A Brief Intro to PSLE English Composition

English is one of the core subjects in PSLE, the most crucial exam that's mandatory for all Primary 6 students in Singapore. Singapore is known for its affinity towards the language, and the syllabus also gives extra importance to helping students excel in spoken and written English.

PSLE English tests students on four components:

1. Writing
2. Oral communication
3. Listening comprehension
4. Language use and comprehension

If your child is facing their PSLE exam this academic year, it is essential to know how to write a good composition for the English exam. A good PSLE English composition will boost their English score, which will, in turn, improve their overall score. A good overall PSLE score is like a golden ticket. It opens up various opportunities for your child to progress to the next level in their educational journey.

So, how can your child improve their English composition writing abilities? What does your child need to write the perfect English composition? We can list more than a dozen tips. However, we have listed the top nine guidelines to help children practice them for exams like the PSLE and O-levels. Let's get going.

Guidelines to Perfect the Art of Writing PSLE English Composition

1. Make reading a daily habit

Reading every day can keep your child's vocabulary woes away! Reading, once cultivated as a habit, can become a life-long passion that can help improve your child's:

• Vocabulary skills
• Sentence construction
• Usage of grammar
• Communication skills
• The portrayal of expressions through words

Tip: Encourage your child to start reading early. Provide them with books, simple newspaper articles, etc., that add value to their English knowledge.

2. Build a personal word bank

PSLE English composition questions are based on two aspects:

• Content
• Language

To score good marks in the "Language" component, your child needs to master the art of writing interesting compositions laced with good sentence structuring and vocabulary usage. The best way to instil good vocabulary is to encourage them to maintain a word bank by:

• Jotting down new words in a book
• Categorising the words into actions and feelings
• Including synonyms, metaphors, and idioms to use with different forms of expression.
• Compiling a list of synonyms and antonyms for the word

3. Use mind-maps and sketches

The best stories are born from good brainstorming sessions. And a good brainstorming session includes discussions, mind-mapping, drawings, diagrams, scribbles, etc. Essentially, anything that helps your child express themselves better will help them when it comes to writing any of the PSLE English composition topics.

4. Practice time management

The duration for PSLE English composition is only 1 hour and 10 minutes, within which your child must complete both Situational and Continuous Writing. They must also have enough time to proofread their work and make necessary edits before submission. Good time management is essential to complete the paper without any haste, which is often a reason for committing silly spelling mistakes.

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5. Practice model compositions

Nothing helps like writing. Mere reading will only give an idea of vocabulary usage and sentence structuring. However, putting pen to paper will give children how to implement these ideas in the composition and refine the outcome. Practising model compositions from established authors will help them recognise narratives and apply them in their own compositions.

6. Structure the composition outline

Continuous practice will help children understand the composition format, which has three parts:

• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion

Understanding these parts will be instrumental in drawing an outline for the composition, further enhancing the storyline. You can encourage them to set aside at least 10-15 minutes to plan the outline.

7. Stay relevant to the topic

It is quite common for PSLE students to misunderstand or misinterpret the Primary 6 PSLE composition topics. It is a common reason why many wander off-topic and lose sight of the basic idea. Such compositions will not garner enough marks. To avoid sidetracking from the main topic, ask your child to create an outline before delving into the details.

8. Start with a bang!

Want to garner the reader's attention? Start with a sensational introduction that has the examiner gripped from the word "Go." The introduction is a small but significant passage that gives your examiner a glimpse of what to expect. How well it is written will determine their interest in reading your composition. Make sure your intro passage is crisp, short, and to the point.

9. Develop an interesting content

Here's where your child can score maximum marks. A good introduction should lead to better content that holds your examiner's interest. A good body content should be:

• Written in well-formed sentences.
• Devoid of big words and expressions
• Easy to understand
• Well-formatted

10. Use good grammar

English without accurate grammar usage is a sin. Besides, too many grammatical errors can affect the examiner's understanding of the composition. Ensure your child is sound on all grammar aspects like:

• Tenses
• Verbs
• Punctuation
• Adverbs
• Conjunctions
• Prepositions
• Nouns
• Pronouns

Never underestimate the use of punctuation. Compositions lacking punctuation may cost several points, affecting the total score.

11. Give a memorable conclusion

The conclusion of the composition is as important as the introduction. Adding a surprise element like an unexpected twist in the story can up the ante. However, it is important that the conclusion is reasonable and connected to the main storyline. A good conclusion should:

• Not end abruptly.
• Have a lesson or moral of the story.
• Summarise the main points.
• Be thought-provoking for the reader.

Polish Your PSLE English Composition Skills to Win it!

Mastering the art of writing PSLE English Composition is a daily practice that needs to be taught and diligently done. It is not something that can be achieved overnight. Daily practice will shed light on areas that require improvement. Use our tips and watch your child refine their ability to write fantastic PSLE English compositions.

StudySmart, Singapore is a brilliant way to help your child prepare for their PSLE exams. To know more about its benefits, please call us or visit our webpage.