PSLE English · Paper 2

PSLE English Paper 2: Language Use and Comprehension

Time

1 h 50 min

Marks

90

Weighting

45%

Paper 2 tests grammar, vocabulary and reading. Booklet A is multiple choice. Booklet B needs written answers.

What the examiners mark

• Your child understands what they read, including what is only hinted at.
• They use vocabulary and grammar correctly.
• Spelling and punctuation are accurate.

Suggested timing

Booklet A (multiple choice)	About 30 min
Booklet B (written answers)	About 80 min

The sections

Section	How you answer	Marks	On Zippy
Booklet A · Multiple choice
Grammar10 questions	Multiple choice	10	6 practice sets and a guide
Vocabulary5 questions	Multiple choice	5	Not yet
Vocabulary cloze5 questions	Multiple choice	5	Not yet
Visual text comprehension5 questions	Multiple choice	5	Not yet
Booklet B · Open-ended
Grammar cloze10 questions	Choose from a list	10	Not yet
Editing for spelling and grammar10 questions	Write the correction	10	Not yet
Comprehension cloze15 questions	Write one word	15	3 practice sets and a guide
Synthesis and transformation5 questions	Join or rewrite sentences	10	1 practice set and a guide
Comprehension, open-ended10 questions	Written answers	20	Guide

Grammar

Booklet AMultiple choice10 questions10 marksGrammar lessons

Choose the option that makes a sentence grammatically correct.

How to answer

1. Read the whole sentence before looking at the options.
2. Find the word that decides the answer. This could be a time word, or the subject of the verb.
3. Choose the option that follows the rule.
4. Put the answer back into the sentence and read it again.

Example

The box of old toys ___ in the storeroom. (1) is (2) are (3) were (4) being

Answer: (1) is

The subject is "the box", which is singular. "Of old toys" only describes the box.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Choosing what sounds right without checking for a time word.	Circle words like "since", "by the time" and "yesterday" before answering.
Matching the verb to the nearest noun instead of the subject.	Ask "who or what is doing this?" and underline that word.
Mixing up verb patterns, such as "let him go" and "avoid going".	Keep a list of the rule behind each mistake your child makes.

Open 6 practice sets and a guidePSLE Grammar MCQ Practice 1PSLE Grammar MCQ Practice 2PSLE Grammar MCQ Practice 3

Vocabulary

Booklet AMultiple choice5 questions5 marks

Choose the word whose meaning fits the sentence best.

How to answer

1. Read the sentence and work out what the missing word needs to show.
2. Look at every option before choosing.
3. Choose the one that fits this situation most exactly.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Picking a word that is roughly right when a more precise one is there.	Ask "how strong is the feeling?" and choose the word that matches.
Mixing up phrases that look alike, such as "put off" and "put out".	Ask your child to use each missed word in a sentence of their own.

No practice for this section yet.

Vocabulary cloze

Booklet AMultiple choice5 questions5 marks

Choose the right word for each blank in a short passage.

How to answer

1. Read the whole passage once before answering.
2. For each blank, decide what the missing word needs to mean.
3. Then look at the options and choose.
4. Check the word fits the whole paragraph, not just its own sentence.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Choosing a word that fits its sentence but not the passage.	Read to the end of the paragraph before choosing.
Missing word pairs that usually go together, such as "heavy rain".	Collect common word pairs from reading, and test a few each week.

No practice for this section yet.

Visual text comprehension

Booklet AMultiple choice5 questions5 marksReading lessons

Answer questions about a poster, flyer or web page that uses words and pictures.

How to answer

1. Ask two questions first. What is this text for? Who is it for?
2. Read everything, including headings, captions and small print.
3. Underline the key words in each question.
4. Find the exact part of the text that answers it.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Choosing an option that is true but does not answer the question.	Underline the key words in the question before looking at the options.
Skipping the small print. Dates and conditions are often there.	Practise with real flyers. Ask "when, where, who can join, how much?"

No practice for this section yet. Try the reading lessons.

Grammar cloze

Booklet BChoose from a list10 questions10 marksGrammar lessons

Fill each blank in a passage with a word from a given list.

