Primary 5 English Oral Key questions

The oral component is one that requires practice and preparation. While some students have the gift of the gab, others are painfully shy. Either way, the most important thing is that students answer the questions asked in the best way possible. Students should prepare a list of Oral Key questions to prepare their oral testing.

At Thinking Factory, we use the TREES method to help the students tackle the oral questions. Thoughts-Reasons-Examples-Experiences-Suggestions.

For a number of years, all of our P5 students have a list of questions that they need to prepare at home. These questions are placed in certain categories such as personal, family, health. Students then are prepared should any of these questions come out (and there is a very high chance that they will) during their oral testing.

This was the case for 2019 PSLE Oral on the theme of reading. Those who were with me in Thinking Factory from P5 had these answers prepared and used them for their PSLE oral revision.

The example below is how one should prepare his response using the TREES method for the question below.

How to use the TREES approach to answer personal questions?

Example: What do you do during your free time?

Thought

I rarely have any free time this year but when I do, it is usually over the weekends. I have a few hobbies such as reading, creating an imaginary world on my SIMS and cycling. However, as the PSLE year ticks by, I have less and less free time, even over the weekend. Thus, I have to choose what I want to do wisely.

Reason 1, Examples & Experiences

 For the past few months, my favourite activity is cycling outdoors. After long hours of revision work at home, I will hop on my bicycle and cycle around my neighbourhood. I have a large park near my home called Bishan Park and I love to cycle around the park, listening to the birds chirping and feeling the cool wind on my face. I adore the silence when the park is quiet and no one is around but I also enjoy watching families having their picnics or children rollerblading. It serves as a reminder of all the activities I can do once the PSLE is over!

Reason 2 & Examples & Experiences

I think that cycling is a great way to spend my valuable free time. I get to exercise, as well as, socialise with the people living in my neighbourhood. I have a few friends who live in my area and sometimes we will cycle around together. I read an article that said that high rates of activity in children have been associated with high test scores! So staying active actually helps me become more intelligent.

Suggestion/Opinion

In my honest opinion, I think that children in Singapore have too much homework and we spend too much time on academic achievements. I know that it is important to study hard but I think Singaporean children have too little free time. We need free time to relax and perform fun activities besides academic work.

We should find ways to relieve stress and talk to others around us especially when we are undergoing a stressful situation. For me, cycling is what I enjoy doing the most during my free time.