P4 to P5 Math Headstart 2026: Two Days, Four Topics, One Marked Paper

P4 to P5 Math Headstart

Two days. Four topics. One marked paper.

In P5 the problem sums get longer and the numbers get bigger, but the ideas underneath are P4 ideas. The November holiday is a good time to make sure those ideas are solid, before P5 starts building on them.

Day 1: the three P4 topics most P5 problem sums use: Before-Change-After, Gaps and Differences, and Proportion. Day 2: P5 Fractions, then a paper marked the same afternoon, handed back with the tutor's written notes on what your child can do and what to practise next. Two principal tutors on each run.

Paper marked on Day 2 Tutor's written notes and a 30-minute progress consult Coronation Plaza, Punggol or Zoom

Most P5 problem sums are P4 questions with more steps.

The numbers are bigger and there is an extra step or two, but the three ideas are the ones your child did in P4.

Before-Change-After, Gaps and Differences and Proportion are the three P4 ideas P5 problem sums use most. On Day 1 your child practises drawing these three models until they can do it without help. On Day 2 they meet P5 Fractions, one of the first P5 topics, then sit a paper on all four. The tutor marks it the same afternoon.

Day 1

The three P4 topics, worked at P5 standard.

Day 2 morning

P5 Fractions, one of the first P5 topics.

Day 2 afternoon

A paper on all four topics, marked the same afternoon, handed back with the tutor's notes.

Question 1 · Before-Change-After · the part that stays the same

Two schools participated in a competition. There were 150 more participants from School A than from School B. When 30 participants from School B left the competition, the number of participants in School A became twice the number of participants in School B. How many participants were from School A at first?

Step 1. Draw the two schools before and after. School A does not change, so draw it the same length both times.

Step 2. After 30 left, School A is 2 units and School B is 1 unit. School B at first was 1 unit plus the 30 who left. School A is 150 more than that, and School A is also 2 units. So the second unit is 30 + 150.

1 unit = 150 + 30

1 unit = 180

2 units = 180 × 2

2 units = 360

Ans = 360 participants

Question 2 · Before-Change-After · equal at the start

There was an equal number of boys and girls at a birthday party at first. An hour later, 48 boys left, and 24 girls joined the party. In the end, there were four times as many girls as boys at the party. How many boys were at the party at first?

Step 1. Draw the end first: boys 1 unit, girls 4 units. Then add back what changed. The boys' bar was 48 longer before; the girls' bar was 24 shorter.

Step 2. The two "at first" bars are equal. So 1 unit + 48 is the same as 4 units less 24. The 3 extra units on the girls' side must equal 48 + 24.

3 units = 48 + 24

3 units = 72

1 unit = 72 ÷ 3

1 unit = 24

Boys at first = 24 + 48

Boys at first = 72

Ans = 72 boys

Question 3 · Gaps and Differences · two cases, one amount of money

Mrs Tan had some money and wanted to buy 40 sharpeners but was short of $3. Instead, she bought 34 sharpeners and had $9 left. How much money did Mrs Tan have?

Step 1. Draw the same money twice. In Case 1 it falls $3 short of 40 sharpeners. In Case 2 it covers 34 sharpeners with $9 to spare.

Step 2. The gap between the two cases is $3 + $9 = $12, and it is made of 40 − 34 = 6 sharpeners. So one sharpener is $2.

Gap = $3 + $9 = $12

Difference = 40 − 34 = 6 sharpeners

1 sharpener = $12 ÷ 6 = $2

Money = 34 × $2 + $9

Money = $68 + $9 = $77

Ans = $77

Question 4 · Proportion · the groups method

At a stationery shop, erasers were sold at 3 for $2 while pencils were sold at 4 for $5. Jane bought four times as many pencils as erasers. She spent $104 more on pencils than erasers. How many pencils did she buy?

Step 1. Build one group that keeps the 4-to-1 ratio: 3 erasers and 12 pencils. Price the group.

One group	Number	Cost
Erasers, 3 for $2	3	$2
Pencils, 4 for $5	12	$15
Pencils cost more by		$13

Step 2. Every group costs $13 more on pencils. Jane's extra spend was $104, so count the groups, then count the pencils.

Number of groups = $104 ÷ $13 = 8

Pencils = 8 × 12

Pencils = 96

Ans = 96 pencils

Once a child can draw and label the model for a P4 question, the P5 version is the same drawing with one or two more steps.

For P4 parents who want the basics firm before P5 starts.

This camp is meant for the child who passes P4 Math but loses most marks on the problem sums. If your child is already comfortable with problem sums, our weekly class is the better fit, and we will tell you so if you ask.

The camp is a good fit if you:

watched the Term 3 and Term 4 problem sums get harder and want the P4 basics fixed before P5;

want your child to meet P5 Fractions before the class does;

want to see the actual marked paper and hear from the tutor where the marks are going;

are new to Genius Plus and want to see how we teach before the year starts.

What the S$380 covers.

Two full days, 10am to 3pm on both days, with lunch provided.

