PSLE Situational Writing 3: The Science Fair
A formal email to a teacher, asking for something. That makes the tone matter as much as the facts.
The situation
Rachel and her brother read a notice in the newspaper over breakfast. The fair falls on a Friday, which is when Rachel has Science Club.
Visual source: the notice holds the facts. The pupils point out the problem you have to solve.
Text version of the notice
Young Scientists Fair
Open to every primary school in Singapore.
- Friday 15 August, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Science Centre, Hall B
- Free entry for pupils with a school letter
- Pupils may enter one project each
- Closing date for entries: Monday 28 July
Every entrant must be accompanied by a teacher or parent. Projects must fit on one table.
The two pupils are saying:
- "The fair is on a Friday afternoon. That is when you have Science Club."
- "Then you will have to ask Mrs Lim to excuse you."
Your task
Imagine you are Rachel. Write an email to Mrs Lim, the teacher in charge of the Science Club, asking to be excused from Science Club on Friday 15 August so that you can enter the fair.
Your email must include:
- what the fair is, and when and where it is held
- why you want to go
- what you are asking Mrs Lim for
- what you will do about the Science Club work you miss
- that every entrant must be accompanied by a teacher or parent
- a polite close that asks for her reply
Check your plan
Mrs Lim is your teacher. Which opening and sign-off pair is right?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) Dear Mrs Lim, … Yours sincerely, Rachel
The correct answer is (B). You know this teacher’s name, so you open "Dear Mrs Lim" and close "Yours sincerely". (A) is too casual for a request to a teacher. (C) pairs "Yours faithfully" with "Dear Sir or Madam", which is what you use when you do not know the name, and you do know hers. (D) is not a greeting at all, and "Regards" is for a note between colleagues.
You are asking to miss a session. Which sentence makes the request easiest to say yes to?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) I will ask a friend what happened at Science Club, and I will catch up on the work before the next session.
The correct answer is (B). It shows you have thought about the cost to the club, not only about what you want. (A) argues that her session matters less, which is rude. (C) announces instead of asking. (D) is pressure rather than a reason, and it contradicts the situation: the clash is yours, not the whole class’s. The task asks what you will do about the work you miss, so (B) is also one of the things you were asked for.
Write your email
✍️ Your turn
Write Rachel's email to Mrs Lim. Cover all six points in the list above. Stay polite throughout, and take the date, the time and the place straight from the notice.
The model
Open the model email
To: [email protected] Subject: Request to be excused from Science Club on 15 August
Dear Mrs Lim,
I am writing to ask whether I may be excused from Science Club on Friday 15 August.
There is a Young Scientists Fair that afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Science Centre in Hall B. It is open to every primary school in Singapore, and each pupil may enter one project. I have been working on a project about how quickly different soils drain, and I would like to enter it. Entries close on Monday 28 July, so I need to decide soon.
The notice also says that every entrant must be accompanied by a teacher or parent. My mother has said she can bring me, so the club would not need to send anyone.
I know that missing a session is not ideal. If you allow it, I will find out from a friend what the club covered, and I will finish the work before the following session.
I would be grateful if you could let me know whether this is all right. Thank you for considering my request.
Yours sincerely, Rachel Primary 6 Resilience
Why this scores
| What the model does | Why it works |
|---|---|
| "I am writing to ask whether I may be excused" | The purpose is clear in the first line |
| Gives the date, time and hall from the notice | The facts are taken exactly as printed |
| Says why the fair matters to her, with a real project | A reason about her own project |
| Settles the accompanying adult before being asked | Removes the objection Mrs Lim would raise first |
| Offers to catch up on the club work | Makes a yes easier to give |
| Asks for a reply and thanks her | A polite close that still asks for something |
Notice what the model does not do. It never argues that the fair matters more than Science Club, and it never assumes the answer is yes.
Back to PSLE situational writing · Next: Practice 4: Reading Programme