PSLE Mathematics vocabulary means knowing what a question is asking before starting the calculation. A child may know how to divide and still misunderstand remainder, remaining, at least, ratio or percentage change. This parent-and-student guide gives 200 mathematical words and key terms with plain-English explanations across number, fractions, geometry, data, speed, models and working.

The 2026 PSLE Mathematics examination uses subject code 0008 and tests recall, interpretation, application and reasoning. Vocabulary is not a separate examinable word list: it is the language needed to read questions correctly and show a valid solution. Use this glossary beside the child’s actual school topics and marked problem sums; do not turn it into an additional memory burden.

Quick answer:

• Learn the mathematical meaning, not merely a dictionary synonym.
• Start with the ten terms connected to the child’s latest mistake.
• Always pair a new term with a sketch, number line, bar model or worked calculation.
• Distinguish similar terms such as area/perimeter, ratio/fraction and mean/median.
• This is an original eduKate study glossary, not a mandated MOE or SEAB list.

1–10: Whole numbers and number properties

1. digit — A single symbol from 0 to 9 used to write numbers.
2. numeral — A written symbol or group of symbols representing a number.
3. place value — The value of a digit because of its position.
4. whole number — A number without a fractional part, starting from zero.
5. even number — A whole number exactly divisible by two.
6. odd number — A whole number not exactly divisible by two.
7. prime number — A whole number greater than one with exactly two factors.
8. composite number — A whole number greater than one with more than two factors.
9. factor — A whole number that divides another exactly.
10. multiple — A number found by multiplying by a whole number.

11–20: The four operations

11. sum — The answer to an addition.
12. difference — The answer to a subtraction.
13. product — The answer to a multiplication.
14. quotient — The answer to a division.
15. addend — A number being added.
16. subtrahend — The number being taken away.
17. dividend — The number being divided.
18. divisor — The number dividing the dividend.
19. remainder — The amount left after whole-number division.
20. operation — An action such as addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.

21–30: Fractions and parts

21. numerator — The top number showing selected equal parts of a fraction.
22. denominator — The bottom number showing all equal parts of a whole.
23. proper fraction — A positive fraction with numerator smaller than denominator.
24. improper fraction — A fraction with numerator equal to or greater than denominator.
25. mixed number — A whole number together with a proper fraction.
26. equivalent fraction — A fraction with the same value but different numbers.
27. simplest form — A fraction with no common factor greater than one.
28. unit fraction — A fraction whose numerator is one.
29. common denominator — A shared denominator used when comparing or combining fractions.
30. fraction of a quantity — A part calculated from a given whole.

31–40: Decimals and percentages

31. decimal — A number represented using tenths, hundredths and smaller place values.
32. decimal place — A position after the decimal point.
33. decimal point — The dot separating whole-number and fractional places.
34. percent — Meaning out of one hundred.
35. percentage — A proportion expressed out of one hundred.
36. percentage change — The change expressed relative to an original amount.
37. discount — A reduction from an original price.
38. increase — A rise in quantity or value.
39. decrease — A fall in quantity or value.
40. original amount — The starting value before a change.

41–50: Ratio and comparison

41. ratio — A comparison between quantities using the same unit where necessary.
42. equivalent ratio — A ratio with the same relationship after scaling.
43. unitary method — Finding the value of one unit before finding many.
44. part — A portion of a whole or a ratio.
45. whole — The complete quantity being considered.
46. group — A collection treated together.
47. total — All the quantities added together.
48. sharing — Dividing an amount among people or groups.
49. proportion — A relationship between corresponding quantities.
50. comparison — Examining how two quantities differ or relate.

51–60: Measures and units

51. length — The distance from one end to another.
52. width — The measurement across an object.
53. height — The vertical extent of an object.
54. depth — A measurement from top or front to bottom or back.
55. perimeter — The total distance around a two-dimensional shape.
56. area — The amount of surface inside a two-dimensional region.
57. volume — The space occupied by a three-dimensional object.
58. mass — A measure of how much matter an object contains.
59. capacity — How much a container can hold.
60. unit conversion — Changing a measurement into an equivalent unit.

