February 8, 2024
The Situational Writing component of the PSLE English Language Examination requires students to write a functional piece for either formal or informal situations. They will need to write a letter, email or report to suit the purpose, audience and context provided.
The PSLE Paper comprises two sections that last for 1 hour and 10 minutes: situational writing and continuous writing. The situational writing section contributes 15 marks to the entire paper, while continuous writing contributes 40 marks.
As you read our guide for PSLE situational writing in this article, you'll find that achieving those 15 marks will be less challenging.
According to the SEAB in 2017, situational writing in the PSLE paper requires a student to write a functional piece to communicate based on a given context or situation. The two main criteria determining the score for situational writing are Task Fulfilment (6 marks) and Language and Organisation (9 marks).
For this criteria, students are expected to adhere to or include all the key information and points that are stated in the task box in the situational writing and ensure that they have provided comprehensive information.
The students must demonstrate:
By following the provided instructions in the task box, students are demonstrating their understanding of the PAC.
Task Fulfilment has a total of 6 marks.
While demonstrating their ability to fulfil the task concisely, students must also exemplify their language skills - free from grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
This scoring criteria makes up 9 marks out of the total of 15.
Now that we have an understanding of the two scoring criteria for situational writing, let’s follow the components breakdown in the infographic down below:
Let's first dive into each of these components starting with Content & Context in Situational Writing.
It is crucial to include information based on the given prompts in the task box. Students must also show that they understand well who they are writing for, why they are writing, and the situation they are writing about.
In short, they must determine the PAC:
Encourage your child to highlight or underline the PAC while reading the task box to keep track of the content they need to write.
Now, let's examine and consider some instances from the Situational Writing section of the 2022 PSLE:
One of the most challenging aspects of situational writing in the English paper is creative writing in an accurate tone for the context. Writing with the correct tone is crucial because it demonstrates the writer's understanding of the task and helps convey the intended message effectively.
Here are some tips on formal and informal writing:
Suitable for writing Official or Formal Letters (Applications, Request to School Administration) written to Authority Figures (Principal, School Staff), Unknown Recipients
Suitable for writing Personal Writing (Diary), Informal Letters, Invitations or Thank-You Notes, and Casual Settings (Playdate or social events) to Friends and Classmates.
The key to getting a full score for language and organisation is to make as few grammatical errors as possible while your writing is structured, clear and concise.
The papers usually already state the information they want to be included in the writing, regardless of situational writing format.
Follow this step-by-step guide to ace the language and organisation component in situational writing:
Carefully go through the entire stimulus and take notes accordingly, especially in the pictures with little to no dialogue to assist you in better comprehending the content.
While going through the information in the task box, you will come across crucial details, including:
Make sure to highlight important information in the task box:
It is important to be organised when doing situational writing.
We recommend numbering the points from 1 to 6 so that you get all the crucial content points needed to have a chance of scoring full marks for content.
You will be awarded 6 marks for content. The main requirement to receive full marks for content is to address the six points mentioned in the question.
To ensure a smooth writing process without interruptions, highlight the answers you can find in the task box and/or the stimulus to maintain a steady flow of writing.
With a clear understanding of your PAC (Purpose of writing, Audience, and formal or informal tone), and having numbered all your points, you are now prepared to begin writing!
Keep in mind these critical bullet points:
Writing too long does not increase your marks.
Avoid including unnecessary details that may increase your chance of making grammatical errors and slow you down. Just focus on the six points you are required to include.
After writing the right length and ensuring that all key information is included, you should not cut the writing abruptly, instead, sign off correctly:
Upon completing your writing, take a moment to review your answer for the task carefully and ensure the following:
Content - Verify that all essential information is included with the appropriate tone for the context and that the sign-off is suitable.
Language - Confirm the language accuracy and clarity in your writing.
We are the ideal solution for parents with children preparing for the PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) English Language Exam.
The PSLE is a significant milestone in a child's academic journey in Singapore, as it determines the secondary school they will be admitted to and plays a crucial role in shaping their educational future.
eduSpace offers a tailored curriculum aligned with MOE and taught by experienced instructors who are well-versed in the exam format. Providing effective exam strategies and ample practice materials is also a great confidence booster for students.
Moreover, we also offer individualised learning plans and progress tracking to keep parents informed. Students are encouraged to engage with the subject and enjoy their learning journey in this motivating environment.
At eduSpace Tuition Centre, learning is an incredible journey beyond academics. We empower our students to embrace their full potential through personalised guidance, interactive activities, and a supportive learning environment.
Our English tuition classes at eduSpace can help shape their future and nurture their unique talents every step of the way.
Join us to bring your child’s English learning journey to the next level! We are a growing tuition centre with two locations in North: Yishun and Khatib, and one more in Hougang.
Our English tuition is crafted according to the latest MOE syllabus. Lessons are delivered engagingly to ensure your child gains a good understanding of the subject matter, as well as the necessary exam skills required to score well.
Whether your child needs help with the exams or is preparing for the PSLE English paper, eduSpace is committed to helping your child improve holistically. Join us now to see your child thrive and reach their full potential in English!
Contact eduSpace Tuition Centre and let your child write with confidence today.
