2020

PSLE Science Tips

Cheat Sheet
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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
1 Multiple Choice Questions

1) Given that living together, adaptations and humans and their environment have been
taken off the examinable syllabus, we expect this year’s multiple-choice questions (MCQ) to
be tricky and challenging.

2) Students are to make no assumptions with regards to how a question should be asked but
instead read each clue in the question to fully understand them.

3) MCQ’s that are tricky usually play on the intuition of students, luring them to make false
assumptions and therefore make mistakes. We call these questions counter-intuitive
questions. The following are some counter-intuitive questions:

a) Two magnets A and B were placed close together as shown below:

N N
A B
When B was released, it moved along the surface of the floor.
Which of the following shows the direction of the magnetic force acting on A and the direction
of frictional force acting on B? (Adapted from PSLE 2017)

Magnetic force acting on A Frictional force acting on B

Common mistake : 4
✘
Correct Answer : 2
✓

Explanation:

Students assume that the question is asking for magnetic force acting on both magnets
when the question is asking for magnetic force acting on A, but frictional force acting on B.
While a magnetic force of repulsion is acting from left to right on B, frictional force is acting
from right to left on B as it opposes the motion of B. Hence, the answer is option 2.

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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
1 Multiple Choice Questions

b) A pendulum is allowed to swing from position A to B then to C as shown in the diagram

below.

A C

Which of the following show the correct relationship between the variables in graphs as the
pendulum swings from A to C?

(1) (2)
amount potential amount
of energy of kinetic
energy energy energy

kinetic potential
energy energy

height height

(3) (4)
potential kinetic
amount amount
energy energy
of of
energy energy

kinetic potential
energy energy
height height

Common mistake : 1 ✘

Correct Answer : 3 ✓

Explanation:
Students may think that the answer to the question is option 1 as kinetic energy is the most at
position B as position B has the lowest height, so most of the pendulum’s gravitational potential
energy has been converted to kinetic energy. However, the tested variable in the graphs is
height instead of the position or time. As the height of the pendulum increases, gravitational
potential energy increases so kinetic energy decreases. In order to avoid making a mistake in this
question, students need to read every detail of the entire question and not assume that visually
the answer is option 1.
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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
1 Multiple Choice Questions

3) Read each option before your write your answer. This ensures that your answer is the best
option.

4) Strike off options that you know are wrong to allow you to focus on the options that are
possibly the answer.

5) Use ‘T’ to label true statements and ‘F’ to label false statements instead of ✓ and ✘ if the
question is asking for incorrect/false statements.

2 Open-ended Questions

1) Strengthen the 3 pillars to achieve success in open-ended questions.

Knowledge Question Common

(Scientific Type Mistakes
Keywords and
Concepts

i. Knowledge

You should be familiar with the key concepts and keywords of each topic. Go through the
official MOE Syllabus to understand what can be tested and what cannot:

https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-
source/document/education/syllabuses/sciences/files/science-primary-2014.pdf

Syllabus content can be found in page 40 onwards. Please look for ‘standard’ or ‘foundation’
as both syllabuses are mentioned in this document.

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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
2 Open-ended Questions

ii. Question types

Focus your attention on revising for these question types as they are the most popular in PSLE:

Question Type How to answer?

Stating Answer directly using a word or a short sentence.
Explanation Provide scientific keywords to explain an observation
Follow the CER approach:

1) Claim – Answer question directly using a word or phrase.

2) Evidence – Write the data given to you in the table,
Explanation with Results
graph or diagram. You can copy the measured variable
stated in the question.
3) Reasoning – explain with scientific keywords and link it to
suggestion if needed.
Use this format:

As the tested variable increases / decreases (refer to tested

variable in the question), the measured variable (refer to
tested variable in the question) increases / decreases or
remains the same.
Single Relationship
Example:

As the intensity of light that falls on the plant increases, the

rate of photosynthesis of the plant increases.

Use this format:

From (give range of 1st relationship), as the tested variable

increases / decreases (refer to tested variable in the
question), the measured variable (refer to tested variable in
the question) increases / decreases or remains the same.

From (give range of 2nd relationship), as the tested variable

increases / decreases (refer to tested variable in the
question), the measured variable (refer to tested variable in
the question) increases / decreases or remains the same.
Double Relationship

Example:

From 0 lux to 100 lux, as the intensity of light that falls on the
plant increases, the rate of photosynthesis of the plant
increases. From 100 lux to 200 lux, as the intensity of light that
falls on the plant increases, the rate of photosynthesis of the
plant remains the same.

Answer with specific instruction on how the experiment can

Suggestion
be changed.
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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
2 Open-ended Questions

iii. Common Mistakes

So much emphasis has been placed on memorising keywords that students neglected on
reflecting why their answers are wrong. The following are some of the common mistakes made
by students. Identify which category of mistake you often make and make a mental footnote to
avoid them during the exam.

Answer is not specific.

The answer is unclear and incomplete. Assumptions must be made about the answer in
order to understand them. For example:

The exposed surface area is the most. The rate of evaporation is the highest. ✘

Andy’s shirt has the greatest surface area exposed to the surrounding air, allowing water in
it to evaporate at the greatest rate. ✓
Avoid third person way of writing such as “there is more sunlight” and focus on an object-
action way of writing such as “the leaves can trap more sunlight” for concise answers.

Answer is not linked to the context of the question.

