Hello everyone! I’m Teacher Sze Li from Lil’ but Mighty (Hougang branch). The preliminary oral examinations have come to an end and I’m sure all Primary 6 students are busy gearing up for the upcoming PSLE Oral Examination now. With that in mind, we thought it would be helpful to share the compiled list of the 2025 Prelim Oral Topics and Questions which we have collected from our students.
What is the PSLE Oral Component and Why Does It Matter?
As we all know, the PSLE around the corner, and leading the charge is none other than the Oral component. But what exactly does it involve? For many students, the Oral exam is a key section where you’ll be assessed on your ability to communicate clearly and confidently in English. This isn’t just about reading passages aloud—it’s also about engaging in spoken interaction and expressing your thoughts effectively.
The reason the Oral component carries so much weight is simple: strong communication skills are fundamental, both in school and in life beyond. Whether you’re answering questions about a picture stimulus or speaking about your personal experiences, you’ll need to think on your feet and articulate your ideas well. That’s why doing well here can really boost your overall English grade, making it a crucial area to focus on as you prepare for the PSLE.
In the handout, you’ll find photographs depicting 4 sample stimuli. We’ve also included descriptions of other stimuli tested. This resource is designed to help you practise forming responses to the various questions.
Download your Free P6 2025 Prelim Oral topics handout! (includes 4 Sample Stimuli)
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Apart from the resource, I’ve also reviewed the information collected and have put together some insights to aid your preparation. Let’s dive into them now!
1. Range of questions tested for Question 1
Many of you should be aware that 2025 will the first year that the Primary 6 students will be sitting
for the oral examination featuring a new type of stimulus: a photograph depicting a real-life scenario. As a result, students can now expect Q1, which is a question based on the stimulus itself, to be different.
Common Types of Q1:
Based on the questions our students were asked, there are 3 common types of Q1:
- Look at the photograph. How do you think the people are feeling?
- Look at the photograph. What do you think the people are doing?
- Look at the photograph. What do you think is happening?
However, do remember that these 3 questions are not the only possible questions that can be asked for PSLE Oral. There’s a likelihood that Q1 is not any of these questions. Regardless, the requirements to score well for Q1 remains the same and that is to always support your response with details from the stimulus!
Quick tips on how to score for Question 1:
(a) Describe facial expressions and/or actions
In the stimulus, you should be able to see the people’s facial expressions and/or actions.
While the stimulus is also visible to the examiners, do not assume that they will understand that you have derived your point from the stimulus. It is still vital to describe what you see in the stimulus when you answer Q1 so as to intentionally demonstrate to the examiner that your points are grounded in what is depicted. You can start your points with useful sentence starters such as “I can see that…” or “I noticed/observed that…”.
(b) Do not neglect the background
More often than not, you can deduce the scene from the details in the background. For example, if you see wooden planks that are elevated like a bridge, with people attached to safety harnesses and ropes while making their way across the suspended planks, you can infer that they attempting a high-element obstacle course.
It is useful to infer where the people are and what activity they are participating in because such information can allow you to put yourself in their shoes. This understanding will in turn help you apply your own knowledge about the activity to form a more detailed and meaningful response.
(c) Use varied vocabulary
Finally, it is important to vary your vocabulary when it comes to answering. This is especially so when you’re forming reasons to support your answer.
To avoid this pitfall, use synonyms or other related phrases to ensure that while you are conveying the same ideas, you do not sound repetitive.
Do you see that the use of varied vocabulary in the second example works better?
Here is a table of synonyms and related phrases for some common emotions that you might use to answer Q1.
Other than learning to vary your vocabulary, it is also important to brush up on your vocabulary related to the topics that you might get tested on. To work on building your topical vocabulary, you can check out our previous blogpost.
Sample Questions for the Theme of Health
To get a better sense of what you might be asked during the oral exam, let’s look at some sample questions built around the popular theme of “Health.” These questions draw on everyday situations, so you’ll notice they are both relatable and practical.
