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Top 200 Vocabulary for Primary 6 Foundation Mathematics | PSLE Fractions, Percentage, Area and Average

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by

eduKate Asia

Quick answer: Primary 6 Foundation Mathematics vocabulary helps pupils read and solve PSLE questions about fraction division, decimals, percentage, discounts, GST, interest, triangle area, volume, angles, pie charts and averages. This guide explains 200 useful words and phrases, then shows how to choose the right mathematical relationship.

The MOE Primary Mathematics syllabus updated October 2025 specifies these P6 Foundation topics. The SEAB Foundation Mathematics (0038) examination format for examinations from 2026 assesses computation, interpretation and reasoning. This glossary includes official mathematical terms and helpful question phrases; it is an independent teaching resource, not an MOE vocabulary examination list.

What readers can find here:

200 Primary 6 Foundation Mathematics vocabulary words

Start with five words linked to today’s school topic. Ask the child to say what each means, show it using counters or a drawing and apply it in a new example. Learning to use a word is more important than memorising the whole list.

1. Fraction meaning and equal sharing (1–20)

  1. whole — The complete amount being described.
  2. part — One portion of the whole.
  3. equal parts — Pieces with matching size or quantity.
  4. fraction — A number expressing equal portions.
  5. numerator — The number of selected parts.
  6. denominator — The number of equal parts making one whole.
  7. fraction bar — The line that represents division in a fraction.
  8. unit fraction — One equal share, such as 1/5.
  9. proper fraction — A positive fraction smaller than one.
  10. improper fraction — A fraction at least one whole.
  11. mixed number — A whole-number part and a proper fraction.
  12. one-half — One of two equal parts.
  13. one-quarter — One of four equal parts.
  14. three-quarters — Three of four equal parts.
  15. fraction strip — A bar divided into equal pieces.
  16. fraction of a set — A share of a group of objects.
  17. fraction of a whole — A share of a single complete quantity.
  18. equal distribution — Giving identical shares to every recipient.
  19. division as fraction — Writing 3 ÷ 4 as 3/4.
  20. fraction answer — The part or quantity found in the problem.

2. Dividing fractions (21–40)

  1. fraction division — Splitting a fraction or counting fractions within it.
  2. dividend — The quantity being divided.
  3. divisor — The number describing the division.
  4. quotient — The result of a division.
  5. fractional dividend — A fraction used as the starting quantity.
  6. fractional divisor — A fraction describing one group size.
  7. reciprocal — A nonzero fraction with numerator and denominator swapped.
  8. multiply by reciprocal — A method for evaluating fraction division.
  9. proper fraction divided by whole — Share a fractional amount equally.
  10. whole divided by proper fraction — Count fractional groups within whole units.
  11. fraction divided by fraction — Count how many fractional portions fit.
  12. size of share — The amount each recipient receives.
  13. number of shares — How many equal portions are formed.
  14. measuring division — Find the number of groups of a fixed size.
  15. sharing division — Find the amount in each group.
  16. halves in a whole — Two groups of one-half.
  17. quarters in a whole — Four groups of one-quarter.
  18. portion model — A diagram showing equal fractional amounts.
  19. division check — Multiply quotient and divisor to check.
  20. meaningful quotient — State what the division result represents.

3. Decimal operations and accuracy (41–60)

  1. decimal — A number with base-ten fractional positions.
  2. decimal point — The dot separating whole and fractional places.
  3. tenths — The first decimal place.
  4. hundredths — The second decimal place.
  5. thousandths — The third decimal place.
  6. decimal multiplication — Find the product of decimal values.
  7. decimal division — Divide numbers expressed with decimals.
  8. decimal product — The result of multiplying decimals.
  9. decimal quotient — The result of dividing decimals.
  10. place-value chart — A table showing the value of each digit.
  11. decimal placeholder — A zero used to preserve position.
  12. decimal comparison — Compare digits in matching places.
  13. multiply by ten — Make a value ten times as great.
  14. divide by ten — Find one-tenth of a value.
  15. whole-number quotient in decimals — Express a non-integer division result as a decimal.
  16. rounding — Replace a value by a nearby specified approximation.
  17. nearest integer — The closest whole-number value.
  18. one decimal place — A value rounded to tenths.
  19. two decimal places — A value rounded to hundredths.
  20. reasonableness estimate — A prediction used to check arithmetic.