The answer is a generic answer with no attempt to link the answer to the variables of the
question.

In a fair experiment, only the tested variable can be changed. However, the thickness of
the material is also changed, making the experiment unfair ✘

Heat will take a longer time to flow through the thicker beaker, hence decreasing the rate
in which the temperature of the water increases, making the results of the experiment
unfair. ✓

No comparison made when questions require comparison.

Questions that have more than one object or set-up require comparison. Comparison
must also be made when a situation is changed and you are asked to explain the
changed situation.

Surface A is rough, so it exerts frictional force on the soles of the people’s shoes, preventing
them from slipping. ✘

Surface A is rougher than surface B, hence it exerts more frictional force on the soles of the
people’s shoe than surface B, preventing them from slipping more effectively.

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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
2 Open-ended Questions

iii. Common Mistakes

No mention of data when data is given.

When the question asks you to explain based on data given in a table, graph or diagram,
make sure you use the CER format to answer. Most importantly, remember to mention the
measured variable given to you as data as many students fail to mention them in their
answers.

Material A. It is the best conductor of heat, allowing the meat to gain heat from the hot
flame through a frying pan made of material A fastest and be cooked fastest. ✘

Material A. The temperature of water in the container made of material A decreased the
most, showing that material A is the best conductor of heat, allowing the meat to gain heat
from the flame through a frying pan made of material A fastest and be cooked the fastest. ✓

Answer lacks keywords.

Some students answer questions without any keywords at all! Go through the process of
retrieving the appropriate keywords and ‘slot’ it in your answer!

Wrong process of answering science questions ✘

That’s because coffee is hot! Why do our hands feel hot

when we touch a cup of
coffee?
Keyword
Bank

Don’t ignore me…

Correct process of answering science questions ✓

Our hands gained heat from

the hotter coffee, through the Why do our hands feel hot
cup, and feel hot! when we touch a cup of
coffee?
Keyword
Bank

The keywords are ‘gain heat

from the hotter coffee’

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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet
2 Open-ended Questions

iii. Common Mistakes

Your job is to feed me with as many

keywords as possible. Om Nom Nom!

Don’t forget to visit me to retrieve your

keyword before you answer the
questions!

Keyword Bank

Gap in explanation.
Several topics require step-by-step explanation questions which is easy to have gaps in the
explanation.

As the switch is closed, electric current flows through the circuit and lights up the bulb. ✘

As the switch is closed, the circuit becomes a closed circuit and electric current flows
through the circuit to light up the bulb. ✓

Using absolute / relative terms wrongly.

Certain concepts like heat conductivity requires comparative terms, such as better and
poorer to be used. Some concepts like waterproof requires absolute terms such as is
waterproof and not waterproof to answer. Using the wrong terms would result in unscientific
answers.

Material A absorbed the least water, so it is the most waterproof material. ✘

Material A is the only material that absorbed no water, so it is the only waterproof material. ✓

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Non-scientific vs Scientific Answers

Non-scientific answers are answers that do not

use the scientific keywords that you have
learnt in the science syllabus. Non-scientific
statements are used when humans
communicate with each other casually.

The Average Joe

Scientific answers are answers that use scientific

keywords that you have learnt in the science
syllabus. Scientific statements are used when we
want to explain an observation as clearly as we
could, using a language that all scientists accept.

The Scientist Joe

Transform into scientist Joe or Jane

in the exam! Students should
ensure that scientific answers are
given for their answers in open-
ended questions.
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Non-scientific vs Scientific Answers

Non-scientific Answers Scientific Answers

➢ When you touch something cold, you feel cold. ➢ When you touch something that has lower
temperature than your fingers, your fingers
lose heat to the object, causing you to feel
cold.

➢ The water boiled. ➢ The water gained heat from the hotter Bunsen
flame and boiled.

➢ The light bounced off the mirror, allowing us to ➢ Light from the lamps travelled in a straight line
see it. and fell onto the mirror. The mirror reflected
the light into our eyes, allowing us to see the
image.

➢ The hammer fell and hit the ball, causing the ➢ As the ball falls, the potential energy of the
ball to move. hammer is converted to kinetic energy. When
the hammer hits the ball, the kinetic energy is
transferred to the metal ball, causing it to
move.

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2020 PSLE Science Cheatsheet

3 How should you revise?

1) If your knowledge for keywords is still incomplete, continue to memorise the keywords and
store them in your keyword ‘bank’. Use guide books, flashcards and notes for learning
keywords. Constantly test yourself rather than just read through the book as reading does
not promote learning as effective as recalling (testing yourself).

2) If your knowledge is complete, practice answering different question types. Since we do not
have much time left, practice verbally with your parents using past year PSLE and
examination papers. Assessment book include too many questions that are out of the
syllabus, so avoid them for now. Read out your answer to your parent or tutor and let them
check your answer. Be receptive and reflect on your mistakes.

3) Reflect on your weaknesses and make steps to correct them. If you know your common
mistake is forgetting to mention data in an explanation with results question, make sure you
make a mental footnote to always write the data first before writing your explanation.

4 During the Exam

1) If you get stuck on a tough question, list out all the possible topics and concepts you think
the question is likely to be based on. Go through the concepts one by one and eliminate
them until you settle for the topic and concept you think is most relevant. This allows you to
always answer based on the syllabus and not use your own words to answer.

Follow this thinking process to

ensure you are always on the
right track when answering
science OEQs.

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All the best and rest well!