Suppose you are shown a photograph of elderly men jogging in a park. The types of questions you may encounter could look like:
- How do you think the people in the picture are feeling?
- Would you rather exercise by yourself or with others? Why?
- Can you share an experience when you exercised with friends?
- Can you describe a time in school where you learned about the importance of healthy eating?
Or, if the stimulus is a picture depicting a father and daughter selecting fresh vegetables at a supermarket, you might get:
- What are the people in the picture doing?
- How does your family try to stay healthy together?
- What does your school do to encourage students to adopt healthy habits?
These sample questions give you an idea of how the examiners may approach a common theme and how your personal experiences or school life can be tied into your responses.
Sample Questions for the ‘Studying & School’ Theme
To help you get a sense of what might be asked during the oral exam, here are some sample questions you could encounter if the theme revolves around ‘Studying & School’. Use these as practice prompts to strengthen your vocabulary and responses.
Possible Questions Based on Visual Stimuli:
- How do you think the student in the picture is feeling? What makes you say so?
- Why do you think having positive study habits matters for students?
- Where do you personally enjoy studying, and why?
- Can you share whether you have any study routines that help you learn better?
- Is there a spot at home where you find it easiest to concentrate on your work?
- Do you believe making a study schedule helps? Why or why not?
If you see a stimulus with a teacher and a student using a globe, you might hear questions such as:
- What do you observe the people in the picture doing?
- Have you ever travelled to another country? What was it like?
- Why do you think learning about other countries is important for us?
- If you could, which country would you love to visit, and what interests you about it?
- Can you think of a new skill you’d like to pick up? Why that skill?
For scenarios depicting activities like learning CPR at an open house, questions may include:
- How do you think the people involved are feeling at this moment?
- Can you describe a time you attended an event at a school or in your community?
- Do you prefer taking part in activities physically or virtually? Why?
And if the stimulus shows something active, such as an obstacle course, you might be asked:
- What are the people doing in this scene?
- Would you want to try this activity? Explain your reason.
- What are your plans after your major exams this year?
Remember, these questions are opportunities for you to express your ideas, opinions, and personal experiences, so practise sharing your thoughts confidently and with relevant details.
Sample Questions on the Theme: Overcoming Fear
If you’re preparing for the theme of “Overcoming Fear,” it helps to familiarise yourself with the variety of questions that might come up during the oral examination. Based on past experience and the types of scenarios commonly used, here are some examples of questions you may encounter:
- Would you be interested in trying the activity shown in the photograph, such as crossing a high-elements obstacle course?
- Have you faced a situation where you felt afraid, and how did you overcome it?
- Can you describe a time when you felt proud of yourself for completing a difficult task?
- What are some things you like to do during your school holidays that might help you build confidence or face your fears?
- Have you ever hesitated before attempting something new or challenging? What was the outcome?
- Do you prefer to try something entirely new or to improve on an activity you’ve done before? Why?
- Share about an incident where you injured yourself—what did you learn from the experience?
- Do you think learning from mistakes is more valuable than learning from success? Explain your viewpoint.
These questions are designed not just to assess your ability to describe what you see, but also to encourage you to provide personal reflections and connect your experiences to the situation depicted. Even if the image shows something as simple as a child trying to swim or someone learning to ride a bicycle, the examiner may prompt you to discuss themes of resilience, bravery, or learning from setbacks.
Remember, the key is to relate your responses to the theme and express your thoughts clearly, using details either from the stimulus or your own life.
Sample Oral Questions: Environment Theme
To help you prepare for the “Environment” theme, here are some sample questions similar to what you might encounter in your oral exam. Let’s explore the kinds of prompts you could be asked, based on common stimuli like pictures of families or groups picking up litter at the beach.
- What actions are the people in the picture taking to protect the environment?
