word problems

Primary 5 SA papers contain Paper 2-style multi-step problems that test several concepts at once. Students who solved clean topical questions in Primary 4 often freeze on these mixed-topic problems.

Compounded earlier-year gaps now block progress

Weak fraction or decimal fluency from Primary 3 or 4 makes Primary 5 percentage and ratio noticeably harder. By Primary 5, the cost of unresolved earlier-year gaps is at its highest.

PSLE pressure is starting to feel real

Parents and schools begin treating Primary 5 as "PSLE preparation" already. Students can pick up on this, which adds emotional pressure to a year that is already academically demanding.

How DeepThink helps Primary 5 students

DeepThink prepares Primary 5 Standard Math students for both the SA cycle and the PSLE year that follows:

Ratio, percentage, and rate taught with shared bar-model logic

Lessons make explicit how the same bar-model thinking solves fraction, ratio, and percentage problems — so students build one transferable habit instead of three disconnected toolkits.

Multi-step problem coaching

Students learn to read the question, identify which concepts are involved, sketch the right bar model, and plan the steps before any computation — the exact skill PSLE Paper 2 tests.

Targeted practice closes specific weaknesses

Online practice between lessons identifies which sub-skills are still shaky (e.g. percentage of a percentage, ratio with changing units, fraction-of-fraction) and serves more practice on those areas.

Spaced review keeps earlier topics live

Topics from earlier in Primary 5 (and from Primary 4) are surfaced again on a personalised schedule — so they are still secure when they reappear inside mixed-topic problems later in the year.

Parents see the path to PSLE

After each session, parents get a clear picture of where their child stands relative to PSLE-readiness, and what the highest-leverage areas to work on at home are.

Primary 5 is where the foundations of a strong PSLE Math grade are laid. Strategic, targeted support this year materially shapes the AL band Primary 6 will produce.

Program facts

What families should know about Primary 5 support

The details parents usually want before deciding whether to book a trial.

Lesson format

Weekly 1.5-hour live online class

Targeted online practice with instant marking supports work between lessons.

Class size

Maximum 4 students

Students are grouped by learning pace, not just by level — if no existing session matches your child’s pace, we open a new one.

Syllabus focus

MOE Primary Mathematics

Full curriculum and chapter list shown in the syllabus section above.

Pricing

$50 per live class

Same fee across levels and streams.

Trial

Free trial class available

Parents can see the teaching pace, structure, and student experience before committing.

Best fit

Students in Primary 5 who need stronger foundations and calmer weekly revision.

Decision support

When Primary 5 support is the right fit

These are the situations where extra support tends to make the biggest difference.

Ratio is a brand-new way of thinking

Ratio is not just "the same as fractions" — it requires keeping multiple quantities in proportion, recognising when units must be made the same, and using bar models in a new pattern. Students often try to solve ratio problems with fraction logic and get stuck.

Percentage piles on top of ratio and fractions

Percentage problems often combine percentage, fraction, and ratio reasoning in one question. Students who do not have all three secure end up guessing which to apply.

Rate problems require careful unit thinking

Rate (e.g. 5 sweets per dollar, 3 pages per minute) demands that students track both quantity and the unit of measurement. Word problems that change the unit mid-question catch many students out.

If any of these patterns sound familiar, this is likely the right level of support for your child — a trial class is a good next step.

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers for parents

What does Primary 5 Math cover in Singapore?

The MOE Primary 5 Standard Mathematics syllabus covers whole numbers up to 10 million, multi-step decimal operations (× and ÷), fractions (multiplication, division, mixed operations), ratio (basic, equivalent, ratio with changing units), percentage (% of, % change, real-world applications), rate problems, average, area of triangle and parallelogram, volume of cuboid and liquid, properties of parallelogram / rhombus / trapezium, and an introduction to algebra (using letters for unknowns and solving simple equations).

Is Primary 5 really the most critical year before PSLE?

Most experienced teachers would say yes. Primary 5 introduces the topics that account for the bulk of PSLE Paper 2 long-answer marks — ratio, percentage, rate, and advanced fractions. A student who finishes Primary 5 secure on these topics enters Primary 6 ready for PSLE preparation. A student who finishes Primary 5 shaky on them spends most of Primary 6 catching up while also learning new material.

What is the difference between Standard and Foundation Math at Primary 5?

Standard Mathematics is the regular MOE syllabus that leads to the standard PSLE Math paper. Foundation Mathematics is a smaller syllabus for students who would otherwise struggle with Standard, with its own dedicated PSLE Foundation Math paper. The placement is normally decided at the end of Primary 4 by the school. DeepThink classes follow the Standard Mathematics syllabus.

How does ratio differ from percentage and fraction?

Fractions show one quantity as a part of one whole. Percentages do the same thing using a base of 100. Ratios compare two or more quantities to each other directly, without anchoring to a single whole. Many Primary 5 students treat all three as the same and apply the wrong method — strong teaching makes the distinctions explicit and shows when each tool fits.

My child was strong in Primary 1–4 but is struggling in Primary 5 — what is happening?

This is one of the most common patterns parents see. Primary 1–4 Math rewards procedural fluency, but Primary 5 ratio, percentage, and rate problems require multi-step reasoning that fluency alone does not solve. The fix is explicit problem-solving coaching — reading the question, sketching a bar model, planning the steps — not just more practice.

When should Primary 5 students start PSLE preparation?

Effective PSLE preparation actually begins in Primary 5, not Primary 6. Students who treat Primary 5 ratio, percentage, and rate seriously, and who build bar-model and heuristic fluency across the year, enter Primary 6 already PSLE-ready. Primary 6 then becomes a year of consolidation and timed practice rather than panicked catch-up.

Can families start with a trial class first?

Yes. Families can book a free trial Primary 5 Math class to see the teaching pace, the structure of the live session, and how the targeted practice between lessons works — before committing to weekly classes.

How many students are in each class?

Four, at most. Students are grouped by learning pace, not just by year level, so each lesson moves at the speed of the students actually in it. When no session matches a child’s pace, we open a new one. In a class that size, every child answers questions, gets their working checked, and gets help the moment they need it.

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