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Preparation for PSLE English 2019

1. PAPER 1: SITUATIONAL WRITING – INTENTION VS REGISTERS

Intention Formal Register Informal Register

Salutation • Dear Sir/Madam, • Hi Ahmad,

• Dear Dr Cheng, • Hello Mum,
• Dear Mrs Chan, • Dear Aunt May,

• How are you? I hope you

I am Mabel Lim from Primary are doing well.
Opening paragraph 6E. I am writing this email/ • How have you been? I
letter to (main purpose) hope you are getting used
to your new environment.

I am not sure if you aware but I

I am writing to report an act
would like to tell you that two
of vandalism that was com-
To make a report students from your school had
mitted by two students from
committed an act of vandalism
your school.
last Friday evening.

I am very grateful for …

To thank the recipient I would like to express my Thank you for your …
gratitude towards…

To suggest or invite I would appreciate if … Why don’t we …

I would like to seek every-

Could you let me know if you
To appeal to someone one’s help in returning Kitty,
spot Kitty around the neigh-
or a group of people my missing cat if you see it in
bourhood?
the neighbourhood

• Hope to hear from you

I look forward to hearing soon.
To ask for a response
from you. • Let me know as soon as
you…

• I was wondering if you

could… Could you do something for
To ask for a favour
• I would be grateful if you me?
could…

• We would appreciate if you

would…
• Please let me know what
• I am interested in
action you propose to take…
To make a request obtaining/receiving…
• Could you please send me…
• I would appreciate your
immediate attention to this
matter.
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Preparation for PSLE English 2019

1. PAPER 1: SITUATIONAL WRITING – INTENTION VS REGISTERS

Intention Formal Register Informal Register

• I am writing to provide you with an

• Let me fill you in on the group
To provide update on the group project discus-
project discussion that had this
updates sion that we had this morning when
morning when you were not around.
you were absent from school.

• We would be happy to… • Let me know if you need my help.

To offer help
• We would be pleased to… • I don’t mind helping you.

• I am writing to make a formal

To recommend
request for Mr. Heng to be • I hope that Mr. Heng can be given an
someone for a
considered by your organisation for award for being…
commendation
an award.

• I am writing to express my
To make a dissatisfaction with…
• I am very upset and unhappy with…
complaint • I am writing to complain about the
rude behaviour of …

• I am looking forward to seeing you.

• If you have any queries, please do
Closing paragraph • I hope to hear from you soon.
not hesitate to contact me at …
• Let me know what you think of the…

• I am writing to express my share key

To share • I want to tell you more about the tour
details of the tour package provided
information package that company provides
by that company.

• Thank you for taking the time to

Ending phrase read my email/letter. • Goodbye!
• Thank you.

• With lots of love,

Minah
• Yours sincerely,
• From,
Peter Lim
Sundram
• Yours faithfully,
Sign-off phrase • Regards,
Lilian Khoo
Dev
*the writer will sign-off with her full
• Your best pal,
name
Lai Heng
*surname is not needed

• DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS • CONTRACTIONS CAN BE USED

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Preparation for PSLE English 2019

2. PAPER 2: GRAMMAR MCQ
Listed below are 3 of the 10 common topics for Grammar MCQ.

Verb + Object + Bare Infinitive

1. Kim recalled how her coach would help her __________ for the tournament during the term
holidays.
(1) train (2) trains (3) trained (4) training ( )
2. Gopal helped Jim __________ the cutlery to the dining room.
(1) take (2) takes (3) took (4) was taking ( )

Gerund Form of the Verb

1. Mother suggested __________ the bus as there was a technical fault on the train tracks.
(1) take (2) takes (3) took (4) taking ( )
2. The villager heard someone shouting and felt the ground __________ slightly below their feet.
(1) shake (2) shakes (3) shook (4) shaking ( )

Quantifiers
1. __________ were expected to make it past the final and most challenging stage of the
obstacle course.
(1) Few (2) Most (3) Many (4) All ( )
2. __________ has been written about the causes of rashes. One merely needs to visit the library or
go online to find out more.
(1) Few (2) Little (3) Many (4) Much ( )

3. PAPER 2: SYNTHESIS AND TRANSFORMATION

There are about 8 key concepts that are covered in this section. Shown below is one of them.

GERUND AND VERB

E.g. The soldiers did not retreat. They charged towards the oncoming tank.
Instead of retreating, the soldiers charged towards the oncoming tank.

QUESTIONS
Sally discovered that she had incurred overdue charges. As a result, she called the library
to complain.
On discovering that she had incurred overdue charges, Sally called the library to complain.
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Preparation for PSLE English 2019

4. THINGS TO TAKE NOTE:

EXAMINABLE
SUGGESTED ACTIONS
COMPONENT

• Weekly practice that vary by its main purpose, tone and audience.
• Ensure that connecting words are used to ensure that sentences do
Paper 1
not end abruptly. E.g. in the event that, granted that, given that, for the
Situational
purpose of
Writing
• Have a quick recap with our article at https://owlsmart.sg/article/
psle-english/5-tips-to-handle-psle-english-situational-writing

• Term 1: Characterization & Crafting a Dilemma

Have a quick overview with our article at https://owlsmart.sg/article/
psle-english/achieving-thoroughly-developed-interesting-relevant-con-
Paper 1
tent-for-psle-english-paper-1
Continuous
• Term 2: Choice of words
Writing
Take a close look at phrasal verbs and check sentence structures and
sequence of events to ensure that the reader does not have to break
down any ambiguous sentences or phrases.

• Term 1 & 2: Identifying and categorising

PSLE vocabulary items revolve around 5 key topics –
1. Verbs
Paper 2
2. Abstract Nouns
Vocabulary &
3. Adjectives to describe People
Vocabulary
4. Adjectives to describe Abstract Nouns
MCQs
5. Collocations
• Login to OwlSmart at https://owlsmart.sg/ for hundreds of practice
questions from the above categories.

Paper 2 • Term 1 & 2: Identifying and categorising

Grammar PSLE grammar items revolve around 10 key topics.
MCQs and • Login to OwlSmart at https://owlsmart.sg/ for hundreds of practice
Grammar Cloze questions from the above categories.

• Term 1 & 2: Identifying and categorising

PSLE Comprehension Cloze items revolve around 7-8 key items.
Paper 2
• Login to OwlSmart at https://owlsmart.sg/ for practice passages that
Comprehension
feature the above items.
Cloze
• One common question type is collocation. Try to categorise the
collocations by theme.