5 Tips on How to Unpack PSLE Composition Questions

By WR!TERS@WORK

Writing a composition for PSLE is perhaps one of the hardest aspects of taking the PSLE English exam. There are many working parts to writing a good composition which do not only involve the mechanics of English such as learning grammar rules and sentence structure – students need to break down the PSLE composition question and find out what they need to write about. At WRITERS AT WORK, essay writing students will learn to write different stories throughout the year, with phrases to enhance their creative writing and earn valuable content marks through WRITERS AT WORK English enrichment classes. Students will be able to then use these stories during their actual PSLE English exam, building on them to answer the question prompt at hand.

WRITERS AT WORK students can apply what they learn from their English tuition classes in their actual PSLE exams. Knowing how to use something you have learned is just as important as learning it.Through the guidance of teachers from WRITERS AT WORK, creative writing students are exposed to the concept of QSP, which stands for “Question-Specific Phrase”. By having an effective QSP and answering what the exam question asks for, students can avoid having examiners mark their writing down in a PSLE English composition.

Are you feeling confused? Don’t worry! In this blog post, we will explain what this means.

1. Have a proper Question-Specific Phrase (QSP)

A QSP is a sentence which answers the topic or a given word. Usually, a PSLE English composition topic will have a central theme students need to write about. An example of an exam question would ask the student to write about “a good deed”. Students can put the QSP in their English composition writing in 2 ways: direct and indirect. A direct QSP features the question phrase verbatim, and an indirect QSP could include a synonym in place of the exact words in the question. Some students may even imply a QSP in their essay – a riskier method which assumes that the examiner will see the student’s efforts to imply the QSP as “showing not telling”. The various methods (direct and indirect QSP) have their own pros and cons. However, what matters is that the QSP should be clearly placed in the essay – a writing strategy that will certainly be put to regular practice during WRITERS AT WORK composition classes.

2. Point of View

Another important aspect of unpacking a PSLE English composition question is deciding who the main character should be. The question will usually contain hints about who the main character should be – if the topic contains one of the following: “I”/ “My”/ “Me” / “Your”, the composition should be in first person, and the main character should be the student himself/herself. WRITERS AT WORK students are taught to consider the context of the story – for example, if the main character is unconscious in the story, the story should be in third person, as it would be awkward to write about the events going on in first person while you are supposed to be out cold. It is vital not to have inconsistencies in the POV and make mistakes like suddenly switching to third person.

3. Having Proper Guidance

At WRITERS AT WORK, our team of experienced teachers unpack the question literally and break it down to ensure students answer each component in a clear way. Each question (example: “a special gift”) is the sum of its parts, and by breaking down the question into bite-sized chunks, students can be aware that they need to address every single aspect of the question without leaving anything out. WRITERS AT WORK teachers strive to equip their composition writing students with all the skills necessary to adapt and tackle as many possible topics and questions as possible, reinforcing students’ confidence entering PSLE.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

Every week, WRITERS AT WORK students will write a story during class  – these stories are not standalone – they will help students write more interesting stories during the PSLE exams to increase their content marks by using the phrases taught to them in class. Students will get plenty of opportunities to practise English creative writing, allowing them to improve the quality of their compositions to be ready for exams. WRITERS AT WORK students learn how to articulate their QSPs and effectively answer the question posed to them, ensuring better composition writing quality and results. Once this fundamental but crucial step becomes second nature, WRITERS AT WORK students can focus more on their content writing.

5. Proper Signposting

Every student, including students who struggle with English Composition writing, can learn how to write compositions by recognising the direct QSP and putting them at the beginning, middle, and end of their composition. When writing, PSLE English students need to cater to examiners and ensure that they meet all the requirements and remove any benefit of the doubt examiners may have when marking the paper. PSLE English Teachers need to be sharp and discerning when marking their students’ work – if there are techniques students are using that are highly risky, teachers should advise students to use the Minimal Risk Approach – this involves making sure there is no room for the examiner to doubt or question your English composition writing and mark you down.

Master the English Language 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 practice 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@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. W@W 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 W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS@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@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Which Tuition Centre is Good for English?

WRITERS AT WORK is an excellent option to help your child prepare for their English Language classes at school at any level. WRITERS AT WORK teaches students how to write compositions which are the basic building blocks for all communication, whether it be in school or outside in the workplace.

2. Why is it Important to Attend English Enrichment Classes?

Students will be able to develop important skills such as critical thinking which will serve them well in all areas of life. Students will learn how to incorporate critical thinking and analysis skills when they read comprehension passages and plan their ideas and arguments out for essays.

3. Is It Worth Getting an English Tutor?

If your child needs help in school, it could be worth considering getting an English tutor as English is a compulsory subject at school. English is used in all areas of life and learning how to read critically and write essays are highly important skills which should be learned early.

4. Why Do Students Have Poor Writing Skills?

Students often have poor writing skills as they do not have the knowledge of good exam habits to practice. For example, many students often do not plan their essays, which lead to a poor writing habit of rambling, going off on irrelevant tangents, and forgetting to list all good arguments.

5. Is Creative Writing a Skill or a Talent?

Writing is a skill which can be trained. Anyone, regardless of whether they have a strong language ability or not, can be trained to write well given that they have a structure and are made aware of their writing habits which need to be changed. At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe that every child can write – it is up to us to instil good writing habits to improve children’s skills for the better.

6. Why Do People Study Creative Writing?

Writing is an essential skill which is useful even when a child grows up to become a working adult. Communication is the basic foundation of any society, and people study how to write to better communicate their ideas to people. At school, academic performance is measured by how well students can communicate what they know in the context of an examination.