PSLE ENGLISH

Complete Quick-Revision Notes

WRITING • GRAMMAR • VOCABULARY • COMPREHENSION • ORAL

A clear, exam-focused summary covering every paper —

built for quick review before class tests and the real thing.
1 · Last-Minute Cram Sheet
The highest-yield reminders — scan this right before you walk in

HOW TO USE — Read this page last, right before the exam
This page condenses every section into one scan. If you only have 10 minutes, read THIS page.

Writing (Paper 1)
■ Underline every content point in Situational Writing — missing one loses marks even with perfect language.
■ Match register: formal (no contractions/slang) for teachers/adults in authority; semi-formal for people you
know.
■ Composition: keep ONE tense throughout (usually simple past).
■ Show emotions through action/senses, don't just say “I was happy/sad/scared.”
■ Spend more time/detail on your climax paragraph than any other.

Grammar & Editing (Paper 2)

■ Check subject-verb agreement on every sentence you write: singular subject → singular verb.
■ Common confused words: their/there/they're, its/it's, affect/effect, than/then.
■ For editing, read the WHOLE passage once for meaning before hunting line by line.
■ For synthesis/transformation, meaning must stay EXACTLY the same — don't add or drop information.

Comprehension (Paper 2)
■ Number of marks = number of separate points needed in your answer.
■ For ‘in your own words’, paraphrase — do NOT copy phrases straight from the passage.
■ Answer in full sentences unless told otherwise; reuse part of the question to start your answer.
■ ‘Why’ → give a reason. ‘How do you know’ → give evidence. Be specific, not vague.

Oral (Paper 4)
■ Reading aloud: pause at commas, stop longer at full stops, stress key content words.
■ Stimulus conversation: describe → give opinion + reason → elaborate with an example.
■ No answer is ‘wrong’ — you're marked on HOW you express and support it, not WHAT you think.

ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS — If you remember only ONE thing from each paper
Writing: cover every content point. Grammar: check subject-verb agreement. Comprehension: answer count =
point count. Oral: elaborate, don't stop at one sentence.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 1

2 · Paper Format
How PSLE English is structured & weighted

The Big Picture

PSLE English has 4 papers. Knowing the weightage helps you focus revision time wisely.

Paper Component Marks Time

Paper 1 Situational Writing + Continuous Writing 27 + 43 = 70 1 h 10 min

Paper 2 Language Use & Comprehension (MCQ, cloze, editing, 95 1 h 50 min

comprehension)

Paper 3 Listening Comprehension 20 ≈35 min

Paper 4 Oral (Reading Aloud + Stimulus-Based Conversation) 15 ≈10 min

KEY INSIGHT — Why this matters

Paper 2 carries the most marks — spend proportionally more revision time on grammar, vocabulary and
comprehension.
Composition (Continuous Writing) alone is worth 43 marks — more than any single component. Strong compo
skills give the biggest score boost.

Paper 2 Breakdown
Part Focus Marks

Booklet A Grammar MCQ, Vocabulary MCQ, Visual Text (comic/poster) 10

Booklet B Grammar Cloze, Editing (grammar + spelling), Comprehension Cloze, 85

Synthesis & Transformation, Comprehension (open-ended)

HOW TO REVISE — How to use these notes

Go through each section once fully, then return to the tip boxes (coloured callouts) before your exam — they
hold the highest-value reminders.
Pair this with regular practice papers. Notes give you the rules; practice gives you the speed.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 2

3 · Writing
Situational Writing & Continuous Writing (Composition)

Part A: Situational Writing (27 marks)

You write an email/letter/note responding to a given situation, using information from visual + text prompts (e.g. a
poster, a notice).

The W-5H Checklist — cover every purpose

Ask yourself What to include

WHO am I writing to? Match tone & register (formal for teachers/principal, semi-formal for adults you
know)

WHY am I writing? State purpose clearly in your first paragraph

WHAT must I include? Cover ALL content points given — missing points = lost marks

Register Formal: no contractions, no slang. Semi-formal: warmer tone still polite

TIP — Common trap

Students lose marks for missing ONE content point even if the writing is beautiful. Underline every content point
in the question first, then tick them off as you write.

