At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe that early preparation is key to mastering the English language. The upcoming changes to the PSLE English Paper 2025 have sparked much discussion, particularly regarding Paper 1’s revised weightage for Situational and Continuous Writing. While the changes may seem subtle, they have a significant impact on how students should approach their writing preparation. In this blog, we will break down the key changes, explore their implications, and provide actionable tips to help Primary 5 and 6 students excel in this critical component of the PSLE.
Breakdown of Changes in English Paper 1
1. Revised Weightage and Marks
Paper 1 will now account for 25% of the overall English grade, a slight reduction from the previous 27.5%. Within this paper, the mark distribution has been adjusted:
- Situational Writing: Total marks have been reduced from 15 to 14, with language marks dropping from 9 to 8. Task fulfilment remains unchanged at 6 marks.
- Continuous Writing: Previously marked out of 40, it will now be graded out of 36.
Although the reduction in marks for Situational Writing might seem minor, this component remains a critical part of the PSLE. Students must continue to demonstrate clear and concise communication, adhering closely to the format and requirements of the given task. The slight shift in emphasis places greater importance on the quality and relevance of content over mechanical accuracy, such as spelling and punctuation.
Situational Writing: What’s New?
Situational Writing tasks typically require students to craft a response in a specific format, such as a letter, email, or report. The 2025 PSLE changes do not alter the types of tasks students will encounter, but the reduced marks for language mean that every word must count. Strong writing will require:
- Creativity in framing responses.
- Coherence in organizing ideas logically.
- A solid grasp of grammar and vocabulary to convey ideas effectively.
Example Task
Imagine you saw a poster advertising the fundraising event. Write an email to Miss Huang to inform her about the upcoming event which she might be interested in attending.
You are to refer to the poster on the previous page for your email.
In your email, include the following information:
- the name of the event
- the venue and time of the event
- what the event is for
- how you plan to contribute for the event
- the activity you think Miss Huang would like most and why
You may reorder the points. Write in complete sentences.
Take a look at the fifth bullet point, which is underlined. This point highlights that the information cannot be directly extracted from the provided stimulus.
Instead, you will need to come up with your own suggestion for this point. However, your suggestion should remain logical and relevant to the context provided in the stimulus. Here are three steps to help you address this new requirement:
1. Identify the Content Point Requiring Your Input: When reviewing the content points, pinpoint the one that requires your own input. To make it easier to remember, you might want to mark it with a star or any other symbol, as it will not be directly available in the stimulus.
2. Extract Related Clues from the Stimulus: Highlight any relevant information or hints in the stimulus that can guide your idea generation. While the exact point is not stated, there will typically be clues to help you infer. For instance, does the stimulus mention specific details about the activities or events?
3. Draw a Logical Conclusion from the Clues: Based on the hints provided, formulate a logical and contextually appropriate suggestion. For example, if the stimulus mentions that a fundraising event includes a local band performing popular songs, it would make sense to suggest attending the live musical performances because Miss Huang enjoys concerts. Note that the explanation about Miss Huang’s interest in concerts should not be directly mentioned in the stimulus.
Most importantly, ensure that your content demonstrates a clear understanding of the purpose, audience, and context of the task. Address all the required information thoroughly to secure the full 6 marks for Task Fulfilment!
Potential Challenges
The revised weightage and marking criteria introduce new challenges for students:
1. Balancing Content and Language
With fewer marks allocated to language, students may struggle to balance creativity with grammatical accuracy. While the emphasis shifts towards task fulfilment, errors in grammar and vocabulary can still detract from overall clarity.
2. Time Management
As Situational Writing carries fewer marks than Continuous Writing, some students might deprioritize it during revision or rush through it during the exam. This approach can lead to incomplete or poorly crafted responses.
3. Understanding Task Requirements
Misinterpreting the given task remains a common pitfall. Students must carefully analyze the prompt to ensure they address all required points accurately.
The changes to the PSLE English Paper 2025, particularly in Situational Writing, emphasize quality over quantity. While the marks allocated to this component have been slightly reduced, its importance remains undiminished. At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to helping students navigate these changes with confidence. By mastering the formats, honing their language skills, and practicing with purpose, students can excel in both Situational and Continuous Writing. Start early, start now, and let us guide you toward PSLE success!
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 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 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!
1. 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.
2. How Do You Write a Good Secondary School Essay?
Firstly, you need a strong introduction which engages the audience. Secondly, you need appropriate content which is balanced on both sides if you are making an argument for and against something. Lastly, your conclusion must be synthesised and weigh the benefits or disadvantages of the essay subject, or provide another viewpoint about the topic.
3. How Do You Structure an English Essay?
Firstly, you need a good hook as an introductory paragraph. Next, the body of content follows, which will answer the essay question provided. Lastly, a strong conclusion which “comes down on one side” is needed.
4. What Is a Good Paragraph Starter?
It depends on the essay. For narrative writing, the student can start in media res. For argumentative essays or discursive essays, a thesis statement is needed which outlines the central tenet of your argument.