61–70: Time and schedules

61. duration — How long an activity lasts.
62. elapsed time — The time that passes between two points.
63. start time — The time an event begins.
64. end time — The time an event finishes.
65. interval — A gap between two times or values.
66. minute — A unit of time equal to sixty seconds.
67. second — A basic short unit of time.
68. hour — A unit of time equal to sixty minutes.
69. timetable — An organised display of scheduled times.
70. 24-hour clock — Time notation from 00:00 to 23:59.

71–80: Two-dimensional shapes

71. polygon — A closed flat shape made from straight sides.
72. triangle — A polygon with three sides.
73. quadrilateral — A polygon with four sides.
74. rectangle — A quadrilateral with four right angles.
75. square — A quadrilateral with equal sides and four right angles.
76. parallelogram — A quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides.
77. rhombus — A quadrilateral with four equal sides.
78. trapezium — A quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides in the school convention.
79. kite — A quadrilateral with two pairs of adjacent equal sides.
80. circle — A flat shape whose boundary is equally distant from a centre.

81–90: Circle language

81. radius — Distance from the centre of a circle to its boundary.
82. diameter — A line through the centre joining opposite boundary points.
83. circumference — The distance around a circle.
84. centre — The point equally distant from all points on a circle.
85. arc — Part of a circle’s boundary.
86. semicircle — Half of a circle.
87. sector — A region between two radii and an arc.
88. pi — The constant giving circumference divided by diameter.
89. quarter-circle — One-fourth of a circle.
90. concentric — Describing circles that share the same centre.

91–100: Lines and angles

91. angle — The amount of turn between two rays.
92. vertex — The point where rays or edges meet.
93. acute angle — An angle smaller than ninety degrees.
94. obtuse angle — An angle between ninety and one hundred eighty degrees.
95. right angle — An angle of ninety degrees.
96. straight angle — An angle of one hundred eighty degrees.
97. reflex angle — An angle greater than one hundred eighty and less than three hundred sixty degrees.
98. parallel — Lines that remain the same distance apart and never meet.
99. perpendicular — Lines meeting at a right angle.
100. intersect — Cross or meet at a point.

101–110: Symmetry and geometric relationships

101. symmetry — Balanced correspondence between parts of a shape.
102. line of symmetry — A line dividing a shape into matching halves.
103. reflection — A mirror transformation of a figure.
104. translation — Moving a shape without turning or changing its size.
105. rotation — Turning a shape around a fixed point.
106. congruent — Identical in shape and size.
107. similar — Having the same shape though possibly different sizes.
108. orientation — The direction a shape faces.
109. clockwise — Moving in the direction of clock hands.
110. anticlockwise — Moving opposite to clock hands.

111–120: Three-dimensional solids

111. cube — A solid with six equal square faces.
112. cuboid — A solid with six rectangular faces.
113. prism — A solid with matching parallel polygonal ends.
114. cylinder — A solid with two parallel circular ends and a curved surface.
115. cone — A solid with a circular base tapering to an apex.
116. pyramid — A solid with triangular faces meeting at a common apex.
117. sphere — A perfectly round solid.
118. face — A flat surface of a solid.
119. edge — A line where two surfaces meet.
120. net — A flat pattern that can fold into a solid.

121–130: Charts and displayed information

121. data — Recorded facts, measurements or counts.
122. frequency — The number of times a value occurs.
123. tally — A counting mark used for recording frequency.
124. pictogram — A graph using pictures to represent quantities.
125. bar graph — A graph using bars to compare quantities.
126. line graph — A graph displaying changes with connected points.
127. pie chart — A circular graph divided into parts of a whole.
128. table — Information organised into rows and columns.
129. scale — How a graph or measuring instrument represents values.
130. axis — A reference line used in a graph.

