For many students in Singapore, the prospect of learning Chinese and taking the PSLE Chinese exam fills them with dread and anxiety. This due partly to Singapore being a predominantly English-speaking society, resulting in a lack of opportunities to get acquainted with the Chinese language. Nonetheless, there are steps you can take to help your child make the most of their PSLE Chinese preparation process:
1. Understand the requirements of the PSLE Chinese exam
The PSLE Chinese examination consists of four components:
- Composition Writing (Paper 1): Students will have to complete either a topic-based essay or a picture-based essay in 50 minutes. The essay must be at least 100 words long.
- Language Use and Comprehension (Paper 2): There are two parts to Paper 2: Booklet A and Booklet B. Booklet A consists of MCQs, while Booklet B consists of open-ended questions. Students will be tested on their ability to derive answers from the presented texts through interpretation, inference and analysis.
- Oral Communication (Paper 3): There are two parts to the Oral Communication component: passage reading and video-stimulus conversation. During the video-stimulus conversation, students will watch a one-minute video and be required to answer questions based on the video content. Students will be assessed on their fluency, pronunciation, grammar and ability to articulate their thoughts.
- Listening Comprehension (Paper 3): Students will listen to various audio texts and be required to answer MCQs based on the information in the texts.
2. Create a conducive environment for learning Chinese
The lack of exposure to the Chinese language is often the reason why many students find it a struggle to ace their PSLE Chinese examination. To inspire a love for the Chinese language and make the learning process more enjoyable for your child, you can start by creating a conducive Chinese learning environment.
Make it a point to practise speaking Chinese and reading Chinese content with your child on a daily basis. For example, you can leverage content from everyday sources like the newspaper, Chinese dramas, Chinese radio channels and advertisements. Ask questions about the content and get your child to express their opinions on the relevant topics. Encourage them to start a journal and pen down their thoughts daily in Chinese.
By speaking the language and reading extensively, your child will have a better understanding of the Chinese language. Reading can also help your child develop a better grasp of common sentence structures, vocabulary and idioms used in the Chinese language, allowing them to become better writers.
Additionally, encourage your child to record new Chinese words, phrases and idioms in a handy notebook. Get them to review the handbook regularly and practise constructing sentences with the vocabulary.
3. Master PSLE preparation and examination techniques
Apart from building a strong foundation in the Chinese language, mastering PSLE preparation and examination techniques will be extremely beneficial for your child. Here’s what you can advise your child on for each component of the PSLE Chinese exam:
Composition Writing (Paper 1)
- Have timed composition writing practices before the exam.
- Read model compositions and take note of how the stories and characters are developed.
- Ensure that there are transitions between the paragraphs and that the story has a logical flow.
Language Use and Comprehension (Paper 2):
- Practise with sample passages before the exam.
- During the exam, address the manageable questions first before revisiting challenging questions later.
- If there are any words that they can’t recognise in the passage, try using inference by reading the full sentence.
- Try not to leave blanks, especially for the MCQs.
Oral Communication (Paper 3)
- Practise with PSLE Chinese oral reading passage samples.
- Pay attention to tone and enunciation.
- For the video-stimulus conversation, make sure to cover all aspects of the content. Using the 5W1H method (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) will be helpful. Your child should also remember to express their own opinions about the video content.
Listening Comprehension (Paper 3)
- Listen attentively.
- Keep a lookout for emphasis on keywords and phrases which may hold clues to the answers.
4. Consider PSLE Chinese enrichment programmes
To gear up your child for the challenging PSLE preparation journey ahead, consider enrichment programmes like the PSLE – The Champion Mindset Way tuition programme offered by the MindChamps Enrichment Academy. Comprising three-hour tuition lessons, this intensive programme will equip your child with the necessary techniques and knowledge to tackle the PSLE Chinese exam.
Book a centre visit now to learn more about our PSLE enrichment programme in Singapore!