Is 'Excess & Shortage' Hurting Your Child's PSLE Math Score? (Easy Strategies Inside!)"

Is your child baffled by math problems that talk about "too many" or "not enough"? You're not alone! These "Excess and Shortage" questions are a common hurdle in PSLE Math and beyond, often leaving students staring blankly at their textbooks. But what if we told you there's a simple, logical way to approach them?

Struggling With “Excess and Shortage” Questions? Here's a Simple Way to Make Sense of It!

If your child has ever stared blankly at a Math question that talks about “too many chairs” or “not enough sweets,” chances are - it’s one of those Excess and Shortage problems. These word problems can seem confusing at first, but once you spot the pattern, it all starts to click!

Let’s break it down. 👇

🍬 What Are “Excess and Shortage” Questions, Anyway?

Think of them like real-life dilemmas:

• “We had 5 chairs too many when seating 10 people.”

• “We had 3 chairs too few when seating 15 people.”

These questions always give you two clues about a mystery quantity. Something we’re trying to find out. They usually appear in three ways:

• ✅ Both situations have an excess (too much of something).

• ✅ Both situations have a shortage (not enough).

• ✅ One excess, one shortage (a mix—this one's the most exciting!).

Your child’s mission? Spot the clues and figure out how many items there really are.

🎨 Tip #1: Draw It Out! (The Power of Visualisation)

This isn’t just for artists. Drawing models or bar diagrams is one of the best ways to visualise what’s happening. This is a core Math Heuristics skill that applies to many problem types, not just "Excess and Shortage." Let’s say:

• When giving 4 sweets per child, you had 3 extra.

• When giving 6 sweets per child, you were short of 5.

It turns something abstract into something visual and much easier to solve.

🧩 Tip #2: Think in Units, Not Panic (Focus on the Difference)

A common mistake? Jumping straight into algebra or trying to guess the answer.

Instead, guide your child to:

1. Find the difference between quantities people or items. In our sweet example, the difference in sweets given per child is 6−4=2 sweets.

2. Determine the total difference in 'shortage'/'excess'. If one scenario has an excess of 3 and the other a shortage of 5, the total 'gap' is 3+5=8 sweets.

3. Relate these differences. For every extra 2 sweets given per child, we bridge a gap of 8 sweets. This means there must be 8÷2=4 children.

This unit-based approach is crucial for mastering and building a strong foundation for PSLE Math.

✅ Tip #3: Self-Check Like a Pro

One of the best parts of “Excess and Shortage” questions? You can double-check your answer using both given scenarios. If your final number makes sense in both situations, you’ve nailed it!

Encourage your child to plug their answer back into the question and test it out. It builds confidence and helps avoid careless mistakes. This habit of self-checking is invaluable across all subjects, from English Comprehension to Science OEQ.

💡 Bonus Tip: Look for the "Invariant"

In many word problems, including "Excess and Shortage," there's often an "invariant" – something that stays the same. In these problems, the number of people or items being distributed remains constant. Focusing on this constant can help simplify the problem-solving process. Once you identify the invariant, you can use the given conditions to form equations or models around it.

💬 Keep It Light, Keep It Logical

These problems aren’t here to trick your child. They’re designed to help build reasoning skills and boost number sense. So even if the question sounds like a puzzle at first, with the right strategy, it becomes very doable.

And hey, the more they practise, the more they’ll start seeing patterns and solving with speed. It’s like levelling up in a game! Consistent practice is key to unlocking these insights.

🚀 Want More Support with These Types of Questions?

At one2tuition, we break down tricky word problems into step-by-step thinking tools that help your child feel confident, not confused. Whether it's visual models, logic training, or lots of patient guidance, we're here to support your child's learning journey in Math tuition, English tuition, and Science tuition for PSLE English, PSLE Science, and O Level subjects. We also offer specialised support in areas like English Composition and Science OEQ.

📞 Curious about how we can help your child turn their "Huh?" into "Aha!"? Reach out to us at [8341 5999] or visit [www.one2tuition.com] to find out more.