Foundation Strategy

As Maths educators, Albert and Brad have been working with students who are aiming to achieve a Grade 4, it is evident that every learner has some weaknesses in either Number or Ratio & Proportion. These two areas combined account for approximately 50% of the total marks on the Foundation examination, making them critical for securing that all important grade 4.

​

Albert and Brad's teaching strategies therefore prioritise these topics. By mastering ratio tables and bar models, students could potentially earn up to 120 marks—enough on its own to achieve a grade 3. While it is unlikely that every question will be answered correctly, focusing on these areas provides the strongest foundation. The remaining topics—Data & Probability, Geometry & Measures, and Algebra (combined)—make up the remaining 50% of the marks but tend to be more varied and require additional specialist knowledge.

​

Based on this approach, we are confident that securing Number and Ratio & Proportion gives students the best chance of achieving 140–150 marks, which aligns with the Grade 4 boundary. In fact, aiming for 50 marks per paper (50 × 3 = 150) is a sensible target, as the grade boundary has never exceeded 149 marks. This is since the new numbering system came into operation in 2017.

​

Many students are advised to attempt every question, which is reasonable, but often results in spending several minutes on questions they are unlikely to answer correctly—yielding no marks for that time. Instead, we recommend focusing on the first 40 marks, which typically cover grade 1–3 questions in the first half of the paper. The second half contains more complex problem-solving questions aligned with grades 3–5, often requiring formulae or specific methods.

 

From Albert's analysis of over 1,000 students sitting the foundation exam last summer, achieving approximately 33/40 in the first half and 17/40 in the second half should secure 50/80 per paper—putting students on track for a Grade 4. Therefore, the priority should be completing the first half accurately and confidently, avoiding careless mistakes, and then selecting questions from the latter half that feel most manageable.

​

​