131–140: Averages and interpreting results

131. average — A typical value representing a data set.
132. mean — The sum of values divided by their number.
133. median — The middle value after ordering the data.
134. mode — The value occurring most often.
135. range — The difference between the largest and smallest data values.
136. maximum — The greatest value in a set.
137. minimum — The smallest value in a set.
138. trend — A general direction in data.
139. distribution — How values are spread across a data set.
140. outlier — A value unusually far from most others.

141–150: Speed and rates

141. speed — Distance travelled per unit of time.
142. distance — How far apart two locations are or how far one travels.
143. time — The measured duration used in a rate calculation.
144. rate — A comparison of quantities with different units.
145. uniform speed — Speed that stays constant over the period considered.
146. unit — The measurement label accompanying a value.
147. per — For each unit of another quantity.
148. constant — A value that does not change.
149. variable — A value that can change.
150. average speed — Total distance divided by total travel time.

151–160: Bar models and mathematical structure

151. bar model — A drawing of quantities as proportional or labelled bars.
152. unit bar — One equal part used as a reference in a bar model.
153. comparison model — A diagram showing how two amounts relate.
154. part-whole model — A diagram showing component amounts and their total.
155. model drawing — Representing numerical relationships with diagrams.
156. unknown — A value that must be determined.
157. assumption — A condition accepted for the purpose of a solution.
158. relationship — A mathematical connection between quantities.
159. representation — A diagram, expression or table showing an idea.
160. equation — A statement that two expressions are equal.

161–170: Words hidden in problem sums

161. altogether — Combining all relevant amounts.
162. remaining — The amount left after a change.
163. equally — In the same amount or size.
164. each — Every individual item or group.
165. respectively — Matching listed items in the given order.
166. more than — Greater by a stated amount or in a comparison.
167. less than — Smaller by a stated amount or in a comparison.
168. as many as — Equal in number to a comparison amount.
169. at least — No less than the stated number.
170. at most — No greater than the stated number.

171–180: Instructions and mathematical reasoning

171. calculate — Work out a numerical answer.
172. compute — Perform a calculation.
173. determine — Find a value using given information.
174. find — Obtain the requested answer.
175. solve — Work through a problem to an answer.
176. show — Write the steps that support the result.
177. explain — Describe why a method or result works.
178. verify — Check that a result meets the conditions.
179. justify — Give a sound reason for the solution.
180. conclude — State the outcome supported by the work.

181–190: Money and everyday number sense

181. cost — The amount spent to obtain something.
182. price — The amount charged for an item.
183. revenue — Money received from sales.
184. profit — The positive difference between revenue and costs.
185. loss — The amount by which costs exceed revenue.
186. change — Money returned when payment exceeds a price.
187. deposit — Money paid into an account.
188. withdrawal — Money taken out of an account.
189. savings — Money kept rather than spent.
190. interest — An amount added to or charged on a balance by a stated rate.

191–200: Accuracy and checking

191. estimate — Find an approximate value before or without exact calculation.
192. approximation — A value close to the exact result.
193. rounding — Replacing a number with a nearby value at chosen precision.
194. exact — Not approximated or rounded.
195. unit error — Mistake caused by missing or inconsistent measurement units.
196. substitution — Putting a known value into a mathematical expression.
197. reverse operation — Using the opposite operation to check a result.
198. check — Test the answer against the original question.
199. reasonableness — Whether an answer makes sense for the situation.
200. working — The written sequence of mathematical steps.

Why the same word can make two questions very different

1. Remaining is a quantity; remainder is a division result

A shop had 48 bottles and sold 19. The remaining bottles are 29. But if 48 bottles are shared in packs of 5, the remainder is 3. These words look related but instruct different operations. Before calculating, ask: “What physical quantity does the answer represent?”

2. Area is not perimeter

A rectangle measuring 8 cm by 5 cm has area 40 cm² and perimeter 26 cm. The first measures covered surface; the second measures boundary distance. A diagram and units often repair the misunderstanding faster than another page of arithmetic drills.

