PSLE Science: 6 Common Misconceptions That Cost Students Marks

PSLE Science is a subject where misconceptions can be very costly. A student who believes a wrong concept will consistently give wrong answers to related questions throughout the paper. At Sophia Education, our PSLE Science tutors identify and correct these misconceptions early, preventing them from affecting exam performance.

Misconception 1: Plants Only Undergo Photosynthesis, Not Respiration

Many students think plants only photosynthesise and do not respire. In fact, plants respire all the time (day and night), just like animals. During the day, photosynthesis occurs faster than respiration, so there is a net uptake of CO₂ and release of O₂. At night, only respiration occurs.

Misconception 2: Heavier Objects Fall Faster

In the absence of air resistance, all objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass. In PSLE Science, when comparing objects falling in air, a larger surface area (not greater mass) causes more air resistance and slower falling. A feather falls slower than a coin because of its larger surface area relative to its weight, not because it is lighter.

Misconception 3: The Sun is the Hottest Object in the Universe

The Sun is hot, but it is not the hottest object in the universe, or even in our galaxy. Many stars are far hotter than the Sun. In PSLE Science context, students should know that the Sun is a medium-sized star and the primary source of energy for Earth.

Misconceptions 4-6

• ✓Misconception 4: Electricity flows from positive to negative terminal (conventional current direction is positive to negative, but electrons flow from negative to positive)
• ✓Misconception 5: Dissolving means the substance disappears (the substance is still present — it has broken into particles too small to see, and the total mass is conserved)
• ✓Misconception 6: Magnets attract all metals (magnets only attract iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt — not aluminium, copper, or gold)