Understand the exam
PSLE Foundation Maths, against Standard
The short version
Foundation Maths is the P5 and P6 Maths course for children who need more time and a slower pace. It is chosen at the end of P4: a child who passes 2 subjects or fewer can take Maths at Foundation level, on an option form you fill in, and the school reviews it at the end of P5. It goes over earlier work again and leaves out Algebra; Ratio; Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium; and Circles. Its PSLE paper is 80 marks in 1 h 45 min, graded A (AL6), B (AL7), C (AL8) in the PSLE Score.
- Chosen
- End of P4
- Leaves out
- 4 topics
- Graded
- A, B or C
· Sources
P5 and P6, Standard and Foundation
The 2026 MOE syllabus, topic by topic. Each topic links its page.
| Standard | Foundation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | P5 | P6 | P5 | P6 | |
| Number & Algebra: Decimals | P5 | P5 | P4 | ||
| Fractions | P5 | P6 | P5 | P6 | |
| Percentage | P5 | P6 | P6 | ||
| Rate | P5 | P5 | |||
| The Four Operations | P5 | P5 | |||
| Algebra | P6 | Not in Foundation | |||
| Ratio | P6 | Not in Foundation | |||
| Measurement & Geometry: Angles | P5 | P6 | P5 | P6 | |
| Area & Perimeter | P5 | P4 | P6 | ||
| Properties of Triangles | P5 | P6 | |||
| Volume | P5 | P6 | P5 | P6 | |
| Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium | P5 | Not in Foundation | |||
| Circles | P6 | Not in Foundation | |||
| Statistics: Average | P6 | P6 | |||
Foundation also goes over: Numbers & Place Value · Factors and Multiples · Time · Perpendicular and Parallel Lines · Rectangles and Squares · Graphs & Tables · Pie Charts
What is PSLE Foundation Maths?
The P5 and P6 Maths course for a child who needs more time. In MOE's words:
At P5 and P6, students who need more time and a slower pace of learning in Mathematics and Science can offer these subjects at the Foundation level.
It goes over P1 to P4 work again before it moves on, and everything new in it is also in Standard Maths:
the P5-6 Foundation Mathematics syllabus re-visits some of the important concepts and skills in the P1-4 syllabus.
The new concepts and skills introduced in Foundation Mathematics is a subset of the Standard Mathematics syllabus.
How is Standard or Foundation Maths decided in P4?
By the P4 year-end exams, then by you, on the school's option form. A child who passes 3 or 4 of the four subjects takes all four at Standard. A child who passes 2 or fewer is offered five combinations, and Maths can be the one at Foundation.
Passes 3 or 4 subjects
All four at Standard
- 4 Standard: English, Mother Tongue, Maths and Science at Standard
Passes 2 subjects or fewer
Five choices
- 4 Standard: English, Mother Tongue, Maths and Science at Standard
- 3 + 1: English, Mother Tongue and Science at Standard; Maths at Foundation
- 2 + 2: English and Mother Tongue at Standard; Maths and Science at Foundation
- 1 + 3: English at Standard; Mother Tongue, Maths and Science at Foundation
- 4 Foundation: English, Mother Tongue, Maths and Science at Foundation
StandardFoundationWhich subjects: the school recommends
- End of P4Exams, then the school recommends
- Option formYou give your choice
- End of P5The school reviews the level
- P6The school's combination
If your child passes 3 or more subjects in Primary 4, your child will be offered the 4 standard subjects
Students who pass 2 subjects or less will be offered the following choices
You will need to fill up an option form to indicate your child's preferred subject combination.
Taking subjects at the foundation level is not a disadvantage for your child.
What is the difference between Foundation and Standard Maths?
Foundation Maths covers fewer topics, at a slower pace. Of the Standard P5 and P6 topics, it leaves out 4: Algebra; Ratio; Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium; and Circles.
It also goes over work from earlier years again, in topics: Decimals; Area & Perimeter; Numbers & Place Value; Factors and Multiples; Time; Perpendicular and Parallel Lines; Rectangles and Squares; Graphs & Tables; and Pie Charts.
Can my child switch from Foundation to Standard Maths?
The school reviews the level at the end of P5 and changes it if needed. MOE:
Adjustments to the subject levels are made if needed.
In P6, your child takes the combination the school recommends:
Your child takes the subject combination recommended by the school and sits for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
What is in the PSLE Foundation Maths paper?
Two papers on one day: 42 questions, 80 marks, 1 h 45 min in all. Paper 1 is done without a calculator, Paper 2 with one:
Paper 1 comprises two booklets. The use of calculators is not allowed.
Paper 2 comprises one booklet. The use of calculators is allowed.
What does an A in Foundation Maths mean for Secondary 1?
An A counts as AL6 in the PSLE Score. MOE's rule for the level a subject can be taken at in Secondary 1:
Students who scored AL 5 or better for a PSLE Standard subject can take the subject at G3 or G2. Students who scored AL 6 for a PSLE Standard subject or AL A for a PSLE Foundation subject can take the subject at G2.
Where StudyLah fits
StudyLah's P5 and P6 questions are Standard Maths today. Foundation Mathematics is next.
- Go over the earlier years' topics. Topic Drill reaches every topic from earlier years, so a P5 or P6 child can practise the P3 and P4 work Foundation Maths goes over again, each answer marked as they go. Start free
- See how a question gets taught. Ten minutes, no account. Three exam-standard questions with the working shown afterwards. Try it free
Questions about PSLE Foundation Maths
What topics are in PSLE Foundation Maths?
Decimals, Fractions, Percentage, Rate, The Four Operations, Angles, Area & Perimeter, Properties of Triangles, Volume and Average, with earlier work gone over again. It leaves out Algebra; Ratio; Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium; and Circles.
Is Foundation Maths easier than Standard Maths?
It covers fewer topics and moves at a slower pace. Its PSLE paper is 80 marks in 1 h 45 min; Standard's is 100 marks in 2 h 30 min.
Can I choose Standard Maths if the school recommends Foundation?
At the end of P4, yes: four Standard subjects is one of the five combinations a child who passes 2 subjects or fewer is offered, and you give your choice on the option form. In P6, your child takes the combination the school recommends.
How is Foundation Maths graded in the PSLE?
A, B or C: A (75 to 100 marks) counts as AL6, B (30 to 74 marks) counts as AL7 and C (below 30 marks) counts as AL8 in the PSLE Score.
Can my child use a calculator in PSLE Foundation Maths?
In Paper 2 only. Paper 1 is done without one.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these, read on the day shown.
- 1Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, PSLE Foundation Mathematics (0038) syllabus, for examination from 2026, read 30 October 2026The Foundation paper's format
- 2Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, PSLE Mathematics (0008) syllabus, for examination from 2026, read 29 October 2026The Standard paper's format
Now the practice has to happen.
These guides tell you what usually goes wrong. Your child's own practice tells you what's going wrong for them. StudyLah does the second part, and shows you the answer.