PSLE SBC Practice 3: Screen Time at Home
This page helps you practise talking about a photo for the PSLE Oral. Cover the model answers first. Answer each question out loud, then compare.
The photo
Question 1: how are the people feeling?
"Look at the people in the picture. How do you think they are feeling? Why do you say so?"
This question is about the photo. Say how the people feel, and point to what shows it. Different people in this photo feel different things. Noticing that makes your answer stronger.
Weak answer: "The children feel happy using the tablet."
Strong answer: "I think the two children on the sofa are feeling absorbed and content, because they are leaning in close and staring at the tablet without looking up. The younger child, however, seems left out and a little upset, since he is trying to get their attention but is being ignored. The parent in the doorway looks worried, with her arms folded, and she may be concerned that they are spending too long on the screen while the board games sit untouched."
| Weak answer | Strong answer | |
|---|---|---|
| People | Only the 2 children | The 2 children, the younger child, the parent |
| Feelings | Happy | Absorbed, left out, worried |
| Proof from the photo | None | "leaning in close", "trying to get their attention but is being ignored", "arms folded" |
Use this shape for the first question: "They feel ___ because I can see ___."
Question 2: how much time do you spend on screens?
"How much time do you usually spend on screens, and do you think it is too much?"
Now the question is about your own life. Give an honest example and say what you think about it.
Weak answer: "I use my phone a lot. Maybe too much."
Strong answer: "On school days, I usually spend about an hour on my tablet, mostly watching videos or playing a game after I finish my homework. On weekends it can be more, so I think it does become a little too much sometimes. I have noticed that if I watch too long, my eyes feel tired and I get less time to read or go outside. So lately I have been trying to set myself a limit, and I feel better for it."
| Weak answer | Strong answer | |
|---|---|---|
| How much | "a lot" | About an hour on school days, more on weekends |
| Opinion | "Maybe too much" | Sometimes a little too much |
| What you noticed | None | Tired eyes, less time to read or go outside |
| What you did about it | None | Set a limit and feel better |
Question 3: should parents control screen time?
"Do you think parents should control how much screen time their children have? Why?"
This question asks for your view on a wider topic. Give a clear view with reasons. You can talk about both sides.
Strong answer: "I think parents should help set limits, though not control everything. On one hand, children do not always stop on their own, so a gentle limit, like the parent in the picture might be about to suggest, can protect their eyes and free up time for other things. On the other hand, if parents are too strict, children may not learn to manage screen time themselves. So I feel the best approach is for parents to guide and agree on limits together, rather than simply banning it."
Why this answer does well:
- It gives a clear view.
- It supports the view with reasons.
- It looks at the other side.
- It links back to the worried parent in the photo.
A plain "yes, because screens are bad" would score much lower.
Practise the habits, not the answers
These answers are models. Do not learn them by heart. Practise 2 habits on a new photo each day:
- Describe the photo fully, including how each person feels.
- Give every opinion a reason and a real example.
Back to PSLE Oral Practice · Next: SBC Practice 4: A School Sports Day