Compiled list of the 2025 Prelim Oral Topics and Questions
- Posted By Superadmin Lilbutmighty
- 08/12/2025
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.
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)
We respect your privacy.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Ms Sze Li
Ms Tan Sze Li is an English Teacher at Lil’ but Mighty. As a teacher, she strongly believes that learning is a journey for everyone – student and teacher alike. After every lesson, the students leave with new knowledge. Her hope is to inspire students to become inquisitive learners who will spark a change in the world with their thirst for knowledge.
Other related posts
10 Beautiful Vivid Verbs to Boost Your Writing and Oral! | Primary School English
- Creative Writing & Compo, Oral
3 Family-Friendly Shows on Netflix (Educational & Entertaining)!
- English in the real world
10 Beautiful Words You Can Use in Narrative / Descriptive Writing | Secondary School
- Secondary School English
Understanding Purpose-Related Questions in Visual Text Comprehension
- Visual Text Comprehension
How Playing Video Games Can Improve Our English (With Practical Tips for Parents!)
- English in the real world
2021 Mother’s Day Contest Winners + Our Founder’s Journey (Mother’s Day Special)!
- Company News
How to Help Our P1 & P2 Kids Find Their Footing in English (Without the Panic)
- Lower Primary, MOE, Primary School English, Study Habits
PSLE ORAL | Compiled Prelim 2021 Oral Topics + Questions!
- Free Downloads, Oral
If you’re looking at getting recent PSLE Prelim Oral topics and practice questions, this will be an excellent resource for you!
5 Steps to Convert a Newspaper Article into a Cloze Passage
- Cloze Passage and Editing, Free Downloads, Primary School English
I would like to share with you 5 steps on how authentic articles can be transformed into cloze passages easily. Read on here!
PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Free SG50 Sample Practice + Model Answers
- Free Downloads, Oral, Primary School English
In this blogpost we will be touching on the oral stimulus-based conversation topic of National Day and SG50! Read on here!
PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Filling your Story with Details Easily + Free Revision Cards
- Free Downloads, Oral, Primary School English
By simply using the 5W1H, your children will be able to lengthen their stories (hence, the conversation!). Read on here!
Primary School Situational Writing: Q&A + Formal vs Informal Writing Comparison Chart
- Free Downloads, Primary School English, Situational Writing
To aid you in your situational writing revision, here is a comparison chart that shows the differences between formal and informal writing!
PSLE English Tips | Oral: Stimulus-Based Conversation Checklist
- Free Downloads, Oral, Primary School English
To help my children handle the Stimulus-Based Conversation examination, here are some instructions again about using the checklist!
A Little Encouragement | DIY Motivational Bookmark (Easy to personalise too!)
- English in the real world, Free Downloads, Reading
A bookmark with a quote to motivate is also a chance for them to see the power of words and how words can mean more than what they seem.
Situational Writing: Step-by-Step Guide + Free Revision Card
- Free Downloads, Primary School English, Situational Writing
I believe a walkthrough on the process of doing situational writing is in order. Here are the requirements for content and language!
I Love Reading | 5 Ways to Motivate Reluctant Readers
- English in the real world, Free Downloads
One of the most important ingredients necessary for a child or anyone learning English is the habit of reading. Get motivated to read now!
PSLE English | Printable Ultimate Grammar & Synthesis Summary
- Free Downloads, Grammar, Sentence Synthesis
Today, we are sharing two lists of essentials in our Ultimate Grammar and Synthesis Summary Printable. Download them free here!
How Well Do You Know Your Past Participles?
- Free Downloads, Grammar
While we are familiar with the past, present and future tenses, the little less known but equally important tense is the past participles.
Primary Composition Writing | Starting Sentences with Introductory Clauses
- Creative Writing & Compo, Free Downloads
Today, we'll be revising the use of sentence starters to help you create variety in your sentence structures. Read on here!
The Sentence Train | Lower Primary English
- Free Downloads, Grammar
Today, we are going to learn what makes up a sentence. It will come in handy when you do the word order activity in school! Read on here!
PSLE English Tips | Oral: Reading Checklist
- Free Downloads, Oral, Primary School English
This Oral Reading Checklist can be used by children when they practise reading on their own. Download it now!
Language of COVID | 10 Words Added to the Dictionary
- English in the real world, Vocabulary
Expressing Character Feelings Too! | Using Show-Not-Tell (Part 2)
- Creative Writing & Compo
Which Picture Should I Use? | Choosing the Best Picture to Use for Composition!
- Creative Writing & Compo
Previous
Next
Like what you are reading?
Subscribe now to receive news and tips hot off the press!
