How to Prepare for PSLE Oral Examination

“What’s there to study for oral?”

“Isn’t it simply talking?”

“How can I even prepare for it?”

Do these questions come to mind when you hear the words ‘oral examination’? Fret not! There are indeed things you can practise and/or take note of – not only to ace the examination, but also to help you grow into a confident and eloquent speaker.

Let us look at each section of the oral examination segment and discuss some tips and tricks you can take note of.

Reading Aloud

Most students assume that since candidates only receive the passage when they are sitting for the examination, they can simply “wing it”. Although some students do have a knack for reading accurately in the short time that they are given, you should not leave it to chance. You can (and should) prepare for reading aloud.

Generally, there are three key areas that examiners look out for in this section:

  1. Articulation/Pronunciation
  2. Pace/Fluency
  3. Intonation

Articulation/Pronunciation

This tests your ability to enunciate the words in the text accurately and clearly. This requires practice and discipline. For instance, when watching the news or an English programme, keep an ear out for the way that newscasters and characters pronounce difficult or unfamiliar words, and repeat them to yourself. The more often you do this, the more words you learn how to pronounce. Simple, right?

During the examination itself: Identify tricky words, decide beforehand how you will pronounce them, and speak without faltering. Who knows, if you say it with enough confidence, the examiner may not even notice that you mispronounced the word!

Pace/Fluency

The next thing you are tested on during the Reading Aloud segment is pace and fluency. Generally, to help your reading flow more naturally,

  1. Use punctuation as a guide on where to pause as you read
  2. Watch out for connecting words like ‘and’, ‘because’, ‘but’, etc.
  3. Break up the sentences into meaningful phrases

Try this example! Read the following sentence aloud, pausing at each / for smoother reading:

Ellie loved going for English tuition, / and was devastated / when classes were cancelled / due to the virus.

Don’t forget to take slow, deep breaths and read at a comfortable speed!

Intonation

The rise and fall in your pitch when you speak, also known as the intonation, can help you express emotions and mood in the text. This helps your reading sound more dynamic! When done well, this can help differentiate you from your peers. Remember to:

  1. Keep an eye out for feeling words and exclamations, and be sure to express them appropriately
  2. Emphasise action verbs

Quick practice! Read the following sentence and try out different tones for the feeling words as well as action verbs until it sounds exciting, yet natural:

                            Feeling tired and hungry, he ran all the way home without stopping.

Keep practicing these 3 elements of Reading Aloud, and in no time at all, you can be a master at captivating your audience with just your voice!

Stimulus-Based Conversation

This is the segment that has most students quaking in fear. “I have no idea what to say!” many cry. As such, they have little confidence in their ability to answer the examiner’s questions adequately. How can you equip yourself sufficiently for the examination?

One of the best ways to feel better prepared for the conversation is to simply know your stuff! Identify some common topics that are of interest not only in the oral examination, but all around you – at home, in school, in the country, even the world. What “hot topics” have people been discussing recently?

Once you have identified them, start to brainstorm some potential questions (use 5W1H!), as well as interesting vocabulary or expressions that you can pepper your responses with. Here are some broad categories to help you get started:

Global Climate Change Gadgets/Technology Health and Fitness Family
Volunteering Leisure/Hobby Road Safety Bullying
Positive Values and Habits Neighbours/The Neighbourhood Friendship The Internet

For each theme, jot down and familiarise yourself with key vocabulary. Not only does this enrich the vibrancy of your response, but it can also help you think of some related content as well! The goal is to elaborate on your answers as much as possible. Having a mental list of keywords at the tip of your fingers can help you respond to the question quickly and appropriately. Don’t forget to sprinkle your response with a personal example/opinion to keep things interesting!

Last Piece of Advice

The last crucial component applies to both sections, and is less about the actual speaking, but body language. Whether you are reading the text aloud, or engaging the examiner in a conversation, confidence is what gives others a good impression of you. Even if you don’t feel it in that moment, you can adjust your body posture to exude that sense of self-confidence. Here are some things to remember:

  1. Sit straight, keep your shoulders back, and relax your limbs. This is especially important, as it can help you to feelmore confident too!
  2. Maintain eye contact with the person you are speaking to
  3. Smile when appropriate while conversing

Finally, you can even record yourself on video and observe your posture and speaking habits. From there, it becomes easier to correct yourself accordingly and grow to be a better speaker!

And with that, all the best in your learning! Speak clearly and confidently, and you’re sure to ace every topic that comes your way. If you need more help with the PSLE English Language paper, or if you wish to find out more about English classes for primary school students, click here.

 

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