The in-house workbook and materials, yours to keep.

Two principal tutors on each run: Mrs Eileen Toh and Ms JS Lee in November, Ms Arina Rauf and Ms JS Lee in December.

The Day 2 paper, marked the same afternoon and gone through with the class.

The tutor's written notes on what your child can do and what to practise next, handed back with the paper.

A 30-minute progress consult after the camp, on the gaps and strengths we saw over the two days.

Early bird · until 31 October 2026

1-on-1 follow-up session after the camp: a 30 to 60 minute session with the tutor, at the centre or on Zoom, to go through your child's marked paper and decide what to work on in Term 1 (U/P S$200).
P5 resource bundle, extra practice books for the term ahead (U/P S$60).

S$260 of extras included when you register by 31 October 2026.

Questions parents ask

When does the P4 to P5 Headstart run?

Two runs: Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026, or Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December 2026. Both days 10am to 3pm. Pick one run; both cover the same programme.

Where is it held?

Coronation Plaza (587 Bukit Timah Road) or Punggol (660A Edgedale Plains), or live on Zoom at the same fee. Tell us your preferred venue on the form; admin confirms it on WhatsApp.

What does it cost, and what is the early bird?

S$380 for both days, including lunch, the workbook and materials, the Day 2 paper marked the same afternoon, the tutor's written notes and the 30-minute progress consult. Register by 31 October 2026 and the 1-on-1 follow-up session (U/P S$200) and the P5 resource bundle (U/P S$60) are included.

What exactly is covered?

Day 1: Before-Change-After, Gaps and Differences, and Proportion, the P4 topics P5 problem sums are built on. Day 2: P5 Fractions as a headstart topic, then the paper and review. These follow Genius Plus lesson codes 4D11 to 4D15.

Who teaches it?

Run 1 (25 to 26 Nov): Mrs Eileen Toh and Ms JS Lee. Run 2 (3 to 4 Dec): Ms Arina Rauf and Ms JS Lee. One tutor is in each venue and the two rooms are linked live, so your child gets both tutors whichever venue you choose.

What do we get back?

The marked Day 2 paper, the tutor's written notes on what your child can do and what to practise next, and a 30-minute progress consult after the camp, where we go through the gaps and strengths we saw. Early-bird registrants also get the 1-on-1 follow-up session.

Is it suitable if my child is not a Genius Plus student?

Yes. The camp is self-contained and follows the MOE P4 and P5 syllabus. No prior lessons with us are needed.

What if the run I want is full?

Seats are confirmed in order of registration. If your run is full by the time your form comes in, admin will tell you on WhatsApp and offer another run or a Zoom seat.

How do I pay?

Register on the form. The confirmation page shows PayNow details (UEN and the fee) with your child's full name as the reference. Prefer card? WhatsApp admin for a secure payment link.

My child is a current GPA weekly student. Do we need to register?

No. Current weekly students are already in the Headstart as part of their term programme. No registration or payment needed; admin will WhatsApp you to confirm your child's run.

10am to 3pm is a long day. Is there a lunch break?

Yes. Lunch is provided, and there are short breaks between topics. Tell us on WhatsApp if your child has allergies or dietary needs, or send a packed lunch instead. The pace changes through the day: teaching, then guided practice, then trying it alone.

Can my child join on Zoom?

Yes. Every run is available live on Zoom, with the same materials and the same fee. Zoom participants sit the Day 2 paper at home during the session and send it to the tutor, who marks it the same afternoon.

What is the 1-on-1 follow-up session?

An early-bird extra (register by 31 October 2026): a 30 to 60 minute session with the tutor after the camp, at the centre or on Zoom at one of the time slots admin offers, to go through your child's marked paper and decide what to work on in Term 1.

P4 to P5 Math Headstart

Most P5 problem sums are P4 questions with more steps.

By the end of Day 2, here is what your child will have done.

The three P4 topics.

P5 Fractions, then the paper.

Four sample questions, with the models we teach.

You will see which questions your child got wrong, and why.

Two runs, one in November and one in December. Pick whichever suits your holiday plans.

For P4 parents who want the basics firm before P5 starts.

What the S$380 covers.

Same fee at both venues and on Zoom.

Who teaches it.

What parents tell us.

Questions parents ask

If the tutor's notes point to a gap, our weekly class carries on from there.

Two days in November or December. A marked paper in your hand by Day 2.

P4 to P5 Math Headstart+

Most P5 problem sums are P4 questions with more steps.

By the end of Day 2, here is what your child will have done.

The three P4 topics.

P5 Fractions, then the paper.

Four sample questions, with the models we teach.

You will see which questions your child got wrong, and why.

Two runs, one in November and one in December. Pick whichever suits your holiday plans.

For P4 parents who want the basics firm before P5 starts.

What the S$380 covers.

Same fee at both venues and on Zoom.

Who teaches it.

What parents tell us.

Questions parents ask

If the tutor's notes point to a gap, our weekly class carries on from there.

Two days in November or December. A marked paper in your hand by Day 2.

P4 to P5 Math Headstart