Primary 4 Science Tuition Singapore
Answer technique before the PSLE years begin
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Primary 4 Science Tuition rates in Singapore
Hourly rates by level. Each bar runs from a part-time tutor to an ex-MOE teacher.
Rates by type of tutor, as a table
| Level | Part-time / undergrad | Full-time | Ex-MOE or NIE-trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Primary (P1-P4) | S$30-40/hr | S$40-55/hr | S$50-65/hr |
| Upper Primary / PSLE (P5-P6) | S$35-50/hr | S$45-60/hr | S$55-75/hr |
The final rate is set when you choose a tutor. See all rates on the pricing page.
Where Primary 4 Science answers lose marks
P4 adds matter, the human and plant systems, light and heat. These topics need more exact words than P3, and that is where marks go.
Heat and temperature are used as if they mean the same thing.
When ice is added to a drink, your child says the cold flows into the drink, instead of saying the drink loses heat to the ice.
Shadow questions are answered with a guess, without explaining why the shadow grew when the object moved closer to the torch.
States of matter questions mix up 'definite shape' and 'definite volume', especially for liquids.
1 more
Digestive system answers name the stomach for everything and leave out the small intestine.
Each of these is a wording problem as much as a knowledge problem, and P4 is the year to sort it out.
The grade, explained
How PSLE Achievement Levels work
Each subject gets an AL from 1 (best) to 8. The four ALs add up to the PSLE score, from 4 to 32.
- AL190 and above
- AL285 to 89
- AL380 to 84
- AL475 to 79
- AL565 to 74
- AL645 to 64
- AL720 to 44
- AL8Below 20
Source: MOE PSLE scoring.
The P4 Science topics, by theme
In the 2023 MOE Primary Science syllabus, P4 adds topics from the Cycles, Systems and Energy themes. School papers may also test P3 topics, so the tutor keeps those fresh.
Matter
What matter is, how it is measured, and how solids, liquids and gases differ.
Topics covered
- Matter as anything that has mass and occupies space
- Measuring mass and volume with suitable apparatus
- Solids: definite shape and definite volume
- Liquids: definite volume, no definite shape
- Gases: no definite shape or volume
Human and plant systems
An overview of body systems, the digestive system in detail, and the parts of a plant.
Topics covered
- Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, skeletal and muscular systems and their functions
- Parts of the digestive system: mouth, gullet, stomach, small and large intestine
- What each digestive part does
- Plant parts and their functions: leaf, stem and root
Light
How we see objects and how shadows form, taught through investigations.
Topics covered
- Seeing an object that gives out light or reflects light
- Light travels in straight lines
- Shadows form when light is fully or partly blocked
- How shape, size and position of the object change a shadow
- How distances between light source, object and screen change a shadow
Heat
The difference between heat and temperature, the direction of heat flow, and its effects.
Topics covered
- Common sources of heat
- Heat as a form of energy. Temperature as a measure of hotness
- Measuring temperature with a thermometer or datalogger
- Heat flows from a hotter to a colder place until both reach the same temperature
- Expansion, contraction and change of state
- Good and poor conductors of heat
Primary 4 Science Tuition: a guide for parents
Under the 2023 MOE syllabus, Primary 4 Science adds matter and its three states, the human and plant systems, and light and heat, while school papers can still test P3 topics such as diversity, life cycles and magnets. P4 exams include open-ended questions that ask children to apply an idea to a situation they have not seen before, and many children lose marks by giving the right idea in vague words. At the end of P4 the school recommends Standard or Foundation Science for P5 and P6.
Read the full guide
A P4 home tutor works on open-ended answers explicitly: find what the question is testing, name the concept, and explain the cause and effect in precise words (for example, that an object gains heat, not that it gets hot). Lessons follow the school topics and practise with P4 school papers, and you get a clear picture of which topics are secure before P5, the heaviest content year.
A common P4 question: two identical cups of hot water, one wrapped in cloth and one not, are left on a table, and the temperature of each is recorded every five minutes. Children often say the cloth 'keeps the heat in' or 'gives warmth'. A complete answer explains the direction of heat flow: the water loses heat to the cooler surrounding air, and the cloth is a poor conductor of heat, so the water in the wrapped cup loses heat more slowly.
The tutor also checks the graph: both lines fall, the unwrapped cup's line falls faster, and both level off at room temperature. That last point tests the syllabus idea that heat flows until both reach the same temperature, and it is often missed.
Official syllabus: MOE Singapore · SEAB Singapore
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Primary 4 Science Tuition: frequently asked questions
How is Foundation Science different from Standard?
At the end of P4, the school recommends Standard or Foundation Science for P5 and P6. Foundation Science follows the same themes with fewer, simpler learning outcomes. In P6, for example, it leaves out energy conversion, elastic spring force and food webs. At PSLE, Foundation subjects are graded A to C, which count as AL6 to AL8 in the PSLE Score.
How much does Primary 4 Science tuition cost?
P4 is in our Lower Primary rate band. Typical hourly rates are S$30 to S$40 for an undergraduate tutor, S$40 to S$55 for a full-time tutor, and S$50 to S$65 for an ex-MOE teacher. Rates move to the Upper Primary band from P5, which is one reason some families use P4 to settle weak topics first.
What experiments come up in P4 Science?
The 2023 syllabus asks P4 pupils to investigate how shadows change with the shape, size and position of an object and with the distances between light source, object and screen. They also measure temperature with a thermometer or datalogger, and measure mass and volume. Questions then ask what was changed, what was kept the same and what the results show. A tutor practises reading these set-ups and tables.
How many Science lessons a week does a P4 child need?
For most P4 children, one lesson a week of 1 to 1.5 hours is enough. A few extra sessions before the end-of-year exam can help with revision. More important than hours is going through returned school papers, which shows exactly which answers lose marks and why. If the same tutor also teaches Maths, the two subjects can share one longer session.
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