P6 Oral model Food & CA1 Results 2017

The CA1 results have started rolling in. In general, I am pleased with what my P5 and P6 students have achieved. Most are in the 70s and 80s and those who have their sights on their A-star, have achieved those or off by one or two marks.

For those who did not meet their targets, I will give them the same advice (as I do every year ). Don’t give up! Your CA1 English result isn’t a reflection of your PSLE results. I have had new students who joined me in Jan of 2016 and scored a 60+ for CA1, only to turn things around and score an 80 for SA1. In the past two years some of my PSLE A-star scorers have barely hit their A-stars throughout their P6 year but persevered and scored in the end!

Use the CA1 as a way to diagnose which areas of Paper 2 need extra work and use the next two months before the SA1 to practise at home. Start preparation for the Writing and Oral components as now they begin to weigh heavily on the total score.

Below is one of the most common topics that tend to come out in different ways : Food and Health.

Take note of the answers given by student:

• Facts are given
• Personal Examples are given
• Humor is added

P6 Oral Model – Food

Question 1: What is your favourite food?

I love fried chicken! I have always loved it since I was young. There is something about the crispiness of the chicken when it is fried. I know that it isn’t healthy but every time we go out to eat I veer towards the fried chicken stall. My mother makes delicious fried chicken and she cooks this dish as healthily as possible by using free range chicken and olive oil to fry. 

Another favourite dish of mine is French Fries. I know, I know. All my favourite foods are listed as junk food but they are so yummy. I used to beg for the fries at McDonalds when I was younger but now mom makes them at home. She bought a special potato cutter that can cut up potatoes in the shape of fries. Sometimes, she will bake them in the oven and other times she will fry them in olive oil. 

As I am now getting older, she worries about the type of food that I eat. She says that I need to get into the habit of eating healthy food. So, I now eat my favourite foods once in a blue moon. 

Question 2: Why is it important for children to have a healthy diet?

I think that as children we should develop good eating habits for later in life. If we learn to eat vegetables and fruits daily, it will develop our mind and body into fit adults. Too much junk food can lead to obesity and no one wants to be obese. At my age, overweight children cannot run fast or play sports well. It restricts what they can do during PE and even during recess. It can be difficult to make friends later in life. This will also be difficult during National Service as we should be ready and fit for the challenges that we will face. 

Eating too much sweets and fatty foods can lead to illnesses later in life. Too much sugar can lead to diabetes and too much fatty foods can lead to high cholesterol and other diseases. My grandfather dislikes vegetables and fruits. All his life he has eaten unhealthy food. He has a number of diseases now and cannot walk that well while grandma has always eaten well and even at 80 years old she is still active! 

Mother has an interest in cooking healthy food. She says she doesn’t want to put on weight so she cooks low fat food and a lot of organic vegetables for our meals. She is always looking for healthy recipes to try out on us! 

Question 3: Aside from having a healthy diet, how else can children have a healthy lifestyle?

I think that exercise is very important. I have many classmates who spend all their free time studying and they relax by sitting on their sofas and playing games on their smart phones and tablets or computers. This is isn’t healthy. All children need to exercise and I read in an article that exercise improves memory and makes you smarter!

I am an athletic person. I have always loved sports! I swim once a week with my family members and we cycle at the beach as often as we can. I am also on the school’s soccer team and we have practice sessions at least twice a week. During recess, my friends and I prefer to play tag or soccer in the school field than to sit down and discuss about the newest computer games. 

Getting enough sleep is also important. This year is our PSLE year so we have a lot of additional homework. I think we must find a balance between studying and having a good night’s rest. A few articles in the newspaper talks about how children in Singapore do not get enough sleep. Plus we wake up very early for school too.

My mother makes sure that we all are in bed by 9pm. This means that during weekdays we do not have time to watch television or play computer games. That’s fine by me. I think we should take care of ourselves and find different ways to relax. I like to read before bed. It lulls me to sleep!