Part B: Continuous Writing / Composition (43 marks)

You choose one topic (from a set of pictures/theme) and write a story of about 150–200 words. Marked on Content
(20) and Language (20), plus use of pictures (3).

Story Structure That Works

Part Purpose Length guide

Introduction Set scene: who, where, when, what's about to happen. Hook the reader. 1 paragraph

Rising Action Build tension/complication — the problem develops 1–2 paragraphs

Climax The turning point / most dramatic moment — slow down time here, add 1 paragraph
sensory detail (detailed)

Resolution How the problem is solved 1 paragraph

Ending Reflection / lesson learnt / feeling now 2–3 sentences

Show, Don't Tell

Instead of stating an emotion, describe its physical signs and actions — this is what examiners reward as strong
language use.
Instead of ‘telling’… … ‘show’ with

I was scared. My hands trembled and my heart pounded against my ribs.

She was angry. Her fists clenched and her voice rose to a shout.

He was happy. A grin spread across his face as he punched the air.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 3

3 · Writing
Situational Writing & Continuous Writing (Composition)

High-Value Language Techniques

• Vary sentence openers — don't start every sentence with ‘I’ or ‘Then’. Try: “Without warning,…”, “Little did he
know,…”, “As the sun dipped,…”
• Use the 5 senses in your climax paragraph — sight, sound, smell, touch, taste.
• Dialogue should reveal character or move the plot — not just fill space. Keep it brief.
• Figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification) — use 1–2 well-placed ones, not forced into every
sentence.
• Avoid clichés like “it was a dark and stormy night” or “little did I know” overused — examiners have read
these hundreds of times.

KEY INSIGHT — Golden rule

Content and language matter more than a “clever” twist ending. A simple, well-told story with vivid description
beats a complicated plot with flat language, every time.

Situational Writing — Formal Phrase Bank

• Opening: “I am writing to • Requesting: “I would be grateful if…”
inform/request/invite…”
• Opening: “I am writing on behalf of…” • Closing: “I look forward to your reply.”
• Giving reason: “This is because…” • Closing (formal): “Yours faithfully,”
• Adding info: “In addition,… / Furthermore,…” • Closing (know the name): “Yours sincerely,”

Composition — Paragraph-Starter Bank

• Time shift: “Just as… / No sooner had…” • Contrast: “Little did I know…”
• Sudden event: “Without warning,…” • Cause-effect: “As a result,…”
• Building tension: “My heart raced as…” • Resolution: “At long last,…”
• Reflection: “Looking back, I realised…” • Lesson: “From that day on, I…”

Common Composition Mistakes to Avoid

■ Story too rushed — climax happens in one sentence with no build-up.
■ Irrelevant details that don't move the plot forward (padding for word count).
■ Tense-switching mid-story without reason.
■ Overused clichés: “it was a dark and stormy night”, “little did I know” as an opening line.
■ Dialogue that doesn't sound natural, or too much dialogue with no description.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 4

4 · Grammar
Tenses, prepositions, subject-verb agreement & more

Verb Tenses — Quick Reference

Tense Form Use Example

Simple Present V1 / V1+s Habits, facts, routines She walks to school daily.

Present am/is/are + V-ing Happening now / temporary She is walking to school.

Continuous

Simple Past V2 Completed action in the past She walked to school yesterday.

Past Continuous was/were + V-ing Action in progress in the past She was walking when it rained.
(often interrupted)

Present Perfect has/have + V3 Past action with present She has walked to school before.
relevance / unspecified time

Past Perfect had + V3 Action completed before another She had walked to school before it
past action rained.

Simple Future will + V1 Future action / prediction She will walk to school tomorrow.

TIP — Tense consistency

Keep your composition in ONE main tense (usually simple past for narratives). Switching tenses mid-story
without reason is a common careless mistake that costs language marks.

