Below are 8 real PSLE-style problem sums (download PDF worksheet here) that are commonly tested. Try them, and find the step-by-step solutions & problem-solving approach below.

These are also the types of questions we focus on during our PSLE Power Up Bootcamp (Maths) – where students to tackle all types of common PSLE questions, apply the right problem-solving strategies and avoid common mistakes under exam pressure.

Solve these 8 Problem Sums

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Unchanged Total

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Unchanged Total

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Working Backwards

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Before-Change-After

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Stacked Up Model

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Gaps & Intervals

Question 7: The figure below is not drawn to scale. A piece of paper is in the shape of a parallelogram ABCD. The paper was folded along the line EF as shown below. BF = BG. ∠BFG is 0.5 times the size of ∠EFG.

Find
(a) ∠FBG,
(b) ∠CGH.

Question 8: Alvin uses grey and white squares to make the figures below that follow a pattern. The first five figures are shown.

(a) Which figure has 151 white squares?
(b) What percentage of the squares are grey in Figure 40? Round your answer to two decimal places.

Mind Stretcher’s Power Code: Look for a Pattern

These questions are just a glimpse of the common types that appear in the PSLE Maths paper. If your child needs more structured guidance to tackle these with confidence, our PSLE Power Up Bootcamp (Maths) offers targeted practice, clear strategies, and exam-focused coaching — just in time for the final sprint.

There are other PSLE Bootcamps happening this June, from subject-specific Power Up Bootcamps to English & Chinese Oral Bootcamps too. Learn about the full suite of PSLE Bootcamps here: Journey to PSLE Bootcamp Bundles.

Learn about our PSLE Bootcamp Bundles

The June school holidays are nearing — and it’s crucial that your child has a clear, structured revision plan for PSLE from now till September.

Doing past-year and school papers is useful. But what’s more critical is making sure your child is:

• Correcting recurring mistakes

• Confident with commonly-tested PSLE question types

• Getting rigorous, structured practice across all components

That’s where our PSLE Bootcamps come in. Here’s a breakdown of what each PSLE bootcamp will cover.

Jun 2025: PSLE Power Up Bootcamp

• Covers English, Maths, Science, Chinese and Higher Chinese

• 40+ hours of lessons and 300+ pages of refreshed 2025 PSLE Power Up revision materials and practice papers

• Reinforce understanding of PSLE topics and concepts, gain familiarity with trending PSLE questions and common errors, and hone PSLE question analysis and answering techniques

• Receive PSLE mock papers to be completed as pre-work

• Bonus segments included: Live Q&A walkthroughs, parent briefings and student motivational segment

→ Register for PSLE Power Up Bootcamp

Jun – Aug 2025: PSLE English & Chinese Oral Bootcamps

• Practise commonly-tested PSLE English Oral stimulus-based conversation (SBC) scenarios & the related vocabulary to use for each theme

• Reinforce effective English oral exam techniques such as Mind Stretcher's REAP and PEERS frameworks

• Learn to respond effectively to the 3 types of SBC prompts

• 1-to-1 physical mock tests with our experienced teachers

• Utilise the 3 newly-produced PSLE Oral books for Reading Aloud and SBC revision updated for the latest 2025 Oral formats

→ Register for PSLE English Oral Bootcamp

• Practise potential PSLE Chinese Oral video-based conversation (VBC) scenarios & the accompanying phrases to use for each scenario

• Reinforce effective Chinese oral exam techniques and frameworks

• Learn to respond effectively to the 3 types of VBC prompts

• 1-to-1 physical mock tests with our experienced teachers

→ Register for PSLE Chinese Oral Bootcamp

Sep 2025: PSLE Last Lap Bootcamps

• Rigorous practice with our refreshed 2025 PSLE Last Lap materials

• Intensive revision on targeted problematic exam components and reinforce understanding and application of exam techniques

• Receive timely teaching support for the final sprint to PSLE

→ Register for PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp

PSLE Bootcamps Availability (Selling Fast)

Our physical Toa Payoh venue has already sold out for English, Maths & Science (Chinese & Higher Chinese still available). Our other physical venue, Tampines, is filling fast!

• ❌ Toa Payoh – English, Maths, Science [Sold Out]

• ⚠️ Toa Payoh – Chinese, Higher Chinese [Limited Slots]

• ⚠️ Tampines – All Subjects [Limited Slots]

• ✅ Online Bootcamps – All Subjects [Available]

These 4 critical PSLE bootcamps have helped thousands of students achieve great results at the PSLE – over 5,000 students achieved a PSLE Score of 10 and lower (2021-2024) and PSLE T-Score of 250 and above (2016-2020).

Register for PSLE Bootcamps

Hi guys,

Hope the topical notes and practice papers we shared last week were useful and that you managed to get started on them over the weekend!

Here are the solutions for the following:

• English Paper 2 Practice Paper

• Chinese Picture-Based Composition & Paper 2 Practice Paper

• Maths Topical Practice Questions & Word Problems

• Science Topical Practice Questions

If you have any questions you would like to clarify, let us know in our PSLE Journey Telegram group. As always, jiayou! 💪🏼

Download English Solutions

Download Chinese Solutions

Download Maths Solutions

Download Science Solutions

As we gear up for the PSLE, we’ve put together a set of revision resources to support your preparation. Some of you have requested more practice on Ratio, and we’ve included those too!

Maths Practice Questions

Hope you’re keeping up with our PSLE Maths 6-Month Study Plan! To support your PSLE prep, we’ve put together topical practice questions and word problems covering key PSLE topics such as:

• Fractions

• Ratio

• Percentage

• Power Codes: Unchanged Difference, Unchanged Total, One Unchanged, Equal Concepts, Units x Value, Units & Parts

Chinese Picture-Based Composition & Paper 2 Practice Paper

For Chinese, our PSLE Chinese 6-Month Study Plan recommends focusing on Paper 2 drills and practising picture-based compositions between Apr and May. We’ve prepared a picture-based composition question and a Paper 2 practice paper, which also includes:

• Writing techniques and guided paragraphs to help students craft a full picture-based composition. Perfect for those who struggle to get started, so give it a go!

• Answering skills and techniques, including strategies for tackling open-ended comprehension questions across all types.

We’ll be releasing the model essay for the picture-based composition, along with the solutions, next week! If you missed our previous PSLE revision resources for Science and English, you can find them here.

Download Maths Topical Revision

Download Chinese Practice Paper

Hi everyone!

We understand that most of your WA2 exams are happening in the first two weeks of May. To help you prepare, we’ve put together some revision notes and practice papers to reinforce your understanding and build a strong foundation!

We’re also following closely along with our PSLE 6-Month Study Plan to keep you on track.

Science Topical Notes & Practice Questions

As highlighted in our PSLE Science 6-Month Study Plan, April to May is the time to revisit key topics taught from Primary 3 to Primary 6. To support your revision, we’ve prepared over 40 pages of Science topical notes and practice questions covering:

• Heat

• Water

• Forces

• Energy

English Paper 2 Practice Paper

For English, our PSLE English 6-Month Study Plan recommends focusing on Paper 2 drills at this point. We’ve prepared a full English Paper 2 practice paper, which also includes:

• Grammar revision notes on tricky areas like prepositions, phrasal verbs and commonly confused verbs

• Answering skills and techniques like our Captain ACE method to help students score confidently

These Science topical notes and the English practice paper are great for both WA2 and PSLE prep! We’ll be releasing the solutions next week—so give them a go this week!