3. Ratio is not automatically the same as fraction

If the ratio of red to blue tokens is 2:3, red tokens are 2/5 of all tokens, not 2/3. The 2:3 comparison has five equal parts in the combined whole. Draw two red boxes and three blue boxes before choosing the denominator. This single habit prevents many avoidable errors.

4. Percent change depends on the original amount

A price falls from $80 to $60. The change is $20, or 25% of the original $80. Returning from $60 to $80 requires an increase of 20/60 = 33⅓%, not 25%. An increase and decrease by the same percentage do not generally cancel because the starting bases differ.

5. Speed vocabulary needs consistent units

A walker travels 1.2 km in 20 minutes. That is 0.06 km per minute, or 3.6 km/h. The question determines which unit should be used; a correct number attached to the wrong unit is not a complete answer.

Read the question before choosing a method

Ask the child to annotate each unfamiliar problem in four passes. First circle the requested quantity. Then underline given values and units. Next identify relationships such as twice as many, after a discount or equal sharing. Finally choose a model or operation and test the answer’s magnitude. This is where language becomes mathematical reasoning.

In the 2026 format, Paper 1 is non-calculator while Paper 2 permits a calculator. The instrument changes, but reading accuracy and conceptual judgement remain essential. For the official arrangements, use the SEAB PSLE Mathematics 0008 syllabus and assessment format.

Four-week plan: 200 terms without 200 separate memorisation exercises

1. Week 1: Number, operations, fractions and percentages. The child draws or calculates one example for each term and explains it aloud.
2. Week 2: Ratio, geometry, time and measurement. Compare terms in pairs; use a ruler and simple everyday objects.
3. Week 3: Data, rates, problem-sum language and model drawing. Solve three mixed problems, highlighting which word determined the method.
4. Week 4: Revisit previous terms through unseen school questions. Build a mistake log: misunderstood word, wrong mental step, correct concept, independent retry.

Short recall sessions with spaced return work better than copying all definitions. A child who already knows 130 terms should focus on the 20 or 30 that repeatedly cause incorrect reasoning.

Common problem-sum traps

• “As many as” means equal counts; “twice as many as” introduces multiplication.
• “At least” allows the boundary value and larger values; “at most” allows the boundary and smaller values.
• “Average” in many primary problems refers to arithmetic mean, which must be supported by the total and count.
• “Original amount” usually determines the denominator when finding percentage change.
• “Show your working” requires a valid method, not just a final answer.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official list of 200 PSLE Maths words?

No. It is a curated learning resource intended to help students understand the terminology appearing across mathematics. The official syllabus sets the assessable outcomes and format, not a single 200-word vocabulary list.

Does my child need to memorise all 200?

No. If the child can accurately recognise, explain and apply a term, move on. Repair terms that lead to wrong methods or missing units.

What is the best way to learn ratio vocabulary?

Represent the numbers with equal-size bar units, label which quantity each bar represents and check the total number of parts.

Should Primary 6 students use algebra or bar models?

Use a mathematically valid method appropriate to the question and the child’s understanding. A bar model is useful when it makes relationships visible; a correctly written equation can also be effective.

How does Maths vocabulary help English comprehension?

Both require precise interpretation of relationships, time order and constraints. However, everyday meanings sometimes differ from the specialised mathematical meaning.

Does this guide cover Foundation Mathematics?

Many ideas are useful across levels, but the exact assessed content and formats differ. Match practice to the student’s school entry and the relevant SEAB subject code.

Official sources and next reading

Check the SEAB 2026 PSLE subjects and codes and the 2026 Mathematics (0008) syllabus. Continue with our fractions, ratio and percentage error analysis and the bar-model-or-algebra decision guide. For Punggol parents, the most useful diagnostic is a child’s actual worked solution: find the first line where understanding, not just calculation, went wrong.

eduKate Punggol learning resource, November 2026. The glossary is an original teaching aid; consult the latest SEAB documentation for the relevant examination year.