Common errors in maths exams and how to avoid them

: Get tips on how to help your child succeed Primary Six pupil Lucas Yee tends to be careless in mathematics, says his mother, Jessy Liu. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Jane Ng Updated Jun 14, 2026, PM Summarise Careless mistakes in exams could stem from factors like anxiety or weak foundations, but are fixable through strategic approaches. Common errors include transfer, calculation, misinterpretation, unit conversion, and applying the wrong concept. Strategies like time management, problem-solving methods and breaking questions down minimise mistakes. AI generated Explore the PSLE Companion microsite for more insights and tips. SINGAPORE – Careless mistakes are a common reason marks are lost during an examination, but they can be prevented, say educators. Some parents may think their child is lazy when they are prone to such errors, but carelessness could be because of factors such as a lack of exam stamina, anxiety or a shaky foundation, says Zhou Shicai. The founder of NickleBee Tutors coaches pupils in PSLE and Olympiad mathematics programmes. Zhou adds: “Accuracy is a skill, not an accident, so losing marks to careless errors is most definitely a fixable problem.” He says carelessness in the PSLE mathematics context usually boils down to hidden gaps, which could include a lack of focus, jumping to conclusions or simply not having a proper checking system. “It’s not something we can ignore and hope will magically disappear,” he says, adding that there are strategies pupils can pick up to reduce the chances of these errors. Primary 6 pupil Lucas Yee, 12, is strong in maths, but tends to be careless when doing problem sums. Lucas’ mother Jessy Liu, 45, says he once lost more than 10 marks in a test because of careless mistakes. “He tends to do his work fast, so he may skip certain words or not read the question carefully. Or there are times he thinks of one number, but writes another,” says the mum of three, who is a founder of a tuition centre focusing on languages. Primary 6 pupil Lucas Yee being reminded , Jessy Liu, to slow down and check his work. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY She has tried sitting beside him to remind him to slow down when reading a question, and to do it one step at a time. “Once he understands why he must do that, hopefully he can replicate that during the exam,” she says. Why do pupils make careless mistakes? There are different reasons for careless mistakes in maths, one of which is pupils rushing to complete the questions owing to time pressure, says Cheryl Ang, head of the mathematics department at Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School.