PSLCE Mathematics case studies
PSLCE Mathematics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination (PSLCE) is the national examination taken at the end of primary schooling in Malawi, and Mathematics is one of its core papers. It is written by Standard 8 learners and, for older candidates, by private candidates preparing to re-sit. The result matters because it feeds into selection for secondary school, so the Mathematics paper is often the deciding subject for learners whose English and Chichewa scores are close together. The syllabus you are tested on is the Standard 5 to 8 primary mathematics course: place value and number work, the four operations, fractions, decimals and percentages, measurement of length, mass, capacity and area, geometry of common shapes and angles, money and time including timetables, reading and interpreting data, and simple patterns and algebraic reasoning. The PSLCE Mathematics case studies are 5 cases and about 3,419 words.
1Ama's tomato crate: deal pricing, break-even and profit per pile
Ama sells tomatoes at Lilongwe market. Each Monday she buys one crate holding 60 piles of tomatoes for MK 48 000 and pays a driver MK 6 000 to bring it from the farm.
778 words, about 4 min2The leaking school tank: net filling rate and overnight overflow
A primary school in Machinga has a rectangular water tank for its hand-washing station. Inside, the tank measures 1.5 m long, 1 m wide and 0.6 m deep.
625 words, about 3 min3Mr Banda's test marks: which average to report, and a false claim about the average
Mr Banda teaches Standard 8 mathematics. He gives a test marked out of 50 to his class of 10 pupils.
698 words, about 3 min4Flooring two classrooms: counting tiles along walls versus using area
A school committee is flooring two classrooms with square tiles 40 cm by 40 cm. Room A measures 8 m by 6 m.
672 words, about 3 min5Thoko's minibus timetable: latest safe bus and the term pass
Thoko lives in Ntaja and travels to school by minibus. She walks 20 minutes from home to the minibus stop.
646 words, about 3 min