Subject-Verb Agreement
• Singular subject → singular verb: “The dog barks.” | Plural subject → plural verb: “The dogs bark.”
• Collective nouns (team, family, class) usually take a singular verb: “The team is ready.”
• Two subjects joined by ‘and’ → plural verb: “Tom and Jerry are friends.”
• Two subjects joined by ‘or / nor’ → verb agrees with the subject closer to it: “Neither the boys nor the girl was
late.”
• Indefinite pronouns (everyone, somebody, each, either) → singular verb: “Everyone is here.”

Prepositions — Commonly Confused

Preposition Used for Example

in months, years, enclosed spaces in June, in the box

on days, dates, surfaces on Monday, on the table

at specific times, points/places at 3pm, at the door

between two things/people between you and me

among three or more things/people among the crowd

since a specific starting point in time since 2020

for a duration of time for two years

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 5

4 · Grammar
Tenses, prepositions, subject-verb agreement & more

Other High-Frequency Rules

• a / an: use ‘an’ before a vowel sound, not just a vowel letter — ‘an hour’ (silent h), but ‘a university’ (sounds
like ‘yoo’).
• Countable vs uncountable nouns: ‘much/little’ + uncountable (much water); ‘many/few’ + countable (many
books).
• Comparatives/superlatives: short adjectives + -er/-est (taller, tallest); long adjectives + more/most (more
beautiful, most beautiful).
• Relative pronouns: ‘who’ for people, ‘which’ for things, ‘that’ for either, ‘whose’ for possession.
• Active vs passive voice: active = subject does the action (The cat chased the mouse); passive = subject
receives the action (The mouse was chased by the cat).

Commonly Confused Words

Word Meaning Word Meaning

their belonging to them there a place / ‘there is’

they're they are its belonging to it

it's it is / it has your belonging to you

you're you are than comparison (bigger than)

then next / at that time affect verb: to influence

effect noun: a result advice noun: a suggestion

advise verb: to suggest lose to misplace / fail to win

loose not tight quiet little noise

quite fairly / completely except excluding

accept to agree to receive principal head of school / main

principle a rule / belief whose belonging to whom

who's who is / who has weather climate conditions

whether if (choice) stationary not moving

stationery paper/pens etc. complement to complete/go well with

compliment praise desert dry land / to abandon

dessert sweet food after a meal

KEY INSIGHT — This table is exam gold

These confused-word pairs appear again and again in the Editing section. Read through this table once more
the night before your exam.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 6

4 · Grammar
Tenses, prepositions, subject-verb agreement & more

Punctuation Quick Rules

Mark Rule Example

Comma , Separates items in a list, or clauses joined by I bought apples, pears, and grapes.
‘and/but/so’

Apostrophe ’ Shows possession (Tom's book) or contraction The boy's bag / She isn't here.
(don't)

Speech marks “ ” Enclose exact spoken words; punctuation goes “I'm ready,” she said.
INSIDE the marks

Semicolon ; Joins two related complete sentences without a It was raining; we stayed home.
conjunction

Colon : Introduces a list or explanation We need three things: pen, paper, ruler.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 7

5 · Word Forms & MCQ Traps
Parts of speech reference & common grammar-MCQ pitfalls

Word Forms — Parts of Speech

Many grammar MCQ and cloze questions test whether you can pick the correct word FORM, not just the correct
word. Learn to recognise the four main forms of a word family:

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

beauty beautify beautiful beautifully

decision decide decisive decisively

comfort comfort comfortable comfortably

success succeed successful successfully

patience — patient patiently

confidence confide confident confidently

danger endanger dangerous dangerously

care care careful / careless carefully / carelessly

TIP — How to spot which form is needed

Look at the word's position in the sentence: after ‘a/an/the’ → usually a noun. Before a noun → usually an
adjective. Describing a verb (how something is done) → usually an adverb ending in -ly.

Common Grammar MCQ Traps

Trap What to watch for

Distance between subject & A long phrase between subject and verb can hide a wrong verb form — mentally
verb cross out the middle phrase and check subject-verb agreement directly.

Look-alike words affect/effect, accept/except, quiet/quite — read carefully, don't pattern-match on

appearance.