Download Science Topical Revision

Download English Paper 2 Practice Paper

Hi guys!

With about 5 months to go till the PSLE, we know many of you are starting to feel the weight of PSLE prep — and have lots of questions. “How should my child revise for PSLE?” “Are upper primary topics tested more heavily?” These are real concerns we’ve seen come up often in PSLE forums.

That’s exactly what our PSLE Flagship Bootcamps are designed to support — helping students revise key concepts, get familiar with commonly tested questions, and build confidence across all PSLE subjects.

2025 PSLE Flagship Bootcamps

Each bootcamp is carefully designed to prepare your child confidently for the PSLE.

• PSLE Power Up Bootcamp

  • Structured revision and intensive practice for PSLE success. With 40+ hours of lessons, 300+ pages of the latest 2025 revision materials, and live Q&A walk-throughs, students gain a comprehensive understanding of PSLE topics, question trends and exam strategies.

• PSLE English Oral Bootcamp

  • Practise potential PSLE oral topics and scenarios, master effective oral techniques using the REAP & PEERS frameworks and experience real exam conditions with physical 1-to-1 mock tests.

• PSLE Chinese Oral Bootcamp

  • Students will gain exposure to common oral topics, familiarise themselves with structured response formats for typical Video-Based Conversation questions, and practise under exam-simulated conditions through 1-to-1 mock tests.

• PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp

  • Receive timely teaching support for the final sprint to PSLE. Focuses on timely reinforcement of key concepts, targeted practice on commonly challenging components and sharpening of exam techniques.

What Our Past Bootcamp Students Have Said

Don’t just hear it from us — hear what our students had to say after attending our PSLE bootcamps.

Find out more about our PSLE Bootcamps

The long weekend is almost here :) Hang in there!

In the article below, we’ve summed up our 2025 English WA1 Analysis. It covers common mistakes we spotted in Grammar MCQ, Vocabulary MCQ and Synthesis & Transformation.

You’ll also see how we apply our Captain ACE answering framework to tackle Grammar MCQ questions effectively. Go through the questions, cover the answers and practise on your own.

Trending or Emergent Themes/Question Types

We’ve identified a few key Grammar MCQ trends that are gaining prominence in 2025. Let’s take a closer look at these.

Example 1: Relative Pronoun – Who vs. Whom

The workers _____ the supervisor has assigned to construct the bridge are laying the groundwork.

(1) who

(2) which

(3) whom

(4) whose

Answer: (3) whom

Tip:

• "Who" is used as the subject of a sentence, while "whom" is used as the object of the verb or preposition, particularly in more formal writing.

Captain ACE Method:

• Sniff out CLUES: Focus on the sentence structure. Who is doing the action (subject)? Whom is receiving the action (object)?

• Examine the options & ELIMINATE the wrong ones. If the word is acting as the subject, "who" is your answer. If it's acting as the object, "whom" is correct.

• Smile to affirm correct ANSWERS. Once you've identified the right relative pronoun ("whom"), smile to confirm that you've got it right! Check that you’ve written down the correct option.

Example 2: Question Tags – Seldom/Rarely/Hardly

Ken seldom laughs at our jokes, _____ he?
Choose the correct question tag:

(1) has

(2) hasn’t

(3) does

(4) doesn’t

Answer: (3) does

Tip:

• The rule is: “If the statement is positive, the question tag will be negative.” And if the statement is negative, the tag will be positive.

• Since "seldom" suggests the action does not happen often, the statement is negative, so the question tag will be positive.

Captain ACE Method:

• Sniff out CLUES: Look for the subject (Ken) and the verb (seldom laughs). Notice that "seldom laughs" is negative, meaning it suggests "does not laugh often."

• Examine the options & ELIMINATE the wrong ones: “Has” and “hasn’t” are incorrect because "has" is not used for question tags with the verb "laughs" in the present tense.

• Smile to affirm correct ANSWERS: Once you've identified the right tag ("does"), smile to confirm that you've got it right! Check that you’ve written down the correct option.

Example 3: Third Conditional Sentences

Structure:
"Had we known..." / "If I had known..." → This structure is used to talk about unreal past situations.

Had we known about the deadline, we _____ the report earlier.

(1) will submit

(2) would submit

(3) will have submitted

(4) would have submitted

Answer: (4) would have submitted

Tip:

• The third conditional talks about hypothetical or unreal past situations — things that didn’t happen.

• The correct structure is:

  • "Had we known" or "If we had known" (past perfect) → sets up the condition.

  • "We would have" (modal + past participle) → shows the result that didn’t happen.

Captain ACE Method:

• Sniff out CLUES: Look for clues like "Had" or "If," which indicate that you should use the past perfect tense. In the result part of the sentence, use "would have" to express an unreal or hypothetical past situation.

• Examine the options & ELIMINATE the wrong ones: "Will" is incorrect because it's used for future situations, not hypothetical past situations. "Would have" is the correct choice for unreal past conditions.

• Smile to affirm correct ANSWERS: Once you’ve identified the right option ("would have"), smile to confirm that you've got it right! Check that you’ve written down the correct option.

Challenging Questions

WA1 also included some tricky questions to challenge your skills. Here are two types of questions that you might find more difficult.

Example 1: Vocabulary MCQ

The secret rescue mission had been so _____ planned that every detail was double-checked for accuracy.

(1) warily

(2) discreetly

(3) deliberately

(4) meticulously

Answer: (4) meticulously

Why this question is considered challenging:

• Distractors: The other options, such as "discreetly" and "warily," are similar in meaning but not appropriate in this context. "Discreetly" means done in a way to avoid attention, and "warily" means with caution; both don’t fit the idea of thorough, detailed planning.

• Common confusion: Students might be distracted by the word "secret" in the sentence and pick “discreetly,” which could seem to match the idea of keeping things quiet, but it doesn’t emphasise the level of carefulness or detail required here.

Tip: Pay attention to the context of the sentence and how each word fits with the overall idea of careful planning.

Example 2: Synthesis & Transformation

Why this question is considered challenging:

• Word form transformation: Students need to recognise that "drastically" needs to change into "drastic" to fit the new sentence structure.

  • “Changed” (verb) becomes “made changes” (noun + verb). This changes the verb into a noun and combines it with the verb “made.”

  • “Drastically” (adverb) becomes “drastic” (adjective). The adverb modifies the verb, but in the transformed sentence, we need an adjective to modify the noun "changes."

• Sentence structure change: The sentence structure shifts from describing a change ("changed drastically") to expressing the action of making changes ("made drastic changes").

• Context understanding: The challenge also lies in ensuring that the transformed sentence still makes sense in the given context and accurately reflects the meaning of the original sentence.

Tip:
Pay attention to word forms—ensure that adverbs are changed to adjectives and verbs are adjusted to fit the new sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning.

Common Misconceptions & Mistakes (with Tips to Avoid)

Here are a few common errors seen in WA1 and how to avoid them.

• Grammar MCQ – "Neither of" vs. "Neither…nor"

Neither of the prefects, who have both been nominated for Head Prefect, _____ prepared a speech.

(1) has

(2) had

(3) have

(4) having

Answer: (1) has

Common Mistake: Many students mistakenly apply the rule of proximity used for “Neither…nor” and choose “have” because they see “prefects” (plural). However, “Neither of” means zero, so the subject is singular and requires a singular verb.

