5 Common Types of Questions In O Level E Math Papers

With numerous topics taught from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4/5, we understand your frustrations about the types of questions in O Level E Math papers that will be tested each year. Here, we will be going through the 5 common types of questions that often appear in O Level E Math papers that will give you a peace of mind.

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1. Algebraic Manipulation

An ubiquitous topic since its introduction in Secondary 1, algebraic questions are a common sight in many math papers. They require students to simplify expressions, expand or factorise polynomials, and solve equations.

Hint:
Always remember BODMAS and the left-to-right rule when solving algebraic equations.
Bracket -> Order of Power -> Division -> Multiplication -> Addition -> Subtraction

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2. Geometry & Mensuration

Geometry and mensuration take up a good portion of questions seen in O Level E Math papers. Dealing with both 2D and 3D geometry, they involve properties of shapes, angles, areas, and volumes.

Hint:
Take note of the shapes given in the question. Knowing them, you’ll use the appropriate formula to find the number of spheres that can be formed from the melted metal cone.

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3. Trigonometry

These are questions involving the application of sine, cosine, tangent, or the sine and cosine rules, often applied in right-angled and non-right-angled triangles.

Hint:
Know the exact values of sin, cos, and tan for angles of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 180° and their multiples. This will help you immensely with solving questions related to ​trigonometry.

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4. Coordinate Geometry

These are questions that involve graphs, coordinate geometry requiring you to plot points on the Cartesian plane, finding distances, midpoints, gradients, and equations of lines.

Hint:
Look closely, and you realise that the distance formula is derived from the Pythagorean Theorem, and it is used to find the distance between two points in the plane.

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5. Probability & Statistics

Lastly, these questions involve calculating probabilities, handling data sets, mean, median, mode, and interpreting charts of graphs. For this question, logic plays a fundamental role, making it very crucial to take the time deciphering the data to your fullest understanding.

Hint:
When calculating probability, remember to always divide the number of favourable events by the total number of possible events.

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Conclusion

Through the above list, we hope this will give you some newfound confidence in knowing what type of questions commonly appear in O Level E Math papers. No one will know exactly what topics will appear, but we have taken the time to analyse common trends to make your revision easier.

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