4. Percentages and parts of a whole (61–80)

  1. percentage — A part measured against 100 equal parts.
  2. percent sign — The symbol %.
  3. one percent — One-hundredth of a whole.
  4. ten percent — One-tenth of a whole.
  5. twenty percent — One-fifth of a whole.
  6. twenty-five percent — One-quarter of a whole.
  7. fifty percent — One-half of a whole.
  8. seventy-five percent — Three-quarters of a whole.
  9. one hundred percent — The complete quantity.
  10. percentage part — The amount corresponding to a given percentage.
  11. total quantity — The whole against which a percentage is calculated.
  12. percentage fraction — A percentage expressed as a fraction.
  13. percentage decimal — A percentage expressed as a decimal.
  14. percent to decimal — Divide the percent number by 100.
  15. decimal to percent — Multiply the decimal by 100.
  16. fraction to percent — Rewrite a fraction as a share of 100.
  17. percentage of a set — The portion of a collection meeting a condition.
  18. hundred-square — A 100-cell grid illustrating percentages.
  19. shaded percentage — The share of coloured cells.
  20. percentage check — Confirm a part below 100% is smaller than the positive whole.

5. Shopping, tax and annual interest (81–100)

  1. marked price — An item’s listed price before a reduction.
  2. discount — Money taken off the listed price.
  3. discount rate — The percentage reduction.
  4. discount amount — The value subtracted from the original price.
  5. sale price — The actual price after discount.
  6. amount to pay — The money due for a purchase.
  7. GST — Goods and services tax under applicable rules.
  8. GST rate — The percentage used for a given tax calculation.
  9. GST amount — The money calculated as GST.
  10. price before GST — A price excluding tax.
  11. price including GST — A price that includes the relevant tax.
  12. taxable amount — The amount to which the specified rate applies.
  13. principal — The original sum used in an interest calculation.
  14. annual interest — Interest calculated for one year.
  15. interest rate — The percentage used to calculate interest.
  16. interest earned — The money added through interest.
  17. cash balance — Money left after changes.
  18. total cost — The combined prices of selected items.
  19. dollar notation — Currency written with a dollar sign.
  20. cent notation — Hundredths of a Singapore dollar.

6. Triangle area and composite figures (101–120)

  1. triangle — A three-sided closed plane shape.
  2. base — The chosen side for an area calculation.
  3. perpendicular height — The distance meeting the base line at 90 degrees.
  4. altitude — Another name for a triangle’s perpendicular height.
  5. right-angle marker — A symbol showing a 90-degree angle.
  6. area — How much flat surface a figure covers.
  7. triangle area — Half the product of base and height.
  8. half-base-height rule — The formula ½ × base × height.
  9. square centimetre — An area unit written cm².
  10. square metre — An area unit written m².
  11. rectangle region — A rectangular part of a shape.
  12. square region — A square part of a shape.
  13. triangular region — A triangle within a combined figure.
  14. composite shape — A figure assembled from simpler parts.
  15. split into pieces — Partition a figure for easier calculation.
  16. non-overlapping parts — Regions that can be added without double-counting.
  17. missing region — The part removed from an enclosing figure.
  18. combined area — The sum of the necessary component areas.
  19. outer perimeter — The length around the exposed boundary.
  20. length unit — A unit such as cm or m.

7. Cube, cuboid and liquid volume (121–140)

  1. volume — The three-dimensional space occupied.
  2. cube — A solid with six equal square faces.
  3. cuboid — A solid with six rectangular faces.
  4. unit cube — One cube used to measure volume.
  5. cubic centimetre — A unit of volume written cm³.
  6. cubic metre — A larger volume unit written m³.
  7. length — One dimension of a cuboid.
  8. width — A second cuboid dimension.
  9. height — The third cuboid dimension.
  10. base area — The area of the bottom face.
  11. volume formula — Length × width × height for a cuboid.
  12. cube volume — Side × side × side.
  13. rectangular tank — A cuboid-shaped container.
  14. water depth — The height of water in the tank.
  15. tank height — The full height of the container.
  16. liquid volume — Space occupied by the actual liquid.
  17. capacity — The quantity a container can hold.
  18. millilitre — A liquid unit equal to one cm³.
  19. litre — A unit equal to 1,000 millilitres.
  20. volume check — Ensure three compatible dimensions were used.

