Study Strategies Guide

Study Methods & Exam Strategies

16+ famous methods from Vedic Math to Singapore Bar Models — explained simply, organised by year level. Mathematics, Reading, Critical Thinking & Exam Techniques.

Year Levels

16+

Famous Methods

60+

Strategies

Focus Years

For Parents

NaExam teaches using proven frameworks trusted by educators worldwide. Vedic Math builds mental arithmetic speed. Singapore Bar Models turn word problems into diagrams your child can see. Polya's 4-step methodgives a reliable process for any unfamiliar problem. Each method is introduced at the right year level — so skills build on each other rather than jumping ahead. Select your child's year level below to see exactly which strategies they're practising.

Famous Methods Directory — Who Made What

Method	Created By	When	Explained Simply	Best For
Vedic Mathematics	Bharati Krishna Tirthaji Maharaj	1965	Ancient Indian tricks that let you do big sums in your head — like magic shortcuts for maths!	Year 4+
Bhanzu Math	Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash	2020	An app that teaches your brain to see patterns in numbers so you can solve problems really fast.	Year 3+
Singapore Bar Model	Singapore's Ministry of Education	1980s	Draw rectangles (bars) to picture a word problem. The bars show you what you know and what you need to find!	Year 2-8
CPA Approach	Jerome Bruner	1966	First touch real things (blocks), then draw pictures, then use numbers. It's like learning to swim — first the shallow end!	All Years
Polya's 4 Steps	George Polya	1945	A recipe for solving ANY problem: Understand it, Make a plan, Do it, Check it.	All Years
CUBES	American teachers	—	Circle numbers, Underline the question, Box key words, Eliminate extras, Solve. Like a detective!	Year 3-6
Kumon Method	Toru Kumon	1958	Do a little bit of practice every single day. The worksheets get a tiny bit harder each time.	All Years
Montessori Math	Maria Montessori	Early 1900s	Learn maths by playing with beautiful wooden blocks, beads, and rods.	Year 1-4
Number Talks	Jo Boaler (Stanford)	—	Everyone solves it in their head, then shares HOW. There's no wrong way!	All Years
SQ3R	Francis P. Robinson	1946	Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review — a reading recipe!	Year 5+
KWL Chart	Donna Ogle	1986	What I Know, What I Want to know, What I Learned.	Year 2+
Reciprocal Teaching	Palincsar & Brown	1984	Four friends take turns: predict, question, clarify, summarise. Teamwork for reading!	Year 3+
Bloom's Taxonomy	Benjamin Bloom	1956	A ladder of thinking: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create.	All Years
Six Thinking Hats	Edward de Bono	1985	Different coloured hats for different ways of thinking. White=facts, Red=feelings, Green=ideas.	Year 4+
PEE Method	UK/Australian teachers	—	Point, Evidence, Explain — like a sandwich for answers!	Year 5+
STEEL Paragraphs	High school English teachers	—	Statement, Technique, Evidence, Effect, Link — five blocks that build a perfect answer.	Year 7+

Select a year level above to see methods tailored for that age group. Focus on Years 4-5 for OC preparation.

Practice these methods with real questions

NaExam practice exams use these proven strategies. Every question comes with step-by-step coaching hints.

Compiled from top educational research — methods by Vedic Math, Singapore MOE, Polya, Bruner, Bloom, de Bono, Jo Boaler & more.
Vedic Maths · Singapore Bar Model · CPA Approach · Polya's 4 Steps · Jo Boaler / youcubed · JUMP Math · Bloom's Taxonomy · de Bono's Six Hats · Feynman Technique · Kumon Method · SQ3R Reading · Socratic Method