PSLE Oral | Oral Vocabulary by Topic!

This is to ensure fairness as the topics selected are not foreign to any child. Having said this, it means that nothing is considered too obvious or common to be tested.

As the date for PSLE oral draws near, it would be good to have a chat with your child from time to time to find out what are some of the issues they had encountered during school practices and most recent oral examinations and school oral practices. In particular, were there times that your child had wanted to say something but just can’t find think of suitable vocabulary or expressions to convey the wonderful ideas that had appeared in his/her mind?

We have just the right solution for this issue that many PSLE students face. =)

For PSLE orals, bite-sized is always best

Today, we would like to share with you a way to boost your child’s vocabulary and remember content for various oral topics. It is simply to take down important vocabulary for the oral topic as your child practises. Instead of memorising an entire model answer, try remembering the key vocabulary related to each topic. You know that bite-sized learning is always easier.

Having rich vocabulary definitely helps to bump up your language score but in addition, remembering these phrases may trigger important content for your answers too. A list that is compiled for the topic of “health and fitness/ sports” may look like this:

The main point is to collect important vocabulary according to main topics so that it is easier for your child to revise at a glance during preparation. Here are some ideas of other topics that we feel are possible to be tested during the oral examination this year and which you should compile the vocabulary list for:

1. leisure / hobbies / entertainment

2. leadership, recycling / environment

3. technology / internet

4. neighbours and your neighbourhood

5. road safety

6. hygiene and cleanliness

7. nutrition, fitness and health

8. positive values and habits in the school context

Eventually, your list may look something like that:

How can your child use this list for the PSLE Oral Exam? 

1. Your child may wish to read up on one topic each day and share the vocabulary with someone such as you or a friend. (It is always nice to revise together!)

2. Read up on the vocabulary for the related topic before practising questions on that topic. e.g. If the practice topic is about sports, read up the phrases for health and fitness/sports before you start the practice with someone. During the practice, make sure to apply the phrases as much as possible.

3. Randomly choose a topic for your child and he/she should try and name 3 to 5 of the phrases recorded under that topic.

4. Add on vocabulary that is relevant to each topic or even start a new topic e.g.

   List of phrases for ‘Positive Values and Habits in the School Context’

   • spare a thought for other students
   • take up the responsibility of…
   • everyone should be a role model for one other
   • a simple gesture could make a huge difference
   • the task of … would be so much easier if everyone plays his/her part
   • teamwork is important to/for … to be accomplished
   • My classmates and I can remind one other by…
   • integrity and sincerity are more important than…
   • having a heart of servitude is important to…
   • I should practise … as instructed by my parents/teacher/ coach because…
   • It is more meaningful to succeed as a team.
   • Without the help from …., I could not have ….
   • I would recommend … because
   • knowledge does not only enriches our minds but also enables us to judge whethersomething is right or wrong

If there is a word or phrase which your child is not certain about, be sure to check out the dictionary so that he/she can use them accurately. For parents who would like to start this early with your child who is not yet taking the PSLE, it may be good to help him or her to get started by selecting a few phrases/ words which are easier and building from there.

Check out more resources like this here!

All the best, Primary Six warriors and impress the examiners with some golden vocabulary!

The Lil’ Chatterbox Course

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!