8. Triangles and angle reasoning (141–160)

  1. isosceles triangle — A triangle with two equal sides.
  2. equilateral triangle — A triangle with three equal sides.
  3. right-angled triangle — A triangle with a 90-degree angle.
  4. triangle angle sum — All three interior angles total 180 degrees.
  5. base angles — The equal opposite angles in an isosceles triangle.
  6. equilateral angle — Each interior angle is 60 degrees.
  7. right angle — An angle measuring 90 degrees.
  8. acute angle — An angle smaller than 90 degrees.
  9. obtuse angle — An angle between 90 and 180 degrees.
  10. straight angle — An angle measuring 180 degrees.
  11. angles at a point — Angles around a point total 360 degrees.
  12. straight-line angles — Adjacent angles on a line total 180 degrees.
  13. vertically opposite angles — The opposite angles at an intersection are equal.
  14. angle vertex — The shared endpoint of two angle arms.
  15. angle notation — A label such as ∠ABC.
  16. unknown angle — A degree measure not supplied.
  17. angle deduction — Finding an angle from stated properties.
  18. composite diagram — A figure containing connected shapes.
  19. square property — Four equal sides and four right angles.
  20. geometry justification — Name the rule supporting the calculation.

9. Pie charts and average (161–180)

  1. pie chart — A circle divided into data sectors.
  2. pie-chart sector — One slice representing a category.
  3. pie-chart key — A legend explaining the labels.
  4. chart title — Words describing the displayed data.
  5. whole circle — The complete set represented.
  6. half sector — Half of the represented total.
  7. quarter sector — One-fourth of the represented total.
  8. sector proportion — The category’s share of the whole.
  9. category amount — The quantity shown by one sector.
  10. pie-chart comparison — Determine which sector represents more.
  11. data value — One number in a collection.
  12. data total — The sum of all values.
  13. data count — How many values are included.
  14. average — Total of values divided by their count.
  15. arithmetic mean — Another name for the average.
  16. equal-share model — A way to visualise average by redistribution.
  17. total from average — Average multiplied by the number of values.
  18. missing data value — An unknown item determined from the total.
  19. average check — Verify by dividing the complete total.
  20. data interpretation — Explain a conclusion supported by the chart.

10. Foundation PSLE question and working language (181–200)

  1. Foundation Mathematics — The named MOE P5–P6 curriculum pathway.
  2. subject code 0038 — SEAB’s code for PSLE Foundation Mathematics.
  3. assessment objective — A mathematical skill the paper evaluates.
  4. recall — Remember facts and simple rules.
  5. application — Use knowledge in a stated problem.
  6. inference — A conclusion justified by information.
  7. multiple-choice — A question with answer options.
  8. short answer — An item requiring a concise result.
  9. structured question — A problem needing clearly presented steps.
  10. Paper 1 — The paper without calculator use.
  11. Paper 2 — The paper where calculators are allowed.
  12. approved calculator — A calculator permitted under examination rules.
  13. given information — Facts already provided in the question.
  14. question target — The value the question asks for.
  15. required unit — The measurement label specified for the answer.
  16. show working — Write steps leading to the result.
  17. correct method — An approach matching the quantities and relationship.
  18. independent check — A second way to verify the calculation.
  19. reasonable answer — A result consistent with the story.
  20. final statement — The answer expressed clearly in context.

Worked Foundation Maths questions

Fractions as division

Three sandwiches are shared equally by four children. Each gets 3 ÷ 4 = 3/4 of a sandwich, provided the sandwiches have equal size. A fraction is a quantity, not merely two digits separated by a line. Draw three equal rectangles and cut each into four equal parts; each child receives three quarter-pieces.

How many fractional groups fit?

Two litres of juice are poured into cups holding half a litre each. The number of cups is 2 ÷ 1/2 = 4. Contrast this with half a litre shared between two children: 1/2 ÷ 2 = 1/4 litre per child. The first question asks how many groups; the second asks for group size.

