A struggle some PSLE English students face is answering reading comprehension questions. At WR!TERS@WORK, all our teachers are trained to assist students in developing the necessary skills to excel in reading comprehension questions. We believe that the key to mastering PSLE reading comprehension is to understand the issue and context of the passage.
When faced with a reading comprehension question, there are some ways of going about it:
- Assign the reading first, and then go through the text line by line. Do not do speed reading at this point. Read every word and paragraph intentionally.
- Look at the questions first, and then read the passage.
- Let the child independently tackle both.
There is no hard and fast rule as to which order a student should approach reading comprehension questions. All these methods could work for different students. However, it is important to analyse the way a student thinks. Does the student feel aimless when reading the passage, and do they not know what to look for? If this is the concern, the teacher may guide the student to looking at the questions first so that their reading is guided.
How Does WR!TERS@WORK Inculcate Good PSLE Comprehension Habits?
At WR!TERS@WORK, we aim to instil good habits in our students. A good practice for students is to tackle the passage armed with a highlighter and highlight the significant points. However, the crucial question is – what should the student highlight? What is truly important in the passage? The significant points in a passage are usually the (1) characters, (2) actions, and (3) events. The comprehension questions are usually based around these 3 things.
2. Be Aware of the Characters and Their Roles in the Story.
The students should be aware of the characters and establish their roles in the story. Why are the characters central to the plot, and are they the protagonist or the antagonist? Thinking about a character’s motivations may help a student make sense of the climax – did the character act how he/she is expected to act, or is there a twist in the story?
3. Learn About the Various Literary Devices Present in the Story.
Furthermore, our teachers at WR!TERS@WORK teach students about the various literary devices present in a story and how to use them. Examples of literary device include, but are not limited to similes, metaphors, imagery, diction, irony, and juxtaposition. These literary devices are a way of conveying what the writer wants to say without overtly “telling” the reader what is happening in a story. Many students struggle with interpreting these literary devices, as they seem to be a rather roundabout way of saying what the author intends to say.
The best way for a student to understand how literary devices are used is to read more examples of how they are used in other contexts. Another good technique to master literary devices will be to write an essay or some sentences using these devices. Writing out sentences will require the student to be creative, which will improve another aspect of their English language journey – essay writing and sentence construction. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone and improve the student’s proficiency of the English language.
At WR!TERS@WORK, we find out how the student thinks to correct their logic if needed. Knowing how a student approaches a question and their thought process in answering helps us correct any misconceptions they have. Furthermore, a student should get used to explaining their thought process to improve their reasoning skills. Knowing how a student gets from point A to point B mentally will improve their communication skills.
4. Write Answers to PSLE Reading Comprehension Questions Concisely.
The last part of answering comprehension questions is writing out answers in a concise manner. Some students tend to ramble a lot when answering questions, and they must get used to answering questions in a concise and yet complete manner. At times, students tend to repeat parts of the question in their answers and lose sight of the point. It is advisable for students to go directly to answering the question instead. Furthermore, students should answer in a complete manner without leaving any parts of their answers out and explain the meaning of their answers as well as possible.
Learn How to Score Well for PSLE English Reading Comprehension
Although PSLE English may be a daunting challenge for many Primary 6 students in Singapore, it is important to remember that consistency is the key to master a language. Students need to read and practice writing bit by bit to improve, and cramming for a language subject will be impossible to do in such a short time before the exams.
At WR!TERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their PSLE English exam. With our carefully curated methods of teaching English Comprehension for PSLE, your child will be able to identify the answers to the questions and present them in a concise manner in no time.
Enjoy a Smooth Transition From PSLE to Secondary Education
The transition to secondary schools after PSLE can be daunting for some students. There will be new subjects and a totally new academic environment that students must navigate. However, there is one thing that remain constant, and that is English Language being the most important subject because at Secondary level English Language is deemed as L1 for score calculation.
In other words, it is a compulsory subject that has direct impact on your chances of advancing to upper secondary. Overall, English tuition and writing courses can help primary school students enjoy a smoother transition to secondary education by reinforcing their language skills and providing a strong foundation for academic success.
Engaging in English tuition and writing courses can greatly assist primary school students in smoothly transitioning to secondary education. These programs reinforce their language skills and establish a solid foundation for academic achievement. For more exam tips, parents and students can explore our website and watch our YouTube videos.
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WR!TERS@WORK has expanded to 8 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 WR!TERS@WORK.
Here Are the Answers to a Few Common Questions You May Have About PSLE English:
1. How can I improve my English comprehension for PSLE?
Firstly, good vocabulary is needed by reading widely. Next, look for clues in the context by reading the surrounding sentences. The main idea of the passage should be read, and the reader should get the gist of the entire passage. Lastly, students should read the comprehension questions to see what they are being asked to answer.
2. What are some types of comprehension questions?
There are several types of comprehension questions for PSLE English: factual, inference, sequencing, vocabulary in context, and applied vocabulary.
3. What are common mistakes in PSLE English Reading Comprehension?
Students could not read the question properly, misunderstanding the answers they need to give. Furthermore, students may not get the gist of the comprehension passage and may be at a loss to what the passage means.
4. What activities help with reading comprehension?
Reading widely helps students to answer reading comprehension. Furthermore, asking questions and answering questions will help students learn vocabulary to understand the context of the passage.
5. What are the 5W’s in reading comprehension?
The 5W’s in reading comprehension are: Who, What, When, Why, and Where, and also How.
6. What are the 4C’s for reading comprehension?
The 4C’s are the 4 perspectives of connections, challenges, concepts, and changes.
