At WRITERS AT WORK, we understand the importance of adapting to changes in the PSLE English examination format. For students preparing for PSLE 2025, one significant area to focus on is Visual Text Comprehension (VTC). This component remains an integral part of Paper 2 and tests students’ ability to analyze and interpret information presented visually, such as in advertisements, posters, or brochures. With the new adjustments in the English syllabus, understanding the nuances of this component is more important than ever.
In this blog, we will delve into what these changes entail, explore the skills required to excel, and provide practical tips to help students prepare effectively for the Visual Text segment.
What Are the Key Changes in Visual Text Comprehension?
1. Greater Emphasis on Critical Thinking
The PSLE 2025 format places a stronger emphasis on students’ ability to infer and analyze rather than simply recall information. Questions in the Visual Text segment are now designed to test deeper comprehension skills. Instead of the previous 2-page Visual Text that consists of both textual and visual elements (e.g. images), there new format features:
- Text 1 – visual text accompanied by pictures and some text.
- Text 2 – short text that is relevant to the same theme covered in Text 1 (e.g. an extract from an article, a review, a comment, a testimonial, a speech, a dialogue).
From the text segments provided, students must:
- Extract key details from visual elements such as images, headlines, and captions.
- Understand the purpose and intended audience of the visual text.
- Make logical inferences based on the given information.
2. Integration of Real-World Contexts
The visual texts used in the exam will increasingly reflect real-world scenarios. For instance, students might encounter promotional posters for community events, informational brochures, or social media posts. This shift encourages students to think critically about how information is presented in everyday contexts and how it influences viewers. One major change is an additional question that requires text-to-text connection, for example:
Excerpt:
Text-to-text Connection Question:
We cannot be sure that the shampoo collection is more worthy of purchasing as compared to other brands because the text says:
- Only fragrances and dyes used differ.
- We do not need to be picky when selecting shampoos.
- Manufacturer boast real benefits and unmatched effectiveness
- Most shampoos in the market are similar in composition and function.
Answer: 1
Skills Needed to Excel in Visual Text Comprehension
To perform well in this component, students need to develop the following skills:
1. Analytical Skills
Students must carefully analyze the various elements in the visual text, including:
- Headlines: What is the main message?
- Images: How do the visuals support or enhance the text?
- Captions: Do they provide additional details or context?
2. Media Literacy Skills
While there may be a deduction of marks and from 8 to now 5, students may now find Visual Text more challenging since media literacy skills have become critical to ace the 5 questions. Students will do well to develop such skills as they will continue to encounter VTC in secondary school.
3. Inference-Making Ability
Inference-making involves reading between the lines. For example, if a poster highlights an event with phrases like “Don’t Miss Out!” and “Limited Slots Available,” students should infer that the event is popular and likely to fill up quickly.
Strategies for Answering Visual Text Comprehension Questions
Mastering the art of reading visual text requires specific strategies. Here are some helpful techniques to ensure success. To excel in Visual Text Comprehension, students should adopt a structured approach. Here’s how to tackle these questions effectively:
1. Identifying Key Elements
Identifying key words within a visual text and its accompanying content is essential. Keywords often highlight the central theme or purpose of the text, helping readers understand its message. For instance, in a poster promoting environmental conservation, terms like “sustainability,” “eco-friendly,” and “renewable energy” pinpoint the poster’s focus, enabling quick comprehension.
2. Paying Attention to Details or Fine Print
Fine print or additional details in visual text often provide crucial context. These may include disclaimers, instructions, or specific information that influences interpretation. Carefully examine all components of the visual text, including images, colors, and layout. Each element is designed to convey a specific aspect of the message. For example, on product packaging, fine print might include usage instructions, ingredients, or warnings.
3. Audience Considerations
Understanding the intended audience of a visual text is key to interpreting its message. Determine whether the text targets children, adults, or a specific demographic. Audience analysis helps reveal how images and language are crafted to communicate effectively.
4. Objective Analysis
Identifying the primary purpose of a visual text is crucial for accurate interpretation. Visuals may aim to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. Understanding the purpose provides clarity on how the text’s elements work together to deliver its message. For instance, an advertisement might promote a product, while a community poster could raise awareness about an event.
5. Language Analysis
Analyzing the language features in visual texts enhances comprehension. This includes examining headings, captions, and descriptive phrases. These elements often clarify or reinforce the visual message. For example, captions on a diagram might explain a product’s components, helping readers understand its functionality.
6. Message Interpretation
Interpreting the overall message requires synthesizing insights from audience analysis, purpose identification, and language features. Grasping the core idea involves understanding how visuals and text work together. For example, a public service poster on recycling may use vivid imagery and concise text to encourage eco-friendly behavior. By combining these analytical steps, students can effectively address comprehension questions.
7. Practice with Real-World Materials
Engage with real-world examples like advertisements, brochures, and posters. Annotate these texts to identify their audience, purpose, and key messages.
8. Start Now, Start Early
The changes to Visual Text Comprehension in PSLE 2025 aim to better prepare students for real-world communication and critical thinking. If you need a professional guiding hand to help, WRITERS AT WORK is committed to equipping students with the skills and strategies needed to navigate these changes confidently. With consistent practice and the right guidance, success is within reach. By focusing on analysis, inference, and clear expression, students can excel in this component. WRITERS AT WORK is an education centre offering some of the best English enrichment courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore. Start early, start now, and let us help you shine in your PSLE journey!
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!
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1. Is Creative Writing Good for Kids?
Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.
2. What are Good Creative Writing Topics?
A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.
3. How to Begin a Story?
A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.
4. What are the Basic Steps in Creative Writing?
A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.