Hint: Look out for details such as trash bags, gloves, or recycling bins and describe what you notice using phrases like “I can see that…” or “I observed that…” - Have you ever done anything to help our environment? Please share your experience.
You could talk about activities like recycling at home, participating in your school’s clean-up day, or even choosing reusable grocery bags instead of plastic ones. - Why is it important for us to care for the environment?
Think about how pollution affects wildlife or how clean surroundings benefit our health and well-being. - Would you be interested in joining an activity like a beach clean-up? Why or why not?
Try to connect your answer to your own experiences or feelings. Maybe you enjoy being outdoors or like working as a team for a good cause. - How do you think you could encourage your friends or family to take better care of the environment?
Suggestions could range from educating others about recycling and joining environmental clubs, to using fun social media challenges to spread the word.
These types of questions are designed to encourage you to share personal stories, offer your opinions, and think about practical ways to make a positive impact. Remember, you don’t have to limit your ideas to what’s shown in the picture—drawing on your own experiences or thoughts will help you give a fuller answer.
2. Expect topics beyond what is obvious for Questions 2 & 3
It may seem fairly easy to infer the topic once you have seen the stimulus. For example, if you’re given a photograph showing a boy and an elderly man baking in the kitchen, it is likely that the topic is on ‘Family Bonding’ or ‘Spending Time with Elderly’.
While that is still true to a certain extent, do take note that Q2 and Q3 are typically broader-based. This means that they can be related to other topics. For example, although the stimulus shows family bonding, the examiners might test you on other questions beyond that!
Does this mean that there is no way we can prepare ourselves for Q2 and Q3? Absolutely not! In your 5-minutes preparation time, when you’re zooming in on the little details shown in the stimulus to prepare for Q1, make a mental note that they may also provide hints for possible topics to be tested in Q2 and Q3. Other than that, it is good to think out of the box! Think of other topics that can be related to the obvious topic at hand!
Subsequently, try to brainstorm vocabulary and stories related to these other topics. This will ensure that no matter what Q2 and Q3 are, you are prepared to respond and elaborate on the spot!
Demonstrating Key Values in Your Oral Responses
Beyond describing what you see, it’s a good idea to show the examiner that you understand the deeper values highlighted by the stimulus—such as family, health, and community. This not only shows your ability to observe, but also your maturity in thinking about why these things matter.
When answering, try weaving these big ideas into your response wherever appropriate:
- For ‘Family’: If the image shows people spending time together, talk about why family time is important. For instance, you might say, “Family time lets us support each other and build strong relationships.” You can add a personal connection with a simple anecdote—perhaps how you and your relatives celebrate special occasions, or help each other during challenging moments.
- For ‘Health’: If the scene involves activities like sports or outdoor play, point out how such activities keep us healthy. Explain that good health allows us to participate in the things we love and care for our loved ones. If you do something similar—like jogging with a parent or eating healthy meals at home—mention it!
- For ‘Community’: When the photo features group activities, volunteering or people working together, highlight the value of community spirit. Say how coming together helps us learn from one another or solve problems—just like how neighbours sometimes organize clean-up days or festive gatherings.
Whenever you get a question that asks for your opinion or a recount from your own life, take the opportunity to link it back to these values. For example:
- “I believe eating meals together as a family is important because it helps us talk and share our day, making us feel closer.”
- “Joining in community events helps me understand others better and makes our neighbourhood friendlier.”
- “Taking care of my health by being active means I have energy to help my friends and family.”
By including these reflections, your answers will be richer and show the examiner you’re able to think thoughtfully about the topics presented.
3. Thinking critically for Questions 2 and 3
From the questions gathered, we noticed a trend for Q2 and Q3 which is that the questions mostly require students to think critically. They could be opinion-based or criteria-based questions.
We’ve touched on how to answer opinion-based questions in our Prelim Oral blogpost last year.