‘Each / every / neither’ + These still take a SINGULAR verb even though they refer to multiple things: ‘Each
plural-looking noun of the students has…’

Time markers hidden Words like ‘yesterday’, ‘next week’, ‘since 2020’ tell you which tense is correct —
mid-sentence scan the whole sentence, not just near the blank.

Double negatives ‘I don't have no money’ is incorrect — avoid combining two negative words.

Confusing ‘fewer’ and ‘less’ ‘fewer’ for countable nouns (fewer books), ‘less’ for uncountable nouns (less
water).

KEY INSIGHT — Exam technique

When choosing between two similar-looking MCQ options, read the FULL sentence aloud in your head with
each option filled in — the wrong one usually sounds obviously off once you hear it in context.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 8

6 · Editing & Vocabulary
Spot-the-error skills and choosing precise words

Editing (Grammar + Spelling)

A short passage has errors in specific lines. For each line, identify if there's an error, write the wrong word, then the
correction. Some lines have NO error.

Error Types to Scan For

Error type What to check

Tense Does the verb tense match the rest of the passage?

Subject-verb agreement Singular subject with plural verb (or vice versa)?

Spelling Commonly confused: their/there/they're, its/it's, affect/effect

Preposition Wrong preposition used (in/on/at, etc.)

Article Missing or wrong a/an/the

Word form Adjective used where a noun/adverb is needed, or vice versa

TIP — Exam technique

Read the WHOLE passage once for meaning first, then go line by line. Errors are often invisible if you only skim
— read each line slowly, out loud in your head.

Vocabulary & Synonyms (MCQ)

• Read the whole sentence before choosing — context determines which synonym fits, since many words have
multiple meanings.
• Eliminate options that are grammatically wrong first (wrong word form, wrong tense) even if the meaning
seems close.
• Watch out for words that are similar but not identical in meaning (e.g. ‘big’ vs ‘huge’ vs ‘enormous’ — differ
in intensity).
• Build a habit of noting 2–3 new words a day with their synonyms — wide vocabulary is the biggest long-term
lever for this section.

Synthesis & Transformation

You rewrite sentences using a given word/phrase, keeping the same meaning. These test specific grammar
structures:

Structure tested Example transformation

Direct → Reported speech “I am tired,” she said. → She said (that) she was tired.

Active → Passive voice The chef cooked the meal. → The meal was cooked by the chef.

Conditional (if-clauses) If it rains, we will stay home. → We will stay home if it rains.

Too...to / so...that He is too young to drive. → He is so young that he cannot drive.

Comparatives No other boy is as tall as Ali. → Ali is the tallest boy.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 9

6 · Editing & Vocabulary
Spot-the-error skills and choosing precise words

TIP — Key reminder

The meaning must stay exactly the same — don't add or remove information. Marks are given for correct
grammar structure AND preserved meaning.

Upgrade Your Vocabulary — Overused Word Swaps

Examiners reward precise, varied vocabulary. Replace these overused words in your writing:

Overused word Stronger alternatives

said exclaimed, whispered, muttered, insisted, stammered

happy elated, overjoyed, delighted, thrilled, content

sad devastated, heartbroken, dejected, miserable, downcast

angry furious, livid, enraged, irritated, exasperated

scared terrified, petrified, alarmed, uneasy, apprehensive

good excellent, admirable, impressive, remarkable, commendable

bad dreadful, appalling, unpleasant, poor, inadequate

big enormous, massive, substantial, immense, colossal

walked strolled, marched, trudged, wandered, ambled

looked glanced, stared, gazed, glimpsed, peered

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 10

7 · Comprehension
Cloze passages & open-ended question strategies

Comprehension Cloze
A passage with blanks — you fill in ONE suitable word per blank based on context, grammar, and meaning.
• Read the full sentence (sometimes full paragraph) around the blank before deciding — the answer must fit
grammatically AND logically.
• Check if the blank needs a specific word form (noun/verb/adjective/adverb) based on sentence structure.
• Look for clue words nearby: ‘however’, ‘although’, ‘because’ signal contrast or cause-effect, narrowing your
word choice.

Open-Ended Comprehension
This is the biggest scoring section in Paper 2. Success comes down to precise technique, not just understanding
the story.

