PSLE English Composition Last-Minute Tips: Trendspotting for the PSLE Composition

By WR!TERS@WORK

Trendspotting for the PSLE Composition is an exercise W@W Curriculum Writers and teachers do yearly. Essentially, trendspotting involves looking at the common themes and questions asked in previous PSLE papers to predict the trajectory of the future PSLE composition questions. Then, students are prepared for these themes and questions in their lessons at W@W. Students are prepared with plots and stories which they can vary to suit the actual exam questions.

How does W@W prepare its teachers with this PSLE Trendspotting exercise?

At W@W, the teachers undergo regular seminars discussing the PSLE composition questions each year to break the question down. A Plot Curve is constructed and presented, and the elements of the story are discussed. Creating a Plot Curve is akin to an essay plan, and it is paramount for students to craft a story plot which has all the elements of a good story – a central conflict, tension building, and a satisfying resolution. Students with a good essay plan will ensure they do not ramble on irrelevant tangents or add odd elements to the story.

All the W@W teachers are on the same page about the content being taught to ensure a high standard of lessons, no matter which branch or which teacher conducts the class. Attending regular training about how to teach the content and stories written to best prepare students for their major exams like PSLE is compulsory for every teacher at W@W as we are committed to delivering the highest quality of lessons and materials for each and every student here.

What goes into Trendspotting for the PSLE exams?

After the trends from past year PSLE questions have been noted down, a set of notes and materials for the students to revise in class needs to be written by our W@W Curriculum Writers. Heavy discussion and planning go into crafting these stories – they must be able to adapt to the correct context of the actual question in the PSLE exams. The core philosophy behind W@W is that students arrive armed with a bank of stories which they can vary according to the question being asked in the exam. Some people who hear of this concept may be mistaken that W@W teaches students how to blindly memorise and regurgitate information.

However, this could not be further from the truth. Students at W@W are trained to exercise their critical thinking skills – writing a composition question in the exam requires students to analyse the question first and adapt their existing story banks to fit the questions. Some characters written about previously may be reused, but ultimately, students need to look at the question and vary the Plot Curve based on what they are being asked to do. As our teachers at W@W say, context is highly important – it would be impossible for a character to “drown in a fire”.

Our teachers and Curriculum Writers at W@W are highly committed to ensuring your child attains the best PSLE grades they possibly can. As such, we will continue to spot trends in past PSLE questions and come up with high quality lessons and materials to not only help your child survive, but also thrive when they eventually face the composition question in their PSLE exams.

Attain Stellar Results with W@W!

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 WR!TERS@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, 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!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Which Tuition Centre is Good for English?

W@W is an excellent option to help your child prepare for their English Language classes at school at any level. W@W 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 practise. 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 W@W, 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.