The PSLE Science paper is a test of not just what your child knows—but how well they can apply it under time pressure.

Across 1 hour and 45 minutes, students face two sections:

Section A: 28 multiple-choice questions (2 marks each)

Section B: 12 open-ended questions (total of 44 marks)

Many children enter the exam hall with months of tuition and revision behind them—yet still walk out with marks lost to common, avoidable mistakes. Here's how to help your child sidestep those pitfalls and walk in with clarity and confidence.

1. Master the Clock, Not Just the Content

Poor time allocation is the #1 silent score-killer.

Many students overspend time on tricky multiple-choice questions, leaving little left for the high-mark, open-ended section. A better strategy?

• ✅ Spend no more than 45 minutes on Section A
• ✅ Use the remaining hour for Section B and review
• ✅ Alternatively, begin with Section B to tackle heavier questions while the mind is freshest

We always recommend doing several timed practices and then adjusting strategy to suit your child's pace. Confidence builds with familiarity.

2. Read to Understand, Not to Rush

Misreading questions is more common than you think—especially when choices look almost identical.

• ✔️ For MCQs: Train your child to eliminate wrong answers logically rather than relying on gut feel
• ✔️ For open-ended questions: Always read every part of the question before answering. Many questions test multiple concepts, not just one.

Teach them to pause and ask, "What is this really asking?"

3. Write What Matters: Full, Focused, and Keyword-Aware

Open-ended answers need more than just ideas—they need structure, clarity, and scientific precision.

• 🔹 Don't leave blanks – Even a partly correct explanation, relevant keyword, or logical attempt can be awarded marks. A blank guarantees zero. An attempt might earn more than you expect.
• 🔹 Use relevant terms – Scientific keywords help, but only if used meaningfully
• 🔹 Avoid dumping facts – Markers aren't looking for everything you know; they want to see if you understood the question

Remember: good science answers are specific, not necessarily long.

4. Understand the Why, Not Just the What

PSLE Science is shifting from memory-based to meaning-based. Many questions now test your child's ability to apply concepts to new situations.

For example:

• ❌ Don't just say "evaporation occurred"
• ✅ Say "the water droplets gained heat and turned into water vapour"

It's not about perfect terminology. It's about clear thinking. Even if your child forgets a keyword, they can still show understanding—and earn marks.

5. Strengthen the Thinking Muscles

Some children do well in revision worksheets but freeze up when the paper asks something unfamiliar. That's where reading comprehension and scientific reasoning come in.

• 📘 Encourage reading beyond textbooks—magazines, experiments, science videos
• 📊 Practice with diagrams, tables, graphs—these often trip students up
• 🧠 Teach them to think aloud on paper when they're unsure: what is the setup testing? What concept could this be?

With regular practice, unfamiliar questions stop feeling scary—and start becoming solvable.

6. Build Exam-Day Confidence with Smart Habits

In our experience, the most successful students aren't always the top scorers in class—they're the ones with solid exam strategies.

• ✔️ Skip and return to tough questions
• ✔️ Highlight key information before answering
• ✔️ Check for missing units, incomplete answers, or ambiguous phrasing

Final Thoughts: Clarity Over Cramming

At OrionOne, we believe your child deserves better feedback. That's why we built our AI tool with over 5,000 real exam questions and guided it with the insights of a master educator with 20+ years of PSLE experience.

With the right practice, clear guidance, and calm support, your child can walk into the PSLE Science exam prepared—not panicked.