Tip: Don’t mix up "Neither…nor" with "Neither of"! Read the question carefully, and underline the key phrase to focus on the subject-verb agreement!

• Synthesis & Transformation – “Not only… but also”

Student’s Answer:
My father not only goes to the community centre for cooking classes but also yoga.

Correct Answer:
My father goes to the community centre not only for cooking classes but also for yoga.

Common Mistake: Students often try to simplify the sentence too much by dropping essential parts like the prepositional phrase “for.” They focus on connecting ideas with “not only… but also,” but forget to maintain parallel structure, which leads them to omit "for" before "yoga," breaking the sentence.

Tip:
Remember, both activities (cooking classes and yoga) are at the same place, so keep the same structure. Don’t skip parts of the sentence.

We’ve also covered WA1 paper trends for English, Maths, and Science. Familiarise yourself with the trending questions and avoid making the same mistakes again!

2025 Science WA1 Trends

2025 Maths WA1 Trends

2025 Chinese WA1 Trends

Hope you’ve had a chance to look through our Science and Maths WA1 Annotated Solutions Guides.
Today, we’ll be looking at some trending Chinese language use and reading comprehension questions that have been tested across various schools. Check out how we apply our three-step answering technique to tackle reading comprehension questions in our Chinese WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide.

Trending Question Types: Language Use

In the WA1 exam, most schools do not set a full paper totalling 90 marks. However, the majority do include both Language Use and Reading Comprehension sections.

Language Use

These are the common pinyin questions from several schools.

Although these are questions from different schools, they all test the distinction between the initial consonants x and s, the difference between front and back nasal sounds, and the contrast between flat and retroflex tongue sounds. If you find it difficult to differentiate, it's important to pay extra attention to these initials and ending sounds.

When revising Pinyin, take note of the following distinctions:

• The front and back nasal sounds: in and ing; en and eng.

• The flat and retroflex tongue sounds: z and zh; c and ch; s and sh.

• The initial consonants: s and x; g and k; b and p; n and l.

In the table below, you will find vocabulary questions from several schools.

WA1 exam typically covers vocabulary from Lesson 1 to 4 of P6, with each lesson containing over 20 words. Take a look at these questions: "模仿" and "促进" have been chosen by different schools, almost coincidentally.

Some of the more challenging verbs are must-know vocabulary, while others are less important as their usage is more straightforward, such as "煎炸" , "踩" , and "粘贴" . Additionally, be aware that incorrect options often include familiar words from the textbook, such as "献上" and "复习". So, don’t choose a word just because it’s familiar!

Trending Question Types: Reading Comprehension

Here are some questions that are trending in 2025. Let’s take a look at two examples:

Reading Comprehension

These two questions both focus on ‘the character's reaction.’ To answer them accurately, follow our three-step answering technique:

• Step 1: Locate the relevant part in the passage

• Step 2: Underline the sentence in the passage

• Step 3: Modify the sentences

Q1 答：王先生的反应是看着找回的零钱，皱了皱眉头，告诉晓华好像少给了他一元。

Q2答：记者的反应是惊讶得合不上嘴巴，忍不住问李爷爷为什么不找人帮忙，找人帮忙更容易。

Find out how to use our three-step answering technique to arrive at the correct answer: Chinese WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide.

Challenging Questions

Here are two stretch questions to challenge yourself with:

• Example 1

你认为李爷爷有什么值得你学习的地方？试加以说明。（4分）

This question is divided into two parts. The first part asks about the theme of the article, which can be challenging. Some students may struggle to understand the theme or find an appropriate word to summarise it. However, for many students, the real difficulty lies in the second part, "Please explain."
Likewise, use our three-step answering technique (for subjective questions) to tackle this question:

• Step 1: State the theme

• Step 2: Explain it using content from the article

• Step 3: Describe its application and significance in real life

参考答案：我认为李爷爷的坚持不放弃值得我们学习。在文中 ，李爷爷从年轻时就开始当清洁工，他每天天还没亮就开始工作，几十年请假次数不超过十次，就算受伤了也继续工作。如果我们拥有这种坚持不懈的精神，那么做什么事都会成功。如果遇到事情就放弃，就算一件不太难的事，也做不好。

• Example 2

最后，晓华明白了什么道理？你会怎么样把这个道理运用在学习上？（3分）

This is also a subjective question, and when answering the second part, students often struggle to provide enough content to score full marks.

Likewise, we can solve this question using our three-step answering technique. However, since the question asks "how to do it," Step 3 should focus on how to do it rather than the consequences.

参考答案：我认为晓华明白了无论大事小事，都应该认真对待。在文中，王先生在卖报亭买报纸，晓华少给了他一元钱，他也会认真对待。我们在学习上也应该认真对待，上课要认真听课，做功课要专心，做错了的题目和写错了的字要改正，这样才能有一个好成绩。

Find out how to use our three-step answering technique to arrive at the answer: Chinese WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide.

Common Misconceptions & Mistakes (with Tips to Avoid)

Let’s take a look at some common reading comprehension mistakes so we can avoid repeating them.

Mistake 1: Did not answer both parts of the question

Student’s Answer: 张老师决定帮伟强付钱买二手的美术练习册。因为伟强一连走进了好几家书店，提出同样的要求，都遇到同样的情况，但伟强并没灰心，这让张老师感动。

Analysis: Students typically do not address the second part of the question, which asks "Why?” In fact, this student’s answer appears quite similar to the correct one, but the response was not based on the content of the article. Instead, the answer was written entirely in the student’s own words. While the passage was understood, full marks were not awarded.

Tip: Most reading comprehension answers are based on sentences from the article. Students must carefully search the passage for relevant information—unless it’s not stated explicitly. They should avoid answering in their own words when the answer can be directly found in the text.

Correct Answer：张老师决定帮伟强买一本美术练习册。因为他看到伟强多次被拒绝，却不断地尝试，他被打动了，所以做了这个决定。

• Mistake 2: Did not fully understand the question

Student’s Answer: 最后晓华明白做事要认真。我会认真地上课，才能得到一个好成绩，让爸爸妈妈满意，我也不会被骂。

Analysis: Most students will only score 1.5 marks if they answer it this way. From the example above, we can see that the student's answer focused on the benefits of being diligent, rather than explaining “how to do it.”

Tip: When answering subjective questions, it’s important to apply the three-step answering technique. Students must also fully understand the question to avoid going off-topic.

Correct Answer: 我认为晓华明白了无论大事小事，都应该认真对待。在文中，王先生在卖报章买报纸，晓华少给了他一元钱，他也会认真对待。我们在学习上也应该认真对待，上课要认真听课，做功课要专心，做错了的题目和写错了的字要改正，这样才能有一个好成绩。

Download Chinese WA1 Solutions Guide

Sup guys! Just like what we did for Science, we’ve gone through 2025 WA1 Maths papers from different schools to spot the trendiest and trickiest questions.

Below, we’ll run through our Maths problem-solving strategies and Power Codes to help you solve each problem — step by step, no stress. Our Maths WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide includes detailed walk-throughs for all the questions. Take some time to go through them, it’ll definitely help!

Trending Question Types

There are two question types that are trending in 2025:

• Example 1: Unchanged Total in Ratio

‘In a singing class, the students were split equally into two teams. The number of boys in Team A was 1/3 the number of girls in Team A. The ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls in Team B was 3 : 2. What is the ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls in the singing class?’

