The PSLE begins this week, and the first examination on the list is the Oral component. With the higher weightage, this component has been a source of concern for parents and students.

After more than a year of working on the new format of this component with TF’s students and the recent Preliminary oral examinations, here are three SBC reminders for all P6 students. Don’t forget to explore all our PSLE English Oral resources to help your child prepare effectively.

1. Analyse your photograph sufficiently

Many students tend to rush through the first questions – What are the people in the picture doing? Or how are the people feeling? When they do not describe the picture sufficiently, marks are lost. We instruct TF students to describe the image in at least six sentences. Ideally, it should be more.

While describing the image, give opinions by inferring or guessing why something is happening.

Example
“I think that it is the weekend and they are spending time together as a family.”

Remember to relate the image to your own life.

Example
“Just like the people in the photograph, I too spend time with my family on weekends. We usually take a walk at the Botanic Gardens every Sunday and then …”

2. Give personal experiences

Some questions asked are recount questions about your own life.

Example
“Tell me about the last time you travelled with your family.”

Other questions are opinion questions.

Example
“Do you prefer to spend time with your friends or family?”

In opinion questions, remember to share examples or experiences to connect the theme to your own life.

3. Be Confident

As teachers, we know that examination stress and nerves can cause even the most confident of speakers to falter. So, rest assured that your PSLE examiners will also understand this and be kind on the day.

Nevertheless, remember to maintain a good posture and make eye contact with the examiners. Try not to fidget and, most importantly, believe in yourself!

Below are the preliminary 2025 themes that TF students were tested on. We compiled them into a list of themes and worked on the questions, especially the opinion-based questions, with our students.

4. 2025 Preliminary Oral List of Themes

Theme: Environment

Picture: A family picking up litter at the beach.

  1. What do you think the people in the picture are doing?
  2. Have you done anything to help the environment? Tell me about it.
  3. Do you think that it is important to take care of the environment?

Picture: Three men picking up litter at the beach.

  1. Would you like to participate/Are you interested in this activity?
  2. Do you think everyone should care for the environment?
  3. How do you think you can encourage other people to care for the environment?

Theme: Studying & School

Picture: A girl studying and doing her work at home.

  1. What do you think the girl in the picture is feeling?
  2. Do you think that having good study habits is important?
  3. Where is your favourite place to study?
  4. Do you have good study habits?
  5. Do you have a spot at home you like to study at?
  6. Do you think it’s important to have study schedules? Why or why not?

Picture: A teacher and student with a globe

  1. What are the people in the picture doing?
  2. Have you travelled abroad?
  3. Do you think that it is important to travel abroad with your family?
  4. Tell me a new skill that you want to develop?
  5. Do you think it is important to learn more information about other countries?
  6. Where in the world would you like to go?
  7. Do you think we should travel often?

Picture: A place where people were doing CPR, a boy watching a girl doing CPR and volunteered to help.

  1. What are the people feeling in the picture?
  2. Tell me about a time where you went to an open house.
  3. Would you prefer a physical open house or a virtual open house?

Picture: Obstacle course

  1. What are the people in the picture doing?
  2. Would you participate in his activity? Why or why not?
  3. What are your plans after PSLE?

Theme: Health

Picture: 3 old men jogging in the park.

  1. What do you think the people in the picture are feeling?
  2. Do you prefer to exercise alone or with friends more? Why?
  3. Tell us about a time you recently went to exercise with your friends.
  4. Tell us about a school experience when you cultivated healthy eating.

Picture: Father and daughter holding a vegetable at a supermarket.

  1. What do you think the people in the picture are doing?
  2. How do you and your family keep healthy?
  3. How does your school promote staying healthy?

Theme: Family

Picture: A family cooking for Chinese New Year.

  1. What are the people in the picture doing?
  2. Have you tried cooking a dish on your own before?
  3. Do you think household chores are important?

Picture: A family at the park having a picnic with drinks.

  1. What are the people in the picture feeling?
  2. How do you spend time with your family and friends?
  3. Do you think spending time with family and friends are important?
  4. What would you plan to do with your friends after examinations?
  5. How will you spend your time with your family after the examinations?
  6. Do you think that it is important to take part in various activities during your free time?

Picture: Family of 5 sitting in the living room couch, two sisters watching the phone, parents and baby singing while dad playing guitar.

  1. How do you think the people in the picture are feeling?
  2. What can you do to bond with your family?
  3. Would you rather spend time with your friends or family? Why?
  4. What musical instrument do you wish to learn and why?
  5. Do you think family bonding is important?

Picture: A family – The grandparents, the daughter’s husband, a child and a dog together in a park toasting.

  1. How do you think the people in the picture are feeling?
  2. Do you think spending time with family is important?
  3. How can schools encourage family bonding?

Picture: Family with an iPad

  1. How do you think that the people in the picture are feeling?
  2. Do you think that it is important to spend time with your family?
  3. How do you spend time with your family?

Picture: A family playing musical instruments

  1. How do you think the family is feeling?
  2. Have you attended a musical performance before?
  3. Do you think that it is important to spend time with your family?

Theme: Overcoming fear

Picture: Someone (two boys) doing a high elements adventure course.

  1. Look at the picture, would you be interested in participating in this activity?
  2. What do you do that makes you proud?
  3. What do you do during the school holidays?
  4. Are you interested to take part in this activity?
  5. Tell me about an experience where you are afraid.

Picture : A boy learning to swim in a pool with a floating device

  1. How is the child feeling?
  2. Tell me a time that you overcame a fear.
  3. Would you want to try an activity that you did before or something you completely never did before?
  4. Was there an event where you hesitated before attempting it?

Picture: A boy falling down from a bicycle.

  1. What are the people in the picture feeling? Why?
  2. Have you injured yourself before? Tell me more about it.
  3. Do you think it is better to learn from mistakes or to learn from success?

Theme: Celebrations

Picture: People at the National Day parade

  1. What are the people doing?
  2. What would you do if there are celebrations?
  3. Do you think celebrating special occasions is important?

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