PEP Syllabus 2025 — Subjects, Format & New Changes
As your child enters Grade 6, one of the most important things you can understand is the PEP syllabus, what it covers, how it’s structured, and how exam questions are built around it.
The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) isn’t just a traditional exam. It assesses how well students apply, analyse, and interpret new information. The more clearly you understand the syllabus, the more effectively you can support your child at home.
This guide breaks down the full PEP 2025 syllabus, explains each subject in simple language, and highlights the changes parents should be aware of this year.
How the PEP Syllabus Works
The PEP syllabus is based on Jamaica’s National Standards Curriculum (NSC) for upper primary school. It focuses not just on content, but also on building deeper reasoning skills. PEP assesses:
Knowledge (what students know)
Skills (how students use what they know)
Competences (how ready they are for secondary school)
Each subject includes these three layers, and teachers work throughout the year to guide students across all of them.
PEP Subjects in 2025
PEP covers four main curriculum subjects:
Mathematics
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Plus, students also complete the Ability Test, which assesses reasoning skills, not content. Below is a full breakdown of the syllabus in each subject area.
Mathematics Syllabus for PEP 2025
PEP Mathematics focuses heavily on problem-solving, not just calculation. Students must explain reasoning, show working, and apply maths to real situations.
Key Topics Include:
1. Number
Whole numbers
Decimals
Fractions
Percentages
Place value
Estimation and rounding
2. Measurement
Length, mass, time, capacity
Perimeter and area
Temperature
Money calculations
3. Algebraic Thinking
Patterns
Number sequences
Simple expressions
4. Geometry
2D and 3D shapes
Symmetry
Angles
Coordinates
5. Data & Statistics
Reading bar graphs and pictographs
Interpreting tables
Probability basics
How the syllabus is tested: Students are often given real-life situations requiring reasoning, for example, comparing prices, measuring distances, or interpreting information from charts.
Language Arts Syllabus for PEP 2025
The Language Arts syllabus is broad and essential. It helps students communicate effectively, read confidently, and write clearly.
Key Components Are:
1. Reading Comprehension
Students must:
Interpret passages
Identify main ideas
Analyse characters
Understand cause and effect
Infer meaning
2. Grammar & Vocabulary
Covers:
Parts of speech
Sentence structure
Tenses
Subject-verb agreement
Synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, suffixes
3. Writing
Includes:
Short essays
Letters
Reports
Descriptive writing
Narrative writing
4. Listening & Speaking
Includes:
Oral comprehension
Following instructions
Understanding tone and purpose
How the syllabus is tested: Students answer comprehension questions, correct grammatical errors, and may complete writing-based tasks in the Performance Task component.
Science Syllabus for PEP 2025
The Science syllabus prepares students for a deeper understanding of the world and encourages curiosity and investigation.
Key Areas Include:
1. Living Things
Plants and animals
Human body systems
Life cycles
Adaptation and survival
2. Matter & Energy
States of matter
Forms of energy
Heat, light, sound
Physical and chemical changes
3. The Earth & Space
Weather and climate
Water cycle
Rocks and soil
Solar system
4. Forces
Gravity
Magnetism
Friction
Simple machines
5. Technology & Robotics Foundations
Basic machines
Digital tools
Problem-solving through design
How the syllabus is tested: Questions often require interpretation of diagrams, charts, or simple experiments.
Social Studies Syllabus for PEP 2025
Social Studies helps students understand their community, country, and the wider world.
Key Topics Include:
1. Jamaica’s History
Early settlers
Slavery and emancipation
Independence
National heroes
2. Geography
Parishes
Maps and direction
Climate and natural features
3. Government & Citizenship
Rights and responsibilities
Voting
National symbols
Leadership
4. Economy
Goods and services
Trade
Tourism
Production and consumption
5. Society & Culture
Values and traditions
Diversity
Community roles
How the syllabus is tested: Students often analyse maps, charts, or short texts, and answer questions requiring interpretation rather than memorisation.
The PEP Ability Test
The Ability Test is not tied to the syllabus above. Instead, it evaluates your child’s:
Logical reasoning
Verbal reasoning
Pattern recognition
Numerical problem-solving
Spatial awareness
It assesses thinking skills and is often the part parents find most surprising. The Ability Test is typically one of the earliest PEP assessments each year.
Changes to the PEP Syllabus for 2025
While the core subjects remain the same, the Ministry has been emphasising:
1. More real-world application
Questions increasingly involve scenarios drawn from everyday life.
2. Greater focus on reasoning and interpretation
Students must explain “why” and “how,” not just provide answers.
3. Integration of digital awareness topics
Especially in Science and Social Studies.
4. Stronger emphasis on writing
Clear communication is becoming more important across subjects.
5. Performance Tasks matched more closely to the curriculum
Schools receive updated guidance each year to keep tasks aligned with the NSC.
How Parents Can Use the Syllabus at Home
Understanding the syllabus gives you a roadmap. Here’s how you can support your child:
✓ Review topics together each week
A simple check-in helps identify areas that need extra practice.
✓ Use reading as a daily tool
Reading strengthens every PEP subject, not just Language Arts.
✓ Try short, real-life maths activities
Budgeting, measuring, estimating, or comparing prices all help.
✓ Encourage curiosity in Science
Ask questions, explore ideas, and use visual explanations when possible.
✓ Use maps, news stories, or family history for Social Studies practice
Children remember what they can relate to personally.
Frequently Asked Questions About the PEP Syllabus
1. Does PEP change every year?
Small adjustments often happen, but major subjects stay consistent.
2. Will my child be tested on everything listed here?
Yes, but not all topics appear every year. Teachers know which concepts receive more emphasis.
3. How early should we start preparing?
Grade 5 is ideal, but structured Grade 6 revision works very well.
4. Should we focus on the Ability Test too?
Yes — it counts significantly toward the final profile.
5. Do Performance Tasks use the syllabus?
Yes. They are designed to test how well students apply what they’ve learned.
The PEP syllabus in 2025 is broad, balanced, and designed to give every child the opportunity to show what they know, and how they think. When parents understand the subjects and expectations clearly, they can provide better guidance, reduce stress, and help build their child’s confidence throughout the PEP year.
You don’t need to cover everything at once. Start slowly, focus on understanding, and use the syllabus as a helpful map from now until the exams.
