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Primary 2 Mathematics syllabus: topics and practice questions

These are the topics and skills of Primary 2 Mathematics in the MOE syllabus, with 159 original practice questions. Each topic below has a sample question: try it, then open the worked answer.

Number & Algebra

Whole Numbers

24 practice questions

  • Read, write and use place value in numbers up to 1000
  • Compare and order numbers, and tell odd from even
  • Complete number patterns

Sample question

What number do the base-ten blocks show?
Base-ten blocks: 3 hundred squares, 5 one-cubes.
Show the answer and working

Answer: 305

How:
3 hundreds = 300
0 tens = 0
5 ones = 5
300 + 0 + 5 = 305

Why: Each kind of block has its own value. Adding the values of all the blocks gives the number.

Addition and Subtraction

14 practice questions

  • Add and subtract numbers up to 3 digits
  • Solve word problems with addition and subtraction (up to 2 steps)

Sample question

Find 352 + 247.
Show the answer and working

Answer: 599

How:
Ones: 2 + 7 = 9
Tens: 5 + 4 = 9
Hundreds: 3 + 2 = 5
352 + 247 = 599

Why: No place needs renaming, so we just add the digits in each place.

Multiplication and Division

28 practice questions

  • Use the multiplication tables of 2, 5 and 10
  • Use the multiplication tables of 3 and 4
  • Divide using the multiplication tables
  • Solve multiplication and division word problems

Sample question

There are 3 rows of 5 stars. How many stars are there altogether?
3 rows of stars, with 5 in each row.
Show the answer and working

Answer: 15

How:
3 rows of 5
3 × 5 = 15

Why: Each row has 5, and there are 3 equal rows, so we multiply.

Fractions

21 practice questions

  • Name the fraction of a whole that is shaded
  • Compare and order unit fractions and like fractions
  • Add and subtract like fractions within one whole

Sample question

The circle is cut into equal parts. What fraction of the circle is shaded?
Fraction picture: a circle split into 4 equal parts with 1 shaded.
Show the answer and working

Answer: 14

How:
Equal parts: 4
Shaded parts: 1
Fraction shaded: 14

Why: The whole is cut into 4 equal parts and 1 of them are shaded.

Money

14 practice questions

  • Count money and write it in dollars and cents
  • Add and subtract money

Sample question

How much money is there altogether? Write your answer in dollars and cents.
1 × $2 note, 1 × $1 coin, 1 × 50¢ coin, 2 × 10¢ coins.$2$150¢10¢10¢
Show the answer and working

Answer: $3.70

How:
Dollars: $2 + $1 = $3
Cents: 50¢ + 10¢ + 10¢ = 70¢
Total: $3.70

Why: Counting the notes and the coins separately, then putting them together, keeps dollars and cents in the right places.

Measurement & Geometry

Length

8 practice questions

  • Measure and compare lengths in m and cm

Sample question

How long is the pencil?
A ruler marked 0 to 15 cm. Pencil lies along the ruler from the 0 mark to the 9 mark.Pencil0123456789101112131415cm
Show the answer and working

Answer: 9 cm

How:
It starts at 0 and ends at 9 cm.
Length = 9 cm

Why: The object starts at 0, so the reading at its end is its length.

Mass

7 practice questions

  • Read scales and compare masses in kg and g

Sample question

What is the mass of the bag of rice?
A weighing scale (Bag of rice) marked from 0 to 10 kg, numbered every 1. The needle points at the 6 mark.Bag of rice012345678910kg
Show the answer and working

Answer: 6 kg

How:
Numbered marks: every 1 kg
The pointer is at 6 kg.

Why: Each small mark on this scale stands for 1 kg, so we count on from the numbered mark before the pointer.

Volume

7 practice questions

  • Measure and compare volumes of liquid in litres

Sample question

The water from a pail is poured into a measuring container. How much water is there?
A measuring beaker marked from 0 to 10 ℓ, numbered every 1. The water reaches the 7 mark.12345678910ℓ
Show the answer and working

Answer: 7 ℓ

How:
Numbered marks: every 1 ℓ
The water is at 7 ℓ.

Why: The top of the water lines up with one mark. Counting on from the numbered mark below it gives the reading.

Time

8 practice questions

  • Tell the time and measure time in hours and minutes

Sample question

What time does the clock show?
A clock: the hour hand is between 3 and 4; the minute hand points at 5.123456789101112
  1. A 3.25
  2. B 5.15
  3. C 4.25
  4. D 3.05
Show the answer and working

Answer: (A) 3.25

How:
Hour hand: just past 3
Minute hand: at 5, which is 25 minutes
Time: 3.25

Why: The hour hand moves slowly between numbers, so we read the number it has passed. Each number on the clock face is 5 minutes for the minute hand.

Shapes

14 practice questions

  • Identify 2D shapes and complete shape patterns
  • Identify cubes, cuboids, cones and cylinders

Sample question

What is the name of this shape?
Diagram. Half circle (semicircle).
  1. A circle
  2. B semicircle
  3. C quarter circle
  4. D triangle
Show the answer and working

Answer: (B) semicircle

How:
It has 1 straight side and 1 curved side. It is half of a circle: a semicircle.

Why: The number of straight and curved sides tells us which part of a circle it is.

Statistics

Picture Graphs

14 practice questions

  • Read picture graphs with a scale
  • Solve problems using picture graphs

Sample question

The picture graph shows books read in June. How many books did Ben read?
Picture graph: Books read in June. Each picture (book) stands for 2 books. Aisha: 4 pictures. Ben: 6 pictures. Chen Wei: 3 pictures. Devi: 5 pictures.AishaBenChen WeiDeviBooks read in JuneEach picture stands for 2 books.
Show the answer and working

Answer: 12

How:
Ben: 6 pictures
Each picture = 2
6 × 2 = 12

Why: Each book stands for 2 books, not 1, so we count in 2s.

Practise all 159 Primary 2 questions

With an account, practice adapts to your child: hints one step at a time, feedback on the mistake behind a wrong answer, review of older topics and a Primary 2 mock paper.

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