In solving this question, students are expected to recognise that the total number of students in each group are the same. This allows us to apply an “Unchanged Total” problem-solving strategy to tackle this problem.

Using our Power Code Approach, we will:

1. Apply the least common multiple (LCM) to make total units the same for Team A and B (Team A: 20 units and Team B: 20 units),

2. Then adjust the units for boys and girls in Team A and B accordingly, Team A: Boys (5 units), Girls (15 units), Team B: Boys (12 units), Girls (8 units)

3. Finally, we will simplify to the required ratio of 17 : 23.

• Example 2: Excess and Shortage

‘John has some sweets for a group of students. If each student receives 7 sweets, he will have 5 sweets left. If each student receives 9 sweets, he will need another 7 more sweets.
(a) How many students are there?
(b) How many sweets does John have?’

Students are expected to recognise that there are two different scenarios in this question, of which the first scenario will result in an excess of sweets (“5 leftover”), while the second will result in a shortage (“need another 7”). This allows us to apply an “Excess and Shortage” Power Code to solve this question.

We simplify the problem by setting up a clear table using the listing method to find the first common number that appears in both scenarios.

Check out the full solutions in our Maths WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide.

Challenging Questions

Here are two stretch questions to challenge yourself with:

• Example 1

‘Jane had two different types of cuboids, A and B with different height. The height of 3 Cuboid A is the same as height of 4 Cuboid B in Diagram 1. Diagram 2 displays an unknown number of Cuboid A stacked at the same height as an unknown number stack of Cuboid B. Each Cuboid A and B weighs 36 g and 24 g respectively. The total weight of the 2 stacks of cuboids in Diagram 2 is 40.8 kg.’

Most students often struggle with this type of problems due to challenges in interpreting the relationship between the number of cuboids (3 Cuboid A = 4 Cuboid B) and the link between the total weight of the cuboids and the number of cuboids.

Our Make A Set techniques simplifies it by:

1. First grouping 3 Cuboid A and 4 Cuboid B into a single set,

2. Calculating the weight of one set (204 g), and then

3. Finding the number of sets (20) needed to match the total weight of 40,800 g.

This structured approach reorganises the problem by helping students to systematically calculate the required values without getting overwhelmed by it.

• Example 2

‘Mrs Wong spent 2/5 of her money on 5 identical erasers and 9 identical rulers. The cost of one ruler is thrice the cost of one eraser. She bought more erasers with 1/2 of her remaining money. How many erasers did Mrs Wong buy altogether?’

Students face difficulty with this problem because they misinterpret the fractions of money spent (2/5 initially, then 1/2 of the remaining). They also fail to recognise the relationship between ruler and eraser (1 ruler = 3 erasers). This question is more challenging, as it incorporates two different problem-solving strategies.

Our Simplify the Problem and Fraction of a Remainder techniques guide students to systematically solve this problem:

1. First, simplify the problem by converting the cost of rulers into an equivalent number of erasers (9 rulers = 27 erasers);

2. Then, to calculate the total erasers that can be bought with 2/5 of Mrs. Wong’s money (32 erasers);

3. This allows us to find the additional erasers that can be bought (24 more) with half of her remaining money, by applying fraction of remainder.

The full solutions are provided in our Maths WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide.

Common Misconceptions & Mistakes (with Tips to Avoid)

Here are two common mistakes to avoid:

• Mistake 1: Conceptual Errors

‘A shirt costs $40, and its price is increased by 20%. What is the new price?’

Some students mistakenly calculate 20% of the original price as the new price, getting $8, instead of adding the increase to the original price. They attempt to solve problems by relying on memorised procedures without fully understanding the underlying concepts, leading them to apply incorrect methods to similar-looking questions.

Tip: Underline/highlight key information. Annotate to make sure you understand key information. Read and re-read the question.

• Mistake 2: Misreading Units

'A tank fills at 2 L/min under a running tap, while a hole allows water to leak at 500 mL/min at the same time. How much remains after 3 minutes?'

Some got 45 L instead of 4.5 L, forgetting 500 mL = 0.5 L (6 L in, 1.5 L out).

Tip: Underline units in the question, convert them to the same units before calculating, and recheck your answer matches the unit asked. Practice this habit, and it’ll stick! 💪🏼

Download Maths WA1 Solutions Guide

Hey guys,

We’ve been reviewing WA1 Science papers from different schools (thank you for submitting them!) — and here’s what we’ve found. There are some trending PSLE question types, challenging questions popping up, and a few common pitfalls that trip students up again and again. We’ve broken it all down for you below.

Practise similar question types with annotated solutions here: Science WA1 Annotated Solutions Guide. And when you're working through the questions, remember to use our CCC question-analysis framework and the AIR answering framework to structure your responses!

Trending or Emergent Themes/Question Types

There are two Science question types trending in 2025:

• Example 1: Two-Trend Relationship Questions

‘Based on the graph, state how the brightness of the bulb is affected by the number of batteries used.’

When answering this question, students should carefully analyse the given data, which may be presented in a table, graph, or diagram. Identify whether there is one or two distinct trends. If two trends are present, clearly state each trend and support it with specific details whenever possible.

• Example 2: Energy Conversion Explanation Questions

‘Stella observed that the car started rolling backwards at point X before reaching point Y. Other than changing the set-up, state what she can do for the car to reach point Y. Explain in terms of energy.’

First, analyse the set-up and identify the energy conversions involved. Determine the necessary modification to achieve the required outcome and use relevant scientific concepts to explain your answer, focusing specifically on energy-related principles.

Challenging Questions

Here are also some challenging questions we came across:

• Example 1: Evaluation of Method

‘Teacher June claimed that counting the number of bubbles produced by the water plant is an inaccurate way to determine the rate of photosynthesis. Suggest why.’

Students are familiar with the scenario that counting the number of bubbles produced by water plants being one method to determine the rate of photosynthesis. Therefore, many students struggle with this question as they could not suggest a reason why this method is inaccurate.

• Example 2: Juggling 2 Factors that Affect Gravitational Potential Energy

‘A mallet hung from the ceiling was released and it swinged downwards to hit a plate that was clamped. D is the greatest distance between the mallet and the ceiling such that the downward swing of the mallet breaks the plate.

If a similar mallet with a greater mass but the same size was used to break the plate, explain how D would be affected.’

Students find it difficult to relate two factors at the same time to gravitational potential energy. It was also made more confusing when D is the greatest distance between the mallet and the ceiling instead of greatest distance between the mallet and the ground.

Common Misconceptions & Mistakes (with Tips to Avoid)

Here are two common mistakes to avoid:

• Mistake 1: Incorrect Key Terms Used

‘Explain why it is important for the dispersal of seeds to be as far away as possible from parent plants.’

Some students wrote ‘prevents competition for food’. It is important to note that competition between parent and young plants can only be reduced, not prevented. Plants make their own food, they do not compete with each other for food.

Tip: Learn from your mistakes and rewrite the correct phrase multiple times to make it a habit!

• Mistake 2: Submitting Answers Without Checking

‘When the card is pressed downwards and released, it will ‘jump’ off the ground. Explain, in terms of forces, why the card will ‘jump’ off the ground when released.’

Writing answers too fast and failure to double check led to incorrect key words or phrases used. Instead of writing elastic spring force, some wrote elastic potential energy and explained in terms of energy.