Opinion-Based Questions: Share Examples and Experiences
Some questions will ask directly for your opinion. For example:
“Do you prefer to spend time with your friends or family?”
When faced with such questions, remember that it’s not just about stating your preference. You should share examples or personal experiences to connect the theme to your own life. This makes your answer more engaging and convincing, showing the examiner that you can relate the topic to your real-world experiences.
Criteria-Based Questions: Thinking Critically and Reflectively
Hence, we’ll be focusing on the criteria-based question in this blogpost. A criteria-based question requires one to think critically because this type of question requires you to identify and explain the specific factors or considerations you have when you need to make a decision.
For instance, in the question “What would you look out for when choosing your secondary school?”, the examiners want to know what your preferences are or what you consider important (e.g. Co-curricular activities (CCAs), school culture or proximity to your home) and why those factors matter to you.
Therefore, to truly provide a high-level answer, you must go beyond simply listing your preferences. You need to show that these preferences are built on self-reflection. This means you connect your choices to your own experiences, values and goals. This approach transforms a simple response into a developed and thoughtful one.
When you encounter questions about your life—such as recounting a recent trip with your family, or reflecting on whether you prefer spending time with friends or relatives—don’t just state your answer. Bring your perspective to life by sharing specific personal experiences, anecdotes, or moments that shaped your view. For example:
- Recount questions: Instead of simply saying, “I traveled to Paris with my family,” describe a memorable experience from that trip, like getting lost in the Louvre or tasting macarons for the first time.
- Opinion questions: If you’re asked whether you prefer friends or family, illustrate your answer with a real-life example, such as a family tradition you cherish or a memorable adventure with friends.
By weaving in these personal details, you demonstrate a deeper level of reflection and insight—showing not just what you think, but why you think it.
Sharing Personal Experiences in Oral Exam Responses
When it comes to oral exam questions, bringing in personal experiences can help your responses feel richer and more genuine. Sometimes, you may be prompted to recount a memory or event from your own life.
For instance, if asked about a memorable family trip, you might describe your recent holiday to Penang, highlighting how you and your family explored the local street art and sampled famous hawker food. If the question leans more towards your preferences—such as whether you enjoy spending time with friends or family—you could draw on a weekend picnic at East Coast Park with your cousins, recalling a funny incident or a special conversation during the outing.
Even for opinion-based questions, sharing a brief story or example helps anchor your viewpoint. Perhaps you believe spending time outdoors is valuable; you could mention a time you joined your school’s dragonboat team and how working together under the hot sun made you appreciate teamwork and perseverance. By weaving in these personal touches, not only do you answer the question, but you also connect the topic to your own life and show the examiners more about who you are.
Handling Exam Day Nerves and Presenting Yourself with Confidence
We all know that it’s perfectly normal to feel nervous when the spotlight is on you during an oral examination—even the best of us experience butterflies! The good news is that examiners understand this and will not penalise you for a few jitters. In fact, they’re hoping to see you shine.
To help calm those nerves and present the best version of yourself, here are some practical tips:
- Sit Up Straight: Good posture not only makes you look attentive but can actually help you feel more confident.
- Make Eye Contact: When speaking, try to look at your examiners occasionally. It shows that you’re engaged and taking the conversation seriously.
- Keep Fidgeting in Check: Rest your hands calmly on the table or in your lap—avoid playing with your stationery or tapping your feet.
- Take Deep Breaths: If you feel anxious, pause for a moment and breathe in slowly. This will help steady your voice and thoughts.
- Believe in Yourself: Remind yourself that you’ve prepared well! A positive mindset can make a difference during those crucial minutes.
Remember, everyone gets nervous; what matters is how you handle it. Present yourself with poise, take a moment to gather your thoughts before you answer, and trust in your preparation.
That concludes my sharing for today! I hope these insights will be useful for your revision. As you prepare for the oral examination, remember this key advice: pay close attention to the questions and answer confidently. Good luck to all of you! You’ve got this!
