The guides reviewed here cover the P6 math syllabus and the math paper of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). Two guides on the 2026 syllabus changes, one from KnowledgeTrail and one from H2 Maths, report that some topics have moved out of P6 and others have moved into it. This article sorts what the guides report from what still needs checking, then sets out preparation steps that do not depend on unsupported claims.
What the guides report changed in P6 math
The two guides agree on the changes below, except where an item names only one of them. When a topic has moved to P3 or P4, it is taught earlier than P6. Topics moved to Secondary 1 are taught in the first year of secondary school. Either way, it is no longer a P6 topic, so P6 practice time should not go on it.
- Speed (distance, time and speed) has been removed from P6 and is now introduced in Secondary 1.
- Average and ratio have moved from P5 into P6.
- P6 now adds simplifying algebraic expressions and solving simple linear equations. The H2 Maths guide calls algebra the biggest change in the new syllabus and uses 3x + 5 = 20 as an example.
- Pie charts and nets of 3D shapes have moved to P4.
- Clock concepts have moved to P3, and turns and the 8-point compass have moved to Secondary 1. Only the KnowledgeTrail guide reports these points.
The list has two practical uses. It shows which topics can come off the P6 practice plan, and it gives a checklist against which any practice paper can be measured, as covered later in this article.
How the PSLE math paper is weighted and timed
The guides report two changes to how the PSLE math paper is weighted and timed, and both guides agree on each. Weighting is each paper’s share of the total mark. Paper 1 has moved from 45% to 50% of the total, and Paper 2 has moved from 55% to 50%. The two papers now count equally, where Paper 2 used to carry the larger share. Because the split is now equal, a weak result on either paper carries the same weight as a weak result on the other.
The guides also report new paper durations. Paper 1 is now 70 minutes and Paper 2 is now 80 minutes. The KnowledgeTrail guide gives the earlier figures as 60 minutes and 90 minutes. Those new times are given by H2 Maths as one hour 10 minutes and one hour 20 minutes, which match. Paper 1 gets longer and Paper 2 gets shorter, so the change shifts time between the two papers rather than adding to it. Read together, the weighting and the durations describe the same paper from two angles: how much each paper counts, and how long the child has to earn those marks.
Timed practice should follow these durations from the start.
Check practice material before using it
Both guides advise against outdated past papers. The KnowledgeTrail guide warns against legacy past papers, and the H2 Maths guide says outdated papers can confuse students and waste study time. This is the authors’ advice rather than a measured finding, but the check that follows is quick to run.
The check asks one narrow question of each paper: does it test any topic the guides report has moved out of P6? If it does, such as a paper with speed questions, set it aside. The check concerns fit, not presentation, so a paper that looks current but tests a moved topic still goes aside. Setting a paper aside removes that paper, not every P6 topic it touches, so the topics it covers that are still taught in P6 can be practised from other papers.
Timings give a second signal. A paper that sets Paper 1 at 60 minutes or Paper 2 at 90 minutes matches the earlier durations that the KnowledgeTrail guide describes. Set it aside too, or use it only with that difference in mind.
Papers that pass both checks should still be timed under the durations in the previous section. Keep a short record of which papers were checked and which were set aside, so the same paper is not reviewed twice.
A calmer routine for the year
These steps are suggestions. The sources used for this article do not test any routine for stress or results, so the aim here is a steady workload, not a promised outcome.
- Set one fixed day each week for a single practice paper, timed to the durations in the earlier section.
- After marking, keep a simple error log that records each missed question, the topic it belongs to, and the date.
- Drop any topic that has moved out of P6 from the log, and spend that time on the topics that remain in P6.
- Review the log once a week and choose one topic to revisit in the following week’s practice.
- Let the child mark the paper first, then go through the errors together.
The H2 Maths guide also says the changes reduce unnecessary content overload. That is the publisher’s view, not an independent finding, so it does not change the steps above.
Questions to ask the school
The school can test the guides’ reports against its own plans. Four useful questions are these:
- Is speed taught in P6 this year, and if not, what has replaced that practice time?
- How are average, ratio, and simple algebra being covered, and in what order?
- Which practice papers does the school use, and has it checked them against the current syllabus?
- What home practice does the school expect each week, and how does it give feedback on that work?
Asking them early in the year leaves more time to act on the answers. The answers give a school-specific view to set beside the topic list earlier in this article.
Outside help and limits
Parents who consider outside support can look at options such as P6 math tuition. The article makes no claim about any provider’s results or quality. It also covers no exam dates, results, grade cut-offs, or pass rates, because the sources reviewed here do not include them. The guides disagree on question counts, so this article states none. Where only one guide reports a point, the topic list above shows that attribution.
These are two commercial guides, so check the syllabus details against the official MOE documents before relying on them.