Tip: Circle the phrase “in terms of forces” in the question, or verify whether the concepts tested relate to energy or forces. After writing your answer, always review it to ensure you have addressed the question accurately. Make it a habit to annotate key parts of the question and double-check your responses!

Download Science WA1 Solutions Guide

Dropping our study plan for the final subject: PSLE Chinese Study Plan.

In it, we’ve also highlighted common oral and picture-based composition themes that typically appear in past PSLE papers. Broadly, the approach is similar to that of English:

Apr-May 2025: Complete Drills

• Complete at least 4 Picture-Based or Scenario-Based Compositions

• Practise all Paper 2 components

• Revise all P4 - P5 textbook vocabulary

• Listening Comprehension and Oral practice

Jun - Aug 2025: Full Revision, Oral & Power Up

• Complete at least 6 Picture-Based or Scenario-Based Compositions

• Practise all Paper 2 components

• Revise all P6 textbook vocabulary

• Ramp up oral practice

• Mind Stretcher’s intensive PSLE Power Up and Oral Bootcamps

Sep 2025: Final Sprint

• Practise past PSLE papers and 2024 Prelim papers

• Review all textbook vocabulary, past mistakes and writing

  techniques

• Final sprint towards the PSLE with Mind Stretcher’s PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp

Jiayou! 💪🏽 Let’s power through the rest – check out our PSLE study plans for English, Maths and Science.

Download PSLE Chinese Study Plan

Hope all of you found our PSLE Maths Study Plan and PSLE Science Study Plan useful!

Today, we’re releasing the PSLE English Study Plan. In it, we’ve also highlighted common oral and essay themes that typically appear in past PSLE papers. Broadly, the approach is:

Apr-May 2025: Complete Drills

• Write at least 4 situational writing tasks

• Write 6 full compositions based on common PSLE topics

• Practise all Paper 2 components

• Listening Comprehension and Oral practice

Jun - Aug 2025: Full Revision, Oral & Power Up

• Write at least 6 situational writing tasks

• Write 8 full compositions based on common PSLE topics

• Practise all Paper 2 components

• Ramp up oral practice

• Mind Stretcher’s intensive PSLE Power Up and Oral Bootcamps

Sep 2025: Final Sprint

• Practise past PSLE papers and 2024 Prelim papers

• Review all past mistakes, including spelling errors

• Final sprint towards the PSLE with Mind Stretcher’s PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp

Keep hustling 💪🏼 You’ve got this!

P.S. We'll be dropping the study plan for Chinese next week, so keep a lookout for it.

Download PSLE English Study Plan

Last weekend, we released the PSLE Maths Study Plan. Hope you’ve started on your revision, there’s not much time left!

Today, we’re releasing the PSLE Science Study Plan. Broadly, the approach is similar to Maths:

Mar-Apr 2025: Foundations First

• Finish revising P3-P4 topics, and get started on P5-P6 topics.

• There are more topics to recap for Science, so aim to cover 2-3 topics per week — about 15 topics in 6 weeks.

May 2025: WA2 & More Revision

• Focus on WA2 preparation.

• Continue revising P5-P6 topics (except P6 topics not yet taught in school).

Jun 2025: Full Revision & Power Up

• Complete revision of ALL P3-P6 topics.

• Attempt PSLE papers.

• Attend Mind Stretcher’s intensive PSLE Power Up Bootcamp.

Jul-Sep 2025: Final Sprint

• Practice:

  • Past PSLE papers & 2024 Prelim papers.

  • Topical drills targeting weaker areas.

  • Re-attempt past mistakes & challenging questions.

• Final sprint towards PSLE with Mind Stretcher’s PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp.

Again, do take note of the “Checklist to Secure AL1” within the study plan. Most of our past PSLE students who've done everything on the checklist went on to score AL1 for PSLE Science.

Follow this plan closely, and jiayou!

P.S. We'll be dropping the study plan for other subjects soon, so keep a lookout for it.

Download PSLE Science Study Plan

The PSLE English Oral Exam is an important component which must never be neglected — it now accounts for 20% of the entire English paper (read about 2025 English Oral Changes). From our experience, it’s a low-hanging fruit, but only if students know how to reach for it.

But many don’t. Whether it’s students we’ve taught or those we continue to interact with, the same issues keep showing up:

• They have very little chance to practise their Reading Aloud skills.

• They don’t really know what expressive, high-quality reading should sound like.

• They’re unsure how to improve, or where to even begin.

To help with this, we’ve developed ReadAloud.sg — a platform created by our English and Speaking Master Teachers, who have coached thousands of students for the PSLE.

For just $10, you’ll get:

• 40 PSLE-style oral exercises in the scenario + passage format, covering topics aligned with the exam.

• 40 high-quality audio recordings, generated using advanced AI and curated by our English Master Teachers to demonstrate powerful, expressive reading.

• Detailed annotations and expert commentary, breaking down vocal techniques line by line.

When we tried it out with our P5 and P6 students, including those in our English and Master Speakers programmes, we found that just listening and following along helped many of them expand their vocal range and speak with greater confidence and flair.

Expressive reading isn’t just for the PSLE. It’s a life skill that will be a powerful asset in your education journey — and far beyond.

We hope this helps in a meaningful way. If you find it useful, we’d truly appreciate it if you could help spread the word! 🙂

6 months to PSLE… the grind is ON!

We’ve put together the Ultimate PSLE Maths 6-Months Study Plan for you. Broadly, the approach is:

Mar-Apr 2025: Foundations First

• Start revising P4-P6 topics.

• Aim to cover 1-2 topics per week — about 10 topics in 6 weeks.

May 2025: WA2 & More Revision

• Focus on WA2 preparation.

• Continue revising P4-P6 topics (except P6 topics not yet taught in school).

Jun 2025: Full Revision & Power Up

• Complete revision of ALL P4-P6 topics.

• Attempt PSLE papers.

• Attend Mind Stretcher’s intensive PSLE Power Up Bootcamp.

Jul-Sep 2025: Final Sprint

• Practice:

  • Past PSLE papers & 2024 Prelim papers.

  • Topical drills targeting weaker areas.

  • Re-attempt past mistakes & challenging questions.

• Final sprint towards PSLE with Mind Stretcher’s PSLE Last Lap Bootcamp.

Take note of the “Checklist to Secure AL1” within the study plan – most of our past PSLE students who've done everything on the checklist went on to score AL1 for PSLE Maths.

Follow this plan closely, and jiayou!

P.S. We'll be dropping the study plan for the rest of the subjects soon, so keep a lookout for it.

Download PSLE Maths 6-Months Study Plan

As the 2025 DSA-Sec exercise approaches, many parents find themselves navigating a maze of school choices, eligibility criteria and application strategies. Below, we provide a clear and practical breakdown of the DSA process, addressing common concerns, misconceptions, and offering insights into how to make the most informed decisions for your child’s secondary school.

In Part 1 of our upcoming 2025 DSA Preparation Series, we’ll share our deep experience and insights from the many DSA success stories of our students. We’ll focus on structuring a strong DSA application, building a compelling portfolio, and selecting the right talent domains and schools, which has helped many students gain entry into their preferred secondary schools.

What is DSA and How Does It Work?

The Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme allows Primary 6 students to gain entry into secondary schools based on their talents in areas such as sports, the arts, leadership and specific academic disciplines. Successful applicants secure a spot before PSLE results are released, offering some peace of mind amidst the high-stakes PSLE period. Students are limited to a maximum of three choices, where each choice includes a school and a talent area. Students may indicate up to 2 talent areas for the same school, but these must be listed as separate choices during the DSA application.

However, parents should note that while DSA provides an alternative pathway, it requires careful planning. Each school has different selection criteria, and while PSLE results do not determine admission, students must still meet the minimum entry requirement for the posting group offered by the school under Full Subject-Based Banding. For example, if the school only admits students via Posting Group 3, then your child’s PSLE score should qualify for Posting Group 3.

In recent years, interest in DSA has surged. The number of applications has grown from 18,000 in 2018 to 42,500 in 2024, with about 11% of Primary 6 students successfully admitted via this route. Schools are also expanding their DSA quotas, with up to 20% of non-IP (Integrated Programme) students and up to 30-35% of IP students entering through DSA¹.

¹ Specialised independent schools such as NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, School of the Arts, School of Science and Technology can admit 100% of their S1 intake through DSA.

2025 DSA Application Timeline

While MOE has not yet released official dates for 2025, the general timeline follows this structure:

1. January – May: Research schools and talent domains; attend open houses and webinars.

2. May – June: Submit applications via the MOE DSA portal.

3. June – September: Schools conduct selection rounds, including interviews, trials or auditions.

4. September – October: Schools release DSA offers; students rank their choices.

5. November: Final allocation results are announced.

Different DSA Domains

There are a multitude of DSA domains to apply for, which include the following (it’s not an exhaustive list):

• For Academic DSA: Schools may conduct subject-specific tests. Ensure your child is well-prepared for problem-solving challenges beyond the regular curriculum.

• For Sports DSA: Performance in trials is key. Strong physical fitness and a history of competitive participation improve the chances of selection.

• For Leadership DSA: Schools seek students with strong communication skills, initiative, and a track record of leadership roles. Be prepared to discuss specific contributions and experiences.

• For Performing Arts DSA: Auditions are crucial. Schools may require Grade 5-8 proficiency in instruments or past performance experience, though requirements can vary by school.

Common Questions about DSA

A. Does my child need a portfolio?

Schools will select applicants based on their track record and skills in their chosen talent area, and students should show qualities that highlight their ability and potential to excel in that domain.

As part of the DSA submission, students can provide information on non-school based activities and achievements relating to their chosen talent area, up to a limit of 10 entries. Depending on the school and talent area, your child may be required to additionally submit a portfolio showcasing their achievements.

A strong profile typically includes:

• Quality of achievements: For sports, this might include National School Games (NSG) participation. For leadership, CCA leadership roles or MOE awards can strengthen applications. For academic DSA, competitions like Math Olympiads or E2K participation are valuable.

• Consistency: Schools look for students who have been actively involved in their talent area for multiple years, so it’s always a good idea to start early!

B. What are the realistic chances of getting into highly-competitive schools through DSA?

Many parents wonder about the likelihood of getting a spot at highly competitive schools. The truth is, DSA admission varies greatly between schools and talent domains. While some schools prioritise national-level achievements, others may look for strong potential. However, if your child is significantly below the academic cutoff for an Integrated Programme (IP) school, it’s worth considering whether they will thrive in that environment.

C. Can my child apply for multiple DSA categories?

Yes. Each student can apply to up to three schools, and within each school, they can select up to two talent areas. If your child is keen on a particular school, consider applying through different domains to increase their chances.

D. How important are P5 and P6 school results for DSA?

While DSA is based on talent, academic performance is still considered in many cases. Schools want to ensure students can cope with the curriculum, and some schools have stringent academic screening even for non-academic DSA domains.

E. Should my child apply for DSA?

DSA is a long-term commitment. If your child secures a spot through DSA, they are required to participate in related CCAs or programmes throughout secondary school. Ensure they are truly passionate about the talent domain before committing.

DSA is a fantastic opportunity for students who have demonstrated excellence in a particular field. However, it is not a guaranteed admission route, and rejection rates can be high. Even with DSA, students must meet the minimum academic criteria for their selected school-offered posting group. So applying for DSA should be a strategic decision, balancing talent, PSLE academic performance, and the child’s well-being.

Join us for Part 1 of our 2025 DSA Preparation Series to understand everything you need to know about the DSA process, craft a compelling DSA application, and avoid common DSA pitfalls.

Register for DSA Preparation Series

Many students dread composition writing. They struggle with planning their stories, coming up with relevant ideas, and making their writing engaging. Understanding the common pitfalls, mastering essential techniques and preparing for commonly-tested composition themes will help your child significantly improve composition scores.

With 7 months to the PSLE, it’s critical to sharpen your composition writing skills. In our upcoming 4-day PSLE Writing Bootcamp starting 18 Mar, we’ll be breaking down key techniques from structuring strong plots to using effective writing strategies effectively. More on that later!

Understanding Composition Marking Criteria

In English composition, two key areas determine your score:

• Content (18 marks): Is your story relevant to the theme? Is it well-developed and engaging?

• Language (18 marks): Is your writing accurate? Are ideas linked and sequenced well? Does your writing showcase strong vocabulary, varied sentence structures and effective writing techniques?

Here’s our PSLE English Composition marking rubrics, aligned with MOE’s marking standards. It's essential to fully understand this rubric to know how to score well in each component.

Common Issues in Composition Writing

Content Issues

• Writing off-topic: Many students start writing without proper planning, causing them to stray from the topic.

• Under-developed ideas: Insufficiently developed ideas about situations and characters can make the composition dull and un-engaging.

Language Issues

• Overuse of repetitive phrases and incorrect vocabulary: Relying on simple words like "happy", "sad", or "nervous" weakens descriptions. Misused idiomatic expressions and vocabulary can confuse readers.

• ⁠Ineffective sequencing and linking of ideas: Plot holes and misusing techniques like flashbacks, cliffhangers, and plot twists can confuse readers. (Myth debunked: Using these techniques doesn't guarantee better scores.)

• Structural & grammatical errors: Poor sentence structure can lead to awkward phrasing or run-on sentences.

Commonly-Tested Composition Themes

At Mind Stretcher, we have successfully predicted composition themes that appeared in PSLE and school exams over multiple years. Through careful analysis of past exam trends, we’ve identified recurring themes that students can prepare for effectively.

One such commonly-tested theme is "Gaining Confidence", which we will explore in detail below. This theme often appears in different variations, such as “Overcoming Obstacles”, “An Achievement”, or “A Transformation” — all of which share similar story elements and techniques.

“Gaining Confidence” Composition Guide

Write a composition of at least 150 words about gaining confidence. Your composition should be based on the picture below.

Step 1: Brainstorm Your Plot

The pre-writing stage is crucial for organising your thoughts and structuring your story logically. Let’s break down the process:

Understanding the Theme

• What does "Gaining Confidence" mean?

• How can confidence be built over time?

• What challenges might a character face in their journey?

Analysing the Picture Prompt

• The microphone suggests a scenario involving public speaking, performing on stage, or overcoming stage fright.

• Think about situations where someone might need to use a microphone, such as a school presentation, talent show, or competition.

Step 2: Plan with the Story Mountain

A well-structured composition follows the story mountain framework:

Based on the theme Gaining Confidence, your story mountain plan could look like that:

Introduction

The narrator is a shy student terrified of speaking in front of others. She’s been asked to give a speech at school, and the thought of it makes her anxious.