Decimal division must respect place value

A 7.2-metre ribbon is cut into three equal pieces. Each piece measures 7.2 ÷ 3 = 2.4 m. Check using 2.4 × 3 = 7.2. A result of 24 m is impossible because one piece cannot be longer than the original ribbon. Estimation reveals the decimal mistake before the final answer is accepted.

Discount is not the discounted price

A $60 shirt is discounted by 20%. The discount is 20% of $60 = $12. The sale price is $60 − $12 = $48. The answer depends on whether the question asks for the reduction or the amount paid. For GST problems, identify the applicable tax base and rate given, then label tax amount separately from the final price.

The height of a triangle must be perpendicular

With a base of 10 m and perpendicular height of 6 m, the area of a triangular garden is 1/2 × 10 × 6 = 30 m². A sloping side of some other length must not replace the perpendicular height. For a composite figure, partition it into non-overlapping rectangles, squares and triangles before combining their areas.

Tank height is not necessarily water depth

A rectangular tank is 40 cm long and 25 cm wide. If the water is 15 cm deep, its volume is 40 × 25 × 15 = 15,000 cm³ = 15 L. Even when the container itself is taller, the question’s words “water depth” tell us which height to use.

Average can be a multiplication problem

Five children have an average quiz score of 12. Together their scores total 5 × 12 = 60. If four scores are 10, 11, 13 and 14, the fifth is 60 − 48 = 12. An average is a relationship between total and count, not an automatic command to divide on every question.

What Foundation Mathematics includes—and what it does not

Primary 6 Foundation revisits earlier Mathematics and develops selected new skills such as division of fractions, percentage applications, triangle area, cuboid volume, triangle properties, pie charts and average. The Primary 6 Standard Maths syllabus has additional new topics such as ratio, algebra and circle circumference. Those should not be presented as new P6 Foundation syllabus requirements.

Understanding the published PSLE Foundation assessment

SEAB’s 0038 format for examinations from 2026 has 80 marks across Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 lasts one hour without calculator; Paper 2 lasts 45 minutes and permits an approved calculator. Questions include multiple-choice, short-answer and structured items. For a future examination year, check the latest official document rather than relying on an old format.

Where students often go wrong

  1. Swaps dividend and divisor: say who receives the portions and how many recipients there are.
  2. Assumes division always makes a smaller answer: count how many quarter-units fit into a whole.
  3. Loses decimal places: estimate the result before calculating.
  4. Confuses discount amount with price after discount: label both quantities.
  5. Uses a sloping triangle edge for height: locate the right-angle marker.
  6. Uses full tank height when only part is filled: mark the water line.
  7. Ignores pie-chart labels: identify the whole and what each sector represents.
  8. Misunderstands an average problem: write total = average × number of values.

Four-week vocabulary and revision plan

Week 1 — Fractions and decimals

Use paper strips for sharing and counting fractional groups. Connect each picture to a correct division sentence and explain decimal place-value checks.

Week 2 — Percentages and money

Shade hundred-squares to show percentages, calculate discount separately from sale price and practise GST or simple annual-interest questions using their stated rates.

Week 3 — Area, volume and angles

Draw perpendicular heights, split simple composite figures, calculate water volume using actual depth and explain unknown angles with named geometry properties.

Week 4 — Graphs, averages and mixed questions

Read simple pie charts, recover missing values from averages and attempt new word problems without chapter labels. Review whether each error came from reading, reasoning or arithmetic.

Frequently asked questions

Is ratio or algebra required as new P6 Foundation content?

The updated MOE P6 Foundation content list does not include the P6 Standard ratio and simple-algebra topics. Select revision that matches the Foundation syllabus.

Does Foundation Maths include GST and annual interest?

Yes, P6 Foundation percentage includes discounts, GST and annual interest. Use the rates stated in questions and current rules for real-world purchases.

Can a calculator be used?

The SEAB format for examinations from 2026 prohibits calculators in Paper 1 and allows them in Paper 2. Check rules and approved calculators for the child’s examination year.

Must all 200 entries be memorised?

No. Use this reference to teach words in context. Students need to interpret, represent, calculate, check and explain; copying every definition is not the objective.

Official source and next reading

Use the MOE syllabus, SEAB Foundation Mathematics assessment document and the P5 Foundation Mathematics vocabulary companion for progression. Choose the next practice task only after the child’s starting position is clear.