P5 Oral Practice: Stimulus-based Conversation on the theme of Reading

This article is part of our P5 oral practice section.The PSLE 2025 Oral examination has just concluded, giving parents, teachers, and students a clearer understanding of the new oral format and the sharper increase in marks. Teachers now have greater insight into the possible variations of the first SBC question related to the stimulus image. Beyond the familiar questions such as “What are the people doing in the picture?” and “How are they feeling?”, teachers may also ask thought-provoking questions that encourage students to share opinions and analyse the image with supporting reasons.

While this approach strengthens a child’s critical thinking skills, it can sometimes be challenging for students to achieve on their own. To learn more about how you can support your child at home, you can read our article focusing tips on how you can help your child excel in the Oral component at home.

At Thinking Factory, we aim to expose our students to a wide range of critical thinking questions tied to different images. Our goal is to guide them in expressing clear, well-reasoned opinions. Importantly, we begin this training early—starting with our Primary 3 students. After all, the earlier children start voicing their thoughts in Oral practice, the more natural and confident they will feel by their PSLE year.

We introduced the Oral component across all levels in April and May, revisited it again in August, and from September, we will begin testing students individually.

Here’s a preview of one of the themes we’ll be exploring with our Primary 5 students in September.

P5 Oral practice example

The three questions we asked our students are as follows :

Question 1:

Do you think this is a good place to read?

Question 2:

Do you think that reading the newspapers is important?

Question 3:

How can your school encourage students to read?

The three questions we plan to ask our students are designed to encourage critical thinking and the expression of opinions.

To score well, students will need to:

• Analyse the picture and support their answers (Q1)
• Share opinions backed by facts and personal examples (Q2)
• Offer logical yet creative suggestions (Q3)

Below is the model for the image and questions above. We use the TREES model below to answer the questions but students can use any approach that their school uses :

Do you think this is a good place to read?

Thought

Yes, I think this is a very good place to read.

Reason 1

Firstly, from the picture, I can see a group of children sitting on cushions on the floor, each holding a book. Behind them, there are low shelves filled with many books, which shows that they are in a library or a reading corner for children.

Reason 2

Secondly, the big window allows sunlight to stream into the room. I think that the room will look bright and cheerful. The atmosphere looks very peaceful, and the children seem to be enjoying their reading without distractions.

Reason 3

Thirdly, this looks like a good place to read because it is comfortable. Instead of sitting at hard tables and chairs, the children can relax on soft cushions. I know from my own experience that when I sit in a cosy spot, I can focus better on my book. If I were one of the children in the picture, I would feel calm and happy while reading.

Reason 4

Another reason this is a good place is that it is quiet. From the picture, the children are all focused on their books and no one looks noisy or restless. This is important because a quiet environment helps us to concentrate.

Reason 5

Lastly, this place has many books to choose from. The shelves in the background are filled with books of different sizes. That means the children will never run out of interesting stories or knowledge to discover. In my opinion, having a wide variety of books nearby is very important, because if I get bored of one story, I can easily pick up another.

Experience

My school library is the opposite of the place in the photograph. It is sometimes too crowded, so it can be hard to find a peaceful corner. There are no cushions and some inconsiderate students will sit and chat with their friends at the table instead of reading. That is why this place looks ideal for reading.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think this is definitely a good place to read. It is cosy, quiet, filled with books, and allows children to read comfortably with friends. If my school had a reading corner or library like this, I would look forward to reading every day.

Do you think that reading the newspapers is important?

Opinion

Yes, I believe that reading the newspapers is very important, especially for students like me

Reason 1

Firstly, newspapers keep us informed about current events in Singapore and around the world. For example, when the news reported about the recent bullying cases in Singapore, my parents and I discussed why such things happen and what the government might do to prevent it in the future. Reading the newspaper makes me more aware of the challenges that our country faces, such as crime, traffic accidents, and even environmental issues like pollution and climate change. It also helps me understand how Singapore is connected to the rest of the world. For instance, I once read an article about how the haze from Indonesia affects our air quality, and that helped me realise how countries depend on each other.

Reason 2

Secondly, newspapers are very useful for my studies. Many of the passages we read in English exams, such as Cloze passages or Comprehensions, are adapted from real newspaper articles. My tutor always reminds us that if we read more newspapers, we will find it easier to handle such questions. I also use ideas from newspapers in my Compositions. For example, when I wrote a story about a fire in a shopping mall, I was inspired by a real article I read in The Straits Times about a fire drill at Jewel Changi Airport. Additionally, reading the newspaper enhances my vocabulary because I encounter many words that are not found in my school textbooks. I sometimes copy down difficult words into a notebook so I can revise them later.

Experience

In my daily routine, I usually get the chance to read the newspaper at home since my family still subscribes to The Straits Times, which is delivered to our doorstep every morning. On weekdays, I don’t have time to read before school, so I normally read the newspaper at night after finishing my homework. On weekends, I have more time and I enjoy flipping through the different sections, especially the Home section and the sports pages. Apart from the print newspaper, I also use my phone to read articles online when I am waiting for the MRT or the bus. Nowadays, many news websites like Channel News Asia and TODAY Online allow people to read articles for free, so it is very convenient. I also notice that many of my friends get their news from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. While that is fast and easy, I still prefer reading the proper newspapers because I know the information is more reliable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I believe that reading the newspaper is very beneficial for primary school students. It keeps us updated about what is happening in the world, it gives us ideas and vocabulary for our schoolwork, and it helps us have meaningful conversations with our parents, teachers, and friends. Even though there are many other ways to get news today, I still think newspapers are one of the best and most reliable sources of information.

How can your school encourage students to read?

Reason 1

I think my school can encourage students to read by making reading more fun and exciting. Right now, my teachers always remind us to borrow books from the school library, but sometimes many of my friends say they are too busy or they don’t know what book to choose. One way to encourage us is to organise interesting activities like a “Reading Challenge” where classes compete to see who can read the most books in a month. If there are small prizes like bookmarks, stationery, or even extra recess time, more students will be motivated.

Reason 2

My school can also invite authors to come and share their stories with us. Last year, an author visited my school and talked about how she got her ideas for writing children’s books. I felt very inspired and immediately borrowed one of her books after the talk. If my school does this more often, students will realise that reading is not just homework but something that can spark creativity and imagination.

Reason 3

Another idea is to create cosy reading corners in every classroom. Right now, we only have the library, but if we can have a shelf of books in our classroom with beanbags or cushions, it will make reading more comfortable. During silent reading time, I would definitely pick up a book instead of staring into space. My classmates would also find it easier to grab a book when they are free.

Reason 4

I also think the school should let us share about our favourite books during assembly or in class. When I hear my friends talking excitedly about a funny story or a thrilling mystery, I feel curious and want to read it too. If we can recommend books to one another, more students will discover stories that they enjoy.

Experience

I used to think reading was boring until my teacher gave me a book about football. Because I love soccer, I found the book very interesting and I finished it quickly. After that, I started reading other books too. This shows me that if schools help students find the right type of books based on their hobbies, more people will enjoy reading.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my school can encourage students to read by organising fun challenges, inviting authors, creating cosy reading corners, allowing book sharing, and helping us discover books that match our interests. If these ideas are carried out, I believe many more students will develop a love for reading, just like I did.