Exam · PSLE
PSLE English
PSLE English has four papers: Writing, Language Use and Comprehension, Listening, and Oral.
Paper 2 carries 90 of the 200 marks. It is a good place to start practising.
Paper 1
Writing
1 h 10 min · 50 marks · 25% of the total
Your child writes two pieces: a short functional piece and a composition.
| Section | Marks | On Zippy |
|---|---|---|
| Situational writingWrite a short email, letter or report for a given reader and reason. | 14 | Guide |
| Continuous writingWrite a composition of at least 150 words on a given topic. It must be based on at least one of three pictures. | 36 | 4 model answers and a guide |
1 h 50 min · 90 marks · 45% of the total
Paper 2 tests grammar, vocabulary and reading. Booklet A is multiple choice. Booklet B needs written answers.
| Section | Marks | On Zippy |
|---|---|---|
| Booklet A · Multiple choice | ||
| GrammarChoose the option that makes a sentence grammatically correct.10 questions | 10 | 6 practice sets and a guide |
| VocabularyChoose the word whose meaning fits the sentence best.5 questions | 5 | Not yet |
| Vocabulary clozeChoose the right word for each blank in a short passage.5 questions | 5 | Not yet |
| Visual text comprehensionAnswer questions about a poster, flyer or web page that uses words and pictures.5 questions | 5 | Not yet |
| Booklet B · Open-ended | ||
| Grammar clozeFill each blank in a passage with a word from a given list.10 questions | 10 | Not yet |
| Editing for spelling and grammarCorrect the spelling and grammar errors marked in a passage.10 questions | 10 | Not yet |
| Comprehension clozeFill each blank in a passage with one suitable word of your own.15 questions | 15 | 3 practice sets and a guide |
| Synthesis and transformationJoin or rewrite sentences using a given word or phrase, without changing the meaning.5 questions | 10 | 1 practice set and a guide |
| Comprehension, open-endedAnswer written questions about a passage, from facts to what the writer suggests.10 questions | 20 | Guide |
Paper 3
Listening Comprehension
About 35 min · 20 marks · 10% of the total
Your child listens to recordings and answers multiple-choice questions. Each recording is played twice. The first seven questions use pictures or diagrams.
| Section | Marks | On Zippy |
|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehensionListen to recordings and answer multiple-choice questions about them.20 questions | 20 | Not yet |
Paper 4
Oral Communication
About 10 min · 40 marks · 20% of the total
The oral exam has two parts: reading aloud, and a conversation about a photo. The two parts are on different topics.
| Section | Marks | On Zippy |
|---|---|---|
| Reading aloudRead a short passage aloud clearly, with expression that suits it. | 15 | 5 practice sets |
| Stimulus-based conversationTalk with the examiners about a photo, and share your views and experiences. | 25 | 5 practice sets |
Format, marks and weighting from the SEAB syllabus.