How to answer

1. Read the sentence to the end, past the blank.
2. Decide what the blank needs, such as a linking word, a pronoun or a preposition.
3. Choose from the list and cross the word off.
4. If two words seem to fit, check which one also makes sense with the next sentence.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Filling blanks in order without reading the rest of the sentence.	Read each full sentence first, then fill the blank.
A word that fits the grammar but changes the meaning, such as "although" for "because".	Ask how the two halves of the sentence are linked. Is it a reason, or a contrast?

No practice for this section yet. Try the grammar lessons.

Editing for spelling and grammar

Booklet BWrite the correction10 questions10 marksGrammar lessons

Correct the spelling and grammar errors marked in a passage.

How to answer

1. Read the whole sentence for meaning first.
2. Check the tense, and whether the verb matches its subject.
3. If the grammar is fine, check the spelling letter by letter.
4. Write the correction neatly. It must be spelt correctly too.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
A correction that is still wrong, such as "writen" changed to "writed" instead of "written".	After correcting a word, read the sentence again to check it is right.
Missing words that sound the same, such as "there" and "their".	Practise sets of sound-alike words, with a sentence for each.
A new spelling mistake in the correction.	Keep a list of words your child misspells, and test ten a week.

No practice for this section yet. Try the grammar lessons.

Comprehension cloze

Booklet BWrite one word15 questions15 marksReading lessons

Fill each blank in a passage with one suitable word of your own.

How to answer

1. Read the whole passage first to understand the story.
2. For each blank, read the full sentence and the ones around it.
3. Look for clues, such as "but", the tense of nearby verbs, or a common phrase.
4. Write one word, and check the spelling.

Example

The rain was heavy, ___ the match went ahead as planned.

Answer: but ("yet" also works)

The second half is a surprise after the first. "But" shows that contrast.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
A word that is grammatically correct but does not make sense.	Read the full sentence aloud with your word in it.
Filling a blank before reading past it.	Always read to the end of the sentence first.
A spelling error. Markers usually do not accept a misspelt word.	Check every word letter by letter before moving on.

Open 3 practice sets and a guideThe School FairThe Honey BeeThe Power Cut

Synthesis and transformation

Booklet BJoin or rewrite sentences5 questions10 marksGrammar lessons

Join or rewrite sentences using a given word or phrase, without changing the meaning.

How to answer

1. Read both sentences and note exactly what they mean.
2. Look at the given word. It decides how the new sentence is built.
3. Write the new sentence.
4. Check that nothing is added, lost or changed, including the tense.

Example

Join using "although": It was late. We continued playing.

Answer: Although it was late, we continued playing.

"Although" already shows the contrast, so do not add "but".

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Adding "but" in a sentence that starts with "although".	Learn which joining words already carry the link.
Changing the tense while rewriting.	Underline every verb in the original, and check each one in the answer.
Keeping "not" after "unless". "If you do not hurry" becomes "Unless you hurry".	Remember that "unless" already means "if not".

Open 1 practice set and a guidePSLE Synthesis & Transformation Practice 1

Comprehension, open-ended

Booklet BWritten answers10 questions20 marksReading lessons

Answer written questions about a passage, from facts to what the writer suggests.

How to answer

1. Read the question and work out what it asks for.
2. Check the marks. A 2-mark question usually needs two points, or a point and evidence.
3. Find the part of the passage that answers it.
4. Write a full answer. Use your own words when the question says so.

Example

Passage: The bus was already twenty minutes late. Wei Jie kept glancing at the clock and tapping his foot. How did Wei Jie feel? Give evidence. (2 marks)

Answer: He felt impatient. He kept glancing at the clock and tapping his foot.

One mark is for the feeling. The other is for the evidence from the passage.

Common mistakes

Mistake	What helps
Copying a whole sentence when only part of it answers the question.	Underline just the words that answer the question, then write those.
Naming a feeling without any evidence.	Use "because" to add the evidence from the passage.
Finding the wrong part of the passage.	Practise pointing to the exact line before writing.

Read the comprehension, open-ended guide

Format, marks and weighting from the SEAB syllabus.

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