We are honoured to have been featured in The Straits Times as part of its article, “The ABCs of acing the PSLE English composition”, where our Head of Primary English Curriculum, Ms Delia Siow, shared her thoughts on helping students prepare effectively for one of the most challenging components of the PSLE English examination.
At Lil’ but Mighty, we have always believed that doing well in composition is not about memorising the “perfect” essay. It is about understanding how good writing works, developing strong thinking skills, and learning to apply these confidently under exam conditions.
Model compositions are meant to teach, not to copy
As shared in the article, model compositions can be incredibly valuable when used purposefully.
Rather than asking students to memorise entire essays, we encourage them to study:
- how ideas are developed,
- how paragraphs are structured,
- how vocabulary is used naturally, and
- how writers create vivid and meaningful descriptions.
Students then break these model compositions down into useful techniques, sentence structures and writing strategies that they can adapt for different examination topics.
The goal is never imitation. The goal is understanding.
Building a bank of master plots
One approach we use at Lil’ but Mighty is helping students build a collection of adaptable “master plots”.
Instead of memorising dozens of unrelated stories, students learn flexible story frameworks that can be adjusted to suit different themes and picture prompts. This reduces unnecessary stress during the examination and allows them to spend more time planning thoughtfully and refining their writing.
By understanding why a story works, rather than simply remembering it, students become more confident and adaptable writers.
Creativity still matters
One point we wanted to emphasise in the article is that we never want examinations to take away a child’s love for writing.
As Ms Delia shared:
“While we respect their eagerness to develop fresh stories, we don’t want to leave their grades to chance for such a major examination. I encourage them to write freely outside the exam, and I am happy to look at their work. I remind them that the exam is grade-driven.”
There is room for creativity, imagination and personal expression. We encourage students to explore these fully beyond the examination setting. During the PSLE itself, however, success comes from balancing creativity with the demands of the marking rubric.
Strong writing is built on strong observation
Another strategy highlighted in the article is helping students move beyond generic descriptions.
Instead of relying on overused phrases, students learn to notice meaningful details, describe emotions authentically, and select only the details that move the story forward.
A well-written composition is not about using the biggest vocabulary possible. It is about choosing the right words at the right moments to create an engaging story.
Thank you to The Straits Times
We are grateful to The Straits Times for featuring our perspective alongside other educators and for continuing to provide parents with practical guidance during the PSLE journey.
As educators, our mission remains unchanged: to equip every child with the skills, confidence and strategies they need to communicate effectively, both in examinations and beyond.
If your child is preparing for the PSLE English Composition, remember that consistent practice, purposeful feedback and understanding why good writing works will always be more valuable than memorising essays.
Read the full feature: The ABCs of acing the PSLE English composition, The Straits Times, 6 July 2026.
