Top 2024 Prelim PSLE Composition Topics & Tips: Adjectives, Actions, and Idioms Unpacked

Hello, everyone! Teacher Sze Li here — you might remember me from my recent blog post about the preliminary oral examination questions. What a whirlwind month it has been! Now, as we approach the final stretch before the PSLE 2024, I hope your revision is going well. To further support your preparation, I’ve compiled a list of the P6 Prelim 2024 PSLE composition topics and their accompanying pictures.

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In addition to the list, I’ll also be sharing interesting trends and observations I’ve noticed in the composition topics tested this year and some useful tips. Let’s dive in!

1. Topics that include adjectives

Adjectives are words that give us more information about the people, animals or things that they are trying to describe.

Since adjectives in composition topics will modify the nouns, they eventually dictate the types of story elements you will need in your composition to further showcase the topic.

For example,

Before you write the composition, it is good to do a quick rough story plot using a story curve so that you can organise your story ideas into the different paragraphs. This gives you an idea of the progression of your story (to avoid sudden logic gaps) and allows you to see at one glance that you have addressed the topic prior to writing.

Looking at Plot 1, it is quite clear from what has been plotted out on the story curve that the picture of ‘a pair of tickets’ was chosen and the “opportunity” for the main character was to watch his favourite band perform.

However, if you refer back to the composition question, the given topic is “A Precious Opportunity”. The adjective “precious” adds another layer to what needs to be addressed in the story. This means that other than writing about the “opportunity” in your composition, you need to describe what made it “precious”. Thus, Plot 1 is currently insufficient to address the topic.

Now, let’s look at Plot 2. By adding in the idea that it was the band’s first time performing in Singapore and the difficulty in securing the concert tickets, you would have better addressed the topic by elaborating on why the “opportunity” to watch the band was a “precious” one!

Although it may seem like Plot 1 and 2 are rather similar, the addition of the parts highlighted in yellow does make a difference and failure to fully address the topic can result in your content being penalised.

2. Topics that feature actions

Other than topics which contain nouns (like what we have seen above), there is an increase in topics that feature actions. This usually means that the topics start with an “-ing” verb.

For example,

When you come across such topics, it is essential to focus on a few key points:

(a) Consider who is doing the action

Since the topic revolves around an action, it is often more straightforward to have the main character performing it. For instance, if we look at the above topic, it may be easier to write about the main character learning the skill themselves rather than focusing on a character who is persuading someone else to try rollerblading for the first time.

(b) Describe the process in detail

The topic highlights an action, so it’s critical to provide clear, step-by-step descriptions of the process. For example, if your story involves the main character learning to rollerblade, describe each stage — from struggling to maintaining balance to finally gliding smoothly. This helps bring the action to life and makes your writing more vivid.

(c) Describe the outcome

After the main action has taken place, it’s crucial to address the consequence — whether positive or negative. For example, does the character succeed and feel a sense of accomplishment, or do they struggle and need to try again another day? Including these outcomes adds depth to the story. At the same time, don’t forget to weave in the characters’ emotions and reflections, especially in the conclusion. How did the character feel during and after the event? Did they learn a valuable lesson or gain a new perspective? Sharing these emotions and reflections helps readers connect with the character and provides a satisfying conclusion to the story.

3. Topics that contain an idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expressions (or idioms) are phrases which usually have meanings completely unrelated to the definition of the words. While such topics are less common than those featuring nouns or actions, they do appear occasionally as we have seen in the prelim topics compiled this year.

For example,

When tackling a topic with an idiomatic expression, it’s important to:

(a) Understand the true meaning of the idiom

The key to writing a strong composition on an idiomatic expression is in fully grasping its figurative meaning. For example, the idiom “better late than never” is used to express that it is better for someone to do something, even if they are late, than to not do it at all. Therefore, your story should include the idea of lateness while clearly illustrating why the delayed action or event is ultimately better than it not happening at all.

Although idioms are groups of words with meanings that differ from the literal meanings of the individual words, it’s still possible to infer the meaning of certain idioms based on context.

An example is a topic with the idiom “A Blessing in Disguise”. Ask yourself what the individual words mean

• “A blessing” means that there is a positive situation or outcome
• “in disguise” means that it is something that is pretending to be something that it is not

When you put them together, you can infer that the meaning of this idiom is about an event or situation initially seemed negative or unfortunate but ultimately turned out to be positive or beneficial. Ultimately, you are not tested on providing a dictionary definition of the idiom in your composition. You just need to have an idea of what it means so that you can craft a logical story around it. Furthermore, it is unlikely that you will encounter an obscure or complicated idiom as your composition topic.

(b) Incorporate the idiom creatively

Try to weave the idiom naturally into the plot. Avoid forcing it in or simply defining it at the beginning or end. Instead, let the events and characters’ experiences reflect the essence of the idiom. For example, in a story about “Better Late than Never”, you might write a story about a character who has missed several opportunities due to procrastination or fear. Eventually, the character seizes a final chance that seems to be their last opportunity. The story could highlight how the character’s late efforts, though delayed, lead to positive results or personal growth, reflecting the idea that it’s better to act late than to not act at all.

With that, I’ll conclude my sharing for today. I hope you’ve all learnt something new. The key takeaway is to break down PSLE composition topics carefully before you start writing. Addressing the composition topic effectively is crucial for achieving a high score. Last but not least, remember to pay attention to the pictures provided with the composition topic. Although we did not cover the use of pictures in the blog post, it is still of utmost importance that we feature at least one of the given pictures in our composition on top of addressing the topic.

Wishing you the very best in your PSLE examinations. Stay focused and believe in your abilities — you’ve got this!