PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Free SG50 Sample Practice + Model Answers

This year, being our jubilee year, has brought about a “SG50 wave” in everything around us. There has been quite a bit of speculation about whether this will indeed be tested as a PSLE oral conversation topic. Hence, I decided to prepare a SG50-related topic for my pupils to practise on, just in case PSLE is celebrating SG50 too (: It may not be the exact picture but at least if a similar topic about our jubilee is to be tested, the children would have had some practice on the different stories that they can share about this topic of National Day and SG50. To be honest, no one will know for sure the topic that will be tested. However, even if the oral conversation topic does not appear, I hope that the resources provided for all of you will provide a clearer idea on the steps to take in order to tackle some questions.

As seen in my previous post, there are various types of questions that can be tested. In our practice today, I have chosen a “Choice” question for the directly-linked question (Q1) and for the broadly-linked questions (Q2 and Q3), I have chosen a “reflection/opinion” and a “prior experiences” question.

Q1. Do you like this year’s funpack? Why?

Q2. If you can add a item to the funpack, what will it be and why?

Q3. How do you usually celebrate National Day? Tell me more about it?

Each question is accompanied by a sub-point which can be asked if the child is stuck or has not answered the main question sufficiently. Our model answers only answered the main prompts but you may have your children try out the sub-points too.

An answer is typically made up of the component below. Having these ingredients is likely to ensure an interesting and well-developed response.

Response

Application to self

Sharing your own story (5W1H)

*Initiating new topic

Conclusion

*May not always be necessary

Just a few things for you to look out for as you go through the model responses:

1. Response + Application to self

Whether it is a broadly-linked or directly-linked question, it is important to remember this structure while responding. In particular, for directly-linked question, it is important to use the details given in the stimulus and to apply it to yourself! I cannot stress how important it is to do the latter. Without making a link back to yourself, the child is only reading the details and it does not value add to the conversation. Demonstrating understanding and making the conversation personal will help engage the listeners. Compare the following responses for Q1:

Pupil A: I will like this year’s funpack as it contains nostalgic items and some snacks. The Chapteh looks fun and I like it very much.

Pupil B: I will like this year’s funpack as it contains nostalgic items and some snacks. I can see that one of the nostalgic items in the pack is the Chapteh. I remember playing with one before but I was not very good at it. It seems rather hard to find a Chapteh nowadays so I am excited to receive a nostalgic item like this one. With a free one in the funpack, I will be able to enjoy playing with it with my brother. Hopefully, my skills will improve with more practice!

Compared to Pupil A, Pupil B clearly made a link between the point and himself. Pupil A’s response only served to touch and go while Pupil B’s response was deeper and more meaningful.

2. Sharing the other point of view

For questions that require choices (Yes/No, will/will not), it is a good idea to share the other point of view. Again, this serves to demonstrate more thorough thinking and lengthen the conversation. You can take a look at this in Q1.

3. The importance of your stories

For every question, you will realise that inserting your stories help to liven up the responses and make them more personal. As mentioned in the earlier post, the 5W1H is an essential foundation when you tell a story and of course, you can add in more details! Q3 is a question that requires your story to be the bulk of your answer and using the 5W1H and a conclusion will be useful in your crafting of an excellent response.

The other two types of questions (“Your favourite…” and “People” questions) are not included in this practice but they should follow the same steps in answering. A note on “people” questions: remember to think of and describe the personality of the person you have chosen and reflect that as a reason for your choice in your answer. (e.g. I would attend the National Day Parade with my best friend as out of all my close ones, she is the only one who has not attended one before.)

Are you ready to take a look at our SG50 Funpack question and answers? Here they are!

I hope the resources are helpful to your children and feel free to drop me any questions or clarifications that you need by leaving a comment. Your queries may be others’ queries too!

ALL THE BEST!

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If you are still looking for a way to do better for your oral and need a structured approach to craft your answers in the stimulus-based conversation section, we are happy to share with you that our online oral course, “Lil’ Chatterbox” is now available!

Other than our compilation of vocabulary, you will also be getting the videos to walk you through our simple yet effective framework to answer the SBC questions as well as the Oral Workbook consisting of 10 practices with model answers. Find out more about this essential PSLE English oral course here now.