P4 to P5

The P4 to P5 Maths jump: what to revise before P5

The short version

Before P5, revise P4 Four Operations of Whole Numbers, Numbers to 100 000 and Fractions. P5 Maths in Singapore opens Term 1 with Whole Numbers and Four Operations, and Fractions and Division, which build on them. Leave the new P5 topics to school. Term 1 starts on 4 January 2027.

Holidays
21 Nov – 3 Jan
Revise
3 P4 topics
New in P5
7 topics

January 2027
4
Term 1 starts
Six weeks of holidays from 21 Nov

What to revise before P5

P5 opens with the topics on the right. Each one builds on the P4 topics beside it.

  1. Revise P4Four Operations of Whole NumbersMultiplies, divides and rounds bigger numbers
    Revise P4Numbers to 100 000Reads each digit by its place value
    P5 Term 1Whole Numbers and Four OperationsDoes the operations in the right orderWatch out: adds first
  2. Revise P4FractionsAdds fractions once the pieces match
    P5 Term 1Fractions and DivisionTakes a fraction of what is leftWatch out: uses the starting amount

How to prepare for P5 in the December holidays: a six-week plan

One job a week. Each week opens the page to work from.

  1. Week 1 · 21 Nov – 27 Nov
    Four Operations of Whole NumbersRevise P4
  2. Week 2 · 28 Nov – 4 Dec
    Numbers to 100 000Revise P4
  3. Week 3 · 5 Dec – 11 Dec
    FractionsRevise P4
  4. Week 4 · 12 Dec – 18 Dec
    Problem sums with all threePractise
  5. Week 5 · 19 Dec – 25 Dec
    Catch up on the hardest onePractise
  6. Week 6 · 26 Dec – 3 Jan
    First look at P5 Term 1P5 Term 1

From 21 November 2026, StudyLah's Head Start sets Daily Practice to the P4 topics and a first look at P5 Term 1.

What's new in P5 Maths, term by term

School starts these from Term 2, so there is no need to teach them early.

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

P4 to P5 Maths: questions parents ask

What does P5 Maths teach in Term 1?

Whole Numbers and Four Operations, and Fractions and Division. Term 1 starts on 4 January 2027. The P5 syllabus page lists every topic, term by term.

P5 Maths syllabus

Which P4 topics should my child revise before P5?

P4 Four Operations of Whole Numbers, P4 Numbers to 100 000 and P4 Fractions. P5 Term 1 builds directly on them.

Is P5 Maths harder than P4?

It covers more. P5 adds 7 topics no earlier level teaches: Volume of Cube and Cuboid, Shapes and Spatial Reasoning, Percentage, Rate, Properties of Triangles, Parallelogram, Rhombus and Trapezium, and Number and Shape Patterns. Its Term 1 topics take P4 work further, so a child secure in the P4 topics above starts on firm ground.

Will my child take Standard or Foundation Maths in P5?

It depends on the P4 year-end exams. A child who passes 3 or more subjects is offered all four at standard level; a child who passes 2 or fewer can take Maths at foundation level, chosen on the school's option form. The school reviews the levels at the end of P5. In MOE's words: "Taking subjects at the foundation level is not a disadvantage for your child."

Should my child study P5 topics in the December holidays?

Revise first. P5 Term 1 builds on P4 work, so a child who is secure in it gains more than one who has seen P5 early. A light first look in the last week is plenty, and school teaches the rest from January.

Do P5 assessment books help in the December holidays?

Only on the P4 topics above. A P5 book worked ahead of school mostly tests what has not been taught yet. The guide to assessment books explains which kind suits each term.

How to use maths assessment books

How long should my child practise maths each day in the holidays?

A short set on most days works better than one long session a week, and it leaves the holiday for rest. Stop while your child is still getting most questions right.

Getting ready for other years

Start P5 with a Head Start

From 21 November 2026, StudyLah's Head Start sets Daily Practice to the P4 topics and a first look at P5 Term 1.

Try it free