2024 PSLE Composition Exam Analysis – The Sandwich
In this year’s PSLE English Paper 1, students were tasked with the composition topic of “Trying Something New” accompanied by a trio of visual prompts featuring a CCA fair, a sandwich, and a tent — each is a relatable image that students have likely encountered before.
For the uninitiated, these seemingly simple prompts might appear overwhelming, causing students to draw on a blank. It’s worth bearing in mind that while such open-ended PSLE English Composition questions tend to focus on things that Primary school students may already be familiar with!
The Importance of Planning Before Writing
Planning is an essential strategy when it comes to learning how to write a good composition. Many students eager to get their ideas on paper, often skip this crucial step, leading to disorganised or incomplete stories. WRITERS AT WORK’s teachers emphasise the importance of planning a composition before writing. Our students learn to create mind maps and structured outlines that allow them to focus on key events, character motivations, and satisfying endings. By training students to plan, they can communicate their message and stories in a more coherent and effective manner.
STORYBANKING – Our Secret Weapon for PSLE Success
Attending WRITERS AT WORK’s English tuition classes, students stand to have better opportunities at elevating their PSLE AL score, using our trademark STORYBANK technique. STORYBANKING allows WRITERS AT WORK students to instantly draw upon an extensive database of highly versatile, modular story structures and themes that can be quickly adapted and repurposed to tackle whatever composition questions the PSLE can throw at them.
STORYBANKING can help students gain more confidence with composition prompts like the ones from this year’s paper. For example, a child who often observes community events will find it easier to connect with the image of a festival tent. At WRITERS AT WORK we emphasise the importance of being observant and using real-world experiences to build richer stories. The more aware students are of their environments, the more confident they will feel when writing about new topics.
To demonstrate our approach to writing, below is a model composition writing that uses the WRITERS AT WORK methods and strategies. Where words appear in bold, they help answer and address the composition question with the chosen picture of the sandwich:
Tik tock, tick tock. The house was silent except for the ticking of the old grandfather clock in the hall. The floor and walls were awash with moonlight, as the fluorescent light was too weak to light the area. I stood alone in the kitchen, gazing into the open fridge. The fridge’s cool breeze grazed my face, but my skin prickled with heat. The thrum of restless energy coursed through my veins as I gripped the fridge’s handle tightly. Tomato, lettuce, red onion, eggs, and bread. I shivered lightly as I heaved the ingredients out of the fridge and placed them gently onto the counter. What was I supposed to do now? I conjured a picture of an egg sandwich in my head, alongside the figure of Mother. In my head, she set the cutting board on the countertop and placed the tomato onto it. So that was what I did; for while she had perhaps done this about a hundred times, this was my first time trying to make an egg sandwich.
The moonlight streamed through the open windows and onto the cutting board. My head was abuzz with white noise as I furrowed my eyebrows in concentration. Grasping the plump tomato with my sweaty fingers, I tilted the hilt of the knife down and sliced through the thin red skin. Juice squirted out and spilled onto my fingers, making me cringe. I kept going, preparing for the next cut. Keep your fingers away from the knife, Mother said in my head, and I angled my hand away. Bright red pulp spilled out and glistened in the moonlight. Tiny seeds were nestled within the tender flesh, and my nose was assaulted by the scent of a sweet, earthy aroma. Soon, the tomato was reduced to thick, uneven slices, chopped up by my inexpert hand. I thought of Mother, who would have shaken her head amusedly and clucked at me. Concentrate, she would have said. But this is my first time trying something new! I would have grinned back at her. Tick tock, tick tock. I was running out of time.
I made quick work of the lettuce next. The crisp sound of the knife slicing through the crunchy leaves filled the air as I wielded the knife with more precision. I then pushed the small mountain of pale green sliced lettuce next to the red, oozing tomato slices, and eyed the red onion. I gulped, wishing Mother was around. She was an expert in subduing this tear-jerking adversary, while this was my first time, and I was but a mere novice in the kitchen. I picked it up and examined it. Thin lines ran around the circumference of the onion, with even spaces between each line. They reminded me of the faint tracing lines in writing exercises, the ones I did when I was in Kindergarten with Mother beside me. Follow the line, Mother would say, and so I did. I gasped as the biting, pungent aroma stung my nostrils, releasing a torrent of tears from my eyes. I blinked rapidly as the sharp, acrid smell pervaded the air. Undeterred, I picked up the knife again and sliced through the vivid purple layers. Tick tock, tick tock.
The eggs sizzled and hissed in the hot pan. I swirled the big spoon around the white and golden mess, mixing it into a frothy blend. The eggs had begun to set in the hot pan, transforming into fluffy clouds when a rapid, staticky noise came from the ceiling. I swivelled my eyes to the lone fluorescent light bulb. It flickered faintly, then sputtered out of life.
Darkness engulfed the kitchen. I froze. Then, my chest started heaving as tears sprang to my eyes, sorrow enveloping me in a vice-like grip. With wobbling lips and cascading tears, I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the faint moonlight. Heaving a deep sigh, I gathered all the ingredients and placed them near the window, where the moonlight shone the brightest. My hands roved around the items blindly, and I wished fervently that Mother was around. However, only her absence was felt- it was already a few months into her cancer treatment at the hospital. The grandfather clock ticked incessantly away in the hall- for me and her both. Tick tock, tick tock.
I took a fortifying breath and thought of Mother. What would she have done? She would have gritted her teeth and ploughed through her troubles. So that was what I did. With great care and precision, I assembled the egg sandwich, the product of my attempt at trying something new for Mother. Despite the lack of light and time, we had hope. I wrapped the sandwich lovingly, placed it in the fridge, and waited for Mother to return home in the morning.
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practise writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website, watch our YouTube videos and catch us LIVE on TikTok!
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS AT WORK!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. How Long Should You Study for PSLE?
Parents should take around a year or two to prepare for PSLE as learning about subjects like English requires a long-term effort, as opposed to short cramming.
2. Is PSLE Compulsory?
PSLE is compulsory for everyone to enter secondary school in Singapore.
3. How to Study for PSLE?
Parents should make a list of everything a child should study for all their PSLE subjects. Engaging a tuition teacher or practicing with workbooks and past year papers may help students tackle the exam format of PSLE and feel more confident taking the exam.
4. How Do I Motivate My Child to Do PSLE?
Children should be motivated to do PSLE by being taught that it is important for their future. Explaining to them the reasons to do the exam may work better than forcing them to study.
