Most Common Types of PSLE Circles Questions: What Parents and Students Need to Know

AGrader Admin
4 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Circles seem simple — just round shapes with no corners. But for many primary school students (and even their parents), circle questions are among the trickiest in the PSLE Math syllabus. Whether it’s figuring out how to calculate the area of a segment or remembering all the parts of a circle, it’s no surprise that this topic causes frustration and confusion.

The challenge usually comes from the fact that unlike straightforward addition or subtraction, circle problems require a deep understanding of shapes, formulas, and spatial reasoning. From working with radius and diameter to calculating the area of part of a circle, these questions demand careful analysis and precise application of concepts.

If you’ve ever wondered why your child struggles with PSLE circle questions, this article is for you. We’ll walk through the most common types of circle questions, show you the important formulas, and share examples that break everything down step by step.

Table of Content:

Understanding the Basic Parts of a Circle

1.1 Find the Area or Circumference of a Circle or Parts of a Circle

1.2 Finding Area by Difference

1.3 Finding Area by Rearranging Parts

1.4 Finding Area By Cutting Figures

1.5 Perimeter of Composite Figures Involving Circles

Understanding Composite Circle Questions

Understanding the Basic Parts of a Circle

Before diving into solving any circle question, students must know the fundamental parts of a circle:

Centre of the circle (or centre of a circle): The fixed point from which all points on the circle are equidistant.
Radius of the circle: The distance from the centre to any point on the circle. Also called the radius.
Diameter of the circle: A straight line passing through the centre, touching both sides of the circle. It's the longest chord and is exactly twice the radius of a circle.
Circumference of a circle: The perimeter or distance around the circle.
Chord: A line segment whose endpoints lie on the circle. The diameter of a circle is a special type of chord.

Knowing these terms helps students understand what the question is asking — especially when diagrams include curved lines, shaded regions, or composite shapes.

1. Find the Area or Circumference of a Circle or Parts of a Circle

This is the most foundational type of circle question. Students are asked how to find the area of a circle, the circumference of the circle, or sometimes just a part of a circle, such as a semicircle or quarter circle.

Find the Area or Circumference of a Circle

2. Finding Area by Difference

Sometimes the shaded area isn't a whole shape, and students must find the difference between a large and small shape. This is known as area by difference.

Note: Shaded area = Total area – Unshaded area

3. Finding Area by Rearranging Parts

Students can be tricked by strange-looking diagrams. But if they mentally rearrange the parts, the shape might turn into something familiar — like a semicircle or quarter circle. This technique is especially useful for composite figures, where several segments of a circle are spread out in the diagram.

When you see shaded areas, try to see if they can be combined to form a different shape.

After rearranging, the shaded part here forms a quadrant.

4. Finding Area By Cutting Figures

This technique involves dividing unusual figures into simpler parts to calculate the area of the circle or its segments.

For such questions, we usually draw lines to divide the figure into parts and then calculate the area of one or more of those parts.

5. Perimeter of Composite Figures Involving Circles

The perimeter (or circumference, when referring to circles) of a composite figure is found by adding the lengths of the perimeter, which may include straight lines and arcs (curved sections of a circle).

Understanding Composite Circle Questions

Many PSLE circle questions are composite in nature — combining multiple types of circle parts such as semicircles, quarter circles, or full circles. They may require students to:

Identify which formulas to use
Break down or combine shapes
Subtract or add areas
Apply values of π accurately

For example, a question may show a circle with a radius of 14 cm that’s partially shaded and ask students to calculate the area of the shaded region. Or it might include concentric circles (circles with the same centre of the circle but different radii) and ask students to find the area of the ring between them.

Mastering these multi-step problems requires practice and confidence with all the earlier skills.

Circle-related questions are a major part of the PSLE Math syllabus — and they don’t have to be a source of stress. By understanding the different types of circle problems, using clear strategies, and applying formulas accurately, students can confidently tackle any circle question thrown their way.

Whether it’s finding the circumference of a circle, calculating the area of part of a circle, or working with concentric circles, the key is practice, patience, and a little creativity.

Encourage your child to see circles not as confusing curves but as puzzles waiting to be solved — one radius at a time.

At AGrader, we're dedicated to helping students navigate changes in the curriculum with confidence—ensuring they don’t just keep up but truly thrive. With the right support system, resources, and mindset, your child can excel in PSLE Mathematics and beyond.

By enrolling your child in AGrader’s Primary Math Programme, you’re giving them access to top-quality guidance designed to help them succeed—especially during the critical Primary 6 PSLE year. Each weekly lesson is carefully crafted to align with the latest MOE syllabus and is taught ahead of the school’s pace, giving your child a valuable head start. Lessons are reinforced with high-quality, in-house curated worksheets, comprehensive cheat sheets, and clear concept maps to support effective learning.

What truly sets AGrader apart is our exclusive FREE EverLoop Modules, available to all enrolled students. These provide access to extra learning materials from up to three previous academic levels—so a Primary 5 student can revisit key concepts from Primary 4, 3, or even 2 at no additional cost. This unique feature helps strengthen foundational understanding and boosts long-term retention.

With thousands of parents placing their trust in AGrader across 20 convenient locations islandwide, there’s never been a better time to give your child the academic edge. Join the AGrader family today and empower your child with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to achieve success in the PSLE and beyond.

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