Rising Action

She practises for the speech but struggles. Every time she stands in front of a mirror, her hands shake, and her voice wavers. She worries about making mistakes and being laughed at. Despite this, she keeps trying, seeking support from a kind teacher or friend.

Climax

On the day of the speech, she stands at the podium, heart racing. She takes a deep breath and begins. At first, she stumbles, but then, as she continues, she realises the audience is listening attentively, not judging her. Confidence begins to replace her nerves.

Falling Action

As she finishes the speech, she feels proud of how far she’s come. The audience claps, and her anxiety completely fades.

Conclusion

She learns that facing her fear was the key to overcoming it. The next time she speaks in public, she recalls this experience and feels much more confident.

Step 3: Use Writing Techniques to Enhance Your Story

To make your composition stand out, use these writing techniques:

Opening Hooks

Capture the reader’s attention with an intriguing start, such as an internal monologue or a dramatic moment. Example of using an internal monologue:

I could not understand it. Why me? Out of forty students, Miss Wong just had to pick the one who could not even say “present” without stammering. Had I accidentally offended her? Was it because I had forgotten to laugh at her joke last week?

Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of saying "I was nervous," describe the character’s behaviour, thoughts and feelings.

My fingers trembled against the index cards, turning the crisp edges into damp waves. Each heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out Miss Wong's voice, and the fluorescent lights in the auditorium suddenly seemed too bright, too harsh.

Internal Monologue

Reveal the character's thoughts and fears to make the story more relatable.

My throat was tight, and I forced myself to glance at the audience. “Why are they staring at me like that?” I quickly searched for a friendly face, anyone who might make me feel less alone. “Okay, no turning back now. You’ve practised. You’ve got this. Just take a deep breath...”

Slow Motion (Slow-Mo)

Describe key moments in detail to build tension.

I took my first step towards the stage, each movement feeling heavier than the last. My foot hit the ground with a soft thud, the sound somehow too loud. I lifted my other foot, each step dragging as if I were walking through water. The moment I reached the podium, everything seemed to freeze. My hand hovered over it, the cool wood sending a shiver up my arm. I looked up, and time seemed to slow. The audience’s faces blurred, but their eyes—their eyes—were locked onto mine. My breath caught in my throat. I could not move.

Step 4: Incorporate Mind-Stretching Vocabulary Words and Phrases

Incorporate thematic Mind-Stretching Vocabulary Words and Phrases related to Gaining Confidence, such as:

• gradually made incremental progress and that boosted my spirits

At first, I could hardly remember the words. However, with each practice session, I gradually made incremental progress, and that boosted my spirits. The nervousness did not disappear right away, but I could feel myself getting better, one step at a time.

• slow and steady wins the race

I was not going to be impatient. “Slow and steady wins the race,” I told myself, taking my time with each sentence. I focused on speaking clearly and calmly, knowing that perfecting each part would lead to success in the end.

• kept my nose to the grindstone to hone my public speaking skills to perfection

I knew the only way to overcome my fear was through practice. So, I kept my nose to the grindstone, spending hours rehearsing in front of the mirror, refining my delivery, and honing my public speaking skills to perfection.

• thrust into the spotlight, I was forced to emerge from my shell

The moment I stepped on stage, I was thrust into the spotlight. The audience’s gaze was intense, but there was no turning back now. I had to emerge from my shell, leave behind my shyness, and speak with confidence, or risk losing my chance.

Final Composition Tips

• Prepare for commonly-tested composition themes – take note of good plots, writing techniques to model after, and creative phrases to utilise. This is a sure way to help you prepare well for PSLE!

• Spend 5-10 mins brainstorming and planning with the Story Mountain before writing. Many students think this is a waste of time, but this 5-10 mins can help ensure your story stays relevant to the topic and has a clear structure that flows smoothly.

• Use engaging writing techniques such as Show, Don’t Tell, Internal Monologue, Slow-Mo and others to bring more depth to your story.

• Incorporate thematic creative writing phrases and vocabulary to make your descriptions more vivid, and avoid using repetitive phrases where possible.

• Analyse model compositions and refine your writing with structured feedback. Understanding what makes a strong composition and applying those techniques through guided practice will boost your writing skills in the lead-up to PSLE. Our upcoming 4-day PSLE Writing Bootcamp is designed to focus on exactly this.

2025 Key Changes to PSLE English Oral Exam

The overall weightage of the PSLE Oral exam has increased to 20% of the total English score, up from 15% in 2024. This means the Oral exam now carries more weight than Paper 1 Continuous Writing, which accounts for 18% of the total score. The effort put into writing good compositions is just as important as preparing for the Oral exam.

Other than a shift in weightage, these are the changes to the Oral exam components:

Reading Aloud:

• Introduction of a preamble (short instructions) that includes the Purpose, Audience, and Context of the reading passage.

• The tone and delivery of your speech will be even more important based on the given scenario, whether it’s a celebratory speech, vivid recount, a passionate call to action, etc.

Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC):

• Shift from posters (more text) to photographs (less to no text).

• No thematic link between the Reading Aloud and SBC components.

• The photographs will feature a common, everyday scenario that you can relate to and draw upon personal experiences for their responses.

How to Tackle Reading Aloud?

With the introduction of a preamble, it is important to understand the tone and delivery required for different contexts. One effective way to approach this is by using our REAP Oral Reading framework, which provides a structured method for tackling this component. It's possible to score full marks in Reading Aloud by closely following the REAP framework and the marking rubrics.

• Rhythm, Stress & Intonation

  • Aim for clear highs and lows, emphasising keywords to avoid sounding monotonous.

• Expression

  • Use appropriate emotions to convey the speech and apply vocal variations to enhance meaning.

• Articulation

  • Pay attention to the pronunciation of ending sounds (“th,” “ed,” “k”), long vowels, short vowels and plural tenses.

• Pace & Fluency

  • Maintain a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Pause at punctuation.

How different preambles influence the tone of delivery

1. Celebratory Speech

You have been invited to deliver a speech to kickstart a celebration during morning assembly. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to the school.

• Purpose: To set an uplifting and enthusiastic tone for the celebration, engaging the audience and generating excitement.

• Audience: The entire school, including students, teachers, and possibly school leaders.

• Context: A formal but festive school-wide event where the speaker's role is to energise and inspire the audience.

• Tone: Joyful, lively, and engaging, with a sense of warmth and inclusivity.

2. Vivid Recount

It is your turn to share an interesting activity you did during the school holidays. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to your classmates.

• Purpose: To entertain and engage classmates by describing a memorable experience in a lively and engaging manner.

• Audience: Classmates and possibly a teacher in a classroom setting.

• Context: A casual yet structured sharing session where students take turns recounting their experiences.

• Tone: Expressive, animated, and engaging, with a touch of personal reflection.

3. Call to Action

You have been asked to present an important message on World Earth Day during school assembly. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to the school.

• Purpose: To raise awareness about an environmental issue and encourage students to take action.

• Audience: The entire school, including students and teachers, who may have varying levels of interest in the topic.

• Context: A school assembly focused on an important cause, where the speaker must persuade and inspire action.

• Tone: Passionate, persuasive, and urgent, with a sense of responsibility and motivation.

Demonstration from our Master Teacher

Based on the REAP Oral Reading framework, hear for yourself which version had good rhythm, expression, articulation and pace. Tone truly makes a difference. Our upcoming PSLE Oral webinar (14-15 Mar) will showcase past PSLE questions and cover the oral frameworks in greater detail.

Use our Reading Aloud rubrics (aligned with the MOE curriculum) to assess yourself — you must aim for the 13–15 mark range.

How to Tackle Stimulus-Based Conversation?

With the switch from posters to photographs, the prompts require you to relate more to real-life scenarios and draw from your personal experiences. Here’s how you can do it effectively: Use our PEERS Oral SBC framework to help you organise your ideas and elaborate on your points:

• Point

• Explanation through Example(s)

• Experience

• Reflection / Recommendation

• Summary / So What? (Final thought)

Applying the PEERS SBC framework

Question: How do you think the people in the photograph might be feeling?

• Point

I think the children in this photograph are feeling joyful and excited!

• Explanation with Examples

It looks like they are thoroughly enjoying a public speaking activity. I notice two girls in the picture — one standing confidently in the middle and the other seated. Both have radiant, beaming smiles, which clearly suggest they are having a great time. I’m especially impressed by how enthusiastic the girl in the middle appears. It seems like it’s her turn to speak in front of an audience. Instead of looking nervous, she appears self-assured, holding her script and ready to connect with her listeners. She might have even said something amusing, causing the audience to laugh.

• Experience

This scene feels familiar to me because I also attend a public speaking course at Master Speakers. At first, I was hesitant and overly self-conscious. However, with the help of my coach, I broke out of my shell. Like the children in the picture, I now delight in telling stories and sharing my opinions in front of my classmates, listening to their inspiring speeches, and witnessing their progress as speakers.

• Reflection / Recommendation

This picture reminds us that public speaking — something many people fear — can be empowering and even fun! With the right support and a warm and encouraging audience, we can all feel safe stepping out of our comfort zones and trying something new.

• Summary / So What? (Final Thought)

Public speaking can be a powerful tool for personal growth, and this photograph captures the excitement and joy that can come with it. It shows that with the right guidance, anyone can overcome their fears and find confidence in expressing themselves!

Oral SBC Rubrics (PEERS)

As you can see in the SBC rubrics (highlighted in yellow), simply answering the prompts is not enough. To achieve a score in the 21–25 mark range, you need to extend the conversation beyond the prompts.

Practice is king

• Practise regularly. Look through your photo gallery or browse online and pick out some photos to talk about – anything can be your resource. Talk about it and ask yourself, “What are the people in the photo feeling?” Try recording yourself and see where you can improve. We’ve attached some oral practice exercises you can start with.

• Make it a habit to use good sentence structure in your reading and writing on a daily basis.

• Build your vocabulary bank through reading news articles, model responses and more. Challenge yourself to use them intentionally in daily conversations.

• Engage in 1-1 oral mock exams under timed conditions, similar to what we do in our English classes and Master Speakers classes.

In our upcoming PSLE Oral webinar happening 14-15 Mar, we’ll cover reading and answering techniques for both English and Chinese Oral, such as REAP and PEERS, as well as how to help your child improve their reading skills and confidently tackle conversation questions.

Register for PSLE Oral Webinar 14-15 Mar

In our Telegram poll yesterday, many of you voted for us to review your WA1 papers across different primary schools!

The more WA1 papers we receive from you, the better. We’ll be able to help you spot any new trends across schools, highlight common question types, and tackle questions that students found particularly tricky or challenging.

We’ll then put together a resource and/or a live session to share these key insights and exam trends with you, and go through some of the tougher questions together.

Upload your P6 WA1 Papers

• English: Submit your WA1 English Paper

• Maths: Submit your WA1 Maths Paper

• Science: Submit your WA1 Science Paper

• Chinese: Submit your WA1 Chinese Paper

The collected papers will be used primarily for review and analysis purposes, so rest assured that your child’s personal details, including their name and other identifying information, will be kept strictly confidential. If you prefer, you may also choose to block out your child’s name on the paper before submitting to us.

Look forward to our 2025 WA1 school papers analysis!

Most parents are familiar with the fact that MOE has shifted from the previous T-score system to the AL-score system. What does this mean for students? We covered these in detail during our PSLE Excellence Webinar series, and you can watch the recording here.

Fewer Scoring Bands, More Competition

Previously, PSLE scores could go up to 300, making it easier to differentiate students. Now, with only 29 possible total scores, more students will end up with the same PSLE score, making competition tighter. This also means that more secondary schools will have the same cut-off points (COP). We’ll cover this in more detail in future seminars & newsletters, but how you rank your six school choices matters more than ever.

Cut-Off Points (COP)

MOE just released the 2024 PSLE COP – you can use MOE’s SchoolFinder tool to explore different secondary schools and their COP entry requirements.

Will COP of schools change from time to time?

Yes it may, but usually within a small range (typically ±1 point). However in years with a larger cohort, such as the Dragon Year intake in 2024, we may see more significant shifts in COP for some schools. While we can’t predict exact changes, historical trends show that larger cohorts tend to result in more competitive cut-off points.

For Direct School Admission (DSA), what are the COP requirements?

For students applying via DSA, COPs do not apply in the same way as they do under Secondary 1 Posting. Instead, students offered a DSA place in the school will be successfully admitted, as long as they meet the minimum PSLE score for the Posting Group offered by the school. For example, if the school only admits students through Posting Group 3, the student’s PSLE score must qualify for Posting Group 3.

What should we take into consideration for school selection?

We’ll be covering this in more detail in our future seminars & newsletters, but important considerations would include your inclination towards programmes such as IP, IB and O-Level, convenience based on your residential location, CCAs offered in the school, school culture and learning environment.

Will SEAB make the papers harder this year to lower the COP?

The truth is, there’s no fixed pattern. Exam difficulty isn’t something we can predict or control, but what we can control is how we prepare for the exams. A well-planned study approach will always be more beneficial than worrying about external factors. A tip from Moses: His take is to always prepare, both mentally and in actual preparation, for a hard exam. Before each exam he takes, he reminds himself that it’s meant to be hard and challenging. And if it turns out to be easier than that, we can be pleasantly surprised 🙂.

Posting Groups

With Subject-Based Banding (SBB), students no longer fall into the traditional Express, NA, or NT streams. Instead, they enter secondary school under Posting Groups. For example, if you enter via Posting Group 3, it means that most of the subjects taken will be at the G3 level.

If my Posting Group is 2, but I did very well for English, can I choose to take English at the G3 level?

Yes, with the introduction of SBB, this is now possible. While you will take most of your subjects at the G2 level, you can take English at G3 (more demanding level) if you meet the AL score requirement for the subject at PSLE (of AL 5 or better).

At the PSLE score band of 21-22, why is there “Posting Group 2 or 3”?

If you got a PSLE Score of 21-22, you can choose between Posting Group 2 or 3. It’s important to note that you must apply to all 6 secondary school choices with the same posting group, you cannot mix groups.

Do posting groups affect the examination you take in Secondary 4?

Yes. If you are enrolled in the Integrated Programme (IP/IB), the 6-year programme means you do not need to take O/N-Levels at Secondary 4. If you are in the O/N-level route, starting from 2027, all secondary school students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examinations. In the SEC examination, you will sit for the subjects at G1/G2/G3 levels.

Let us know in the Telegram discussion here if you have any burning questions on COP, Posting Groups and more!

Have questions or specific topics you’d like us to cover? Drop us a message, we’d like to help out where we can.

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