The Answering Framework

Step What to do

1. Identify marks Number of marks = number of points needed. 2 marks usually = 2 separate points.

2. Locate evidence Find the exact paragraph/line the question refers to — don't rely on memory of the whole
passage.

3. Use your own For ‘in your own words’ questions, do NOT copy phrases directly — paraphrase using
words synonyms.

4. Answer in full Unless told otherwise, start your answer as a complete sentence, often reusing part of
sentences the question.

5. Check the question ‘Why’ = give a reason. ‘How do you know’ = give evidence/clues. ‘What does X show
type about Y’ = infer, don't just quote.

Question Types & What Examiners Want

Question type How to answer

Literal (fact-finding) Answer is directly stated in the text — locate and lift/paraphrase it.

Vocabulary-in-context Explain what a word/phrase means AS USED in that specific sentence, not the
dictionary definition.

Inferential Answer is NOT directly stated — combine clues from the text with logical
reasoning.

‘Support your answer with Give your point, THEN quote or paraphrase the supporting detail from the text.
evidence’

TIP — Biggest mark-loser

Vague answers. “He felt bad” is weaker than “He felt guilty because he had lied to his mother.” Always be
specific and tie your answer back to details in the passage.

Answer-Starter Phrase Bank

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 11

7 · Comprehension
Cloze passages & open-ended question strategies

• Why question: “This is because…” • Inference: “This suggests that…”

• How do you know: “We know this because the • Comparing: “Unlike X, Y…”
passage states…”
• Vocabulary-in-context: “The word/phrase • Evidence: “This can be seen when…”
means…”

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 12

8 · Listening Comprehension
Note-taking & keyword-spotting for Paper 3

Format Overview
You listen to short audio clips (announcements, conversations, short talks) played usually TWICE, and answer
MCQ or short-answer questions. 20 marks, about 35 minutes.

Before the Recording Plays

■ Read all the questions and answer options FIRST — this tells you exactly what to listen for.
■ Underline key words in each question (names, numbers, times, places) so your ear catches them.
■ Predict the type of answer needed — a number, a place, a reason, an emotion.

While Listening
■ Jot quick notes (single words, not full sentences) next to each question as you hear relevant info.
■ Don't panic if you miss one detail — the recording usually plays twice; focus on the next question.
■ Watch for distractor information — speakers sometimes mention an option then correct themselves ('I wanted
the red one, but I bought blue instead').
■ Pay attention to tone of voice for questions about feelings or attitude, not just literal words.

Common Question Focuses

Listen for Why it's tested

Numbers & times Prices, dates, phone numbers, durations — easy to mishear, so listen closely

Sequence words ‘first’, ‘after that’, ‘finally’ signal the order of events

Cause & effect ‘because’, ‘so’, ‘as a result’ signal reasons and outcomes

Contrast/correction ‘but’, ‘actually’, ‘I mean’ — speaker changes or corrects information

Speaker's tone/feeling How something is said (excited, annoyed, worried) not just what is said

TIP — Exam technique

If you're unsure of an answer on first listen, make your best guess and move on — don't leave it blank. Confirm
or correct it on the second playing.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 13

9 · Oral
Reading Aloud & Stimulus-Based Conversation

Part A: Reading Aloud (5 marks)

You read a passage aloud after 1 minute of preparation time. Marked on pronunciation, fluency/pacing, expression,
and stress/intonation.

Skill How to demonstrate it

Pronunciation Say every syllable clearly; don't drop word endings (e.g. -ed, -s, -ing).

Pacing Not too fast (sounds rushed/unclear) or too slow (sounds unnatural). Read as if telling
someone the news.

Pausing Pause at commas (short) and full stops (longer) — this shows you understand sentence
structure.

Expression Vary your tone for questions, exclamations, and emotional moments in the text — don't
read in a flat monotone.

Stress Emphasise key content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives), not small function words (the, a,
is).

TIP — Preparation minute

Use your 1 minute of silent prep to skim for difficult words, note where full stops/commas are, and mentally mark
1–2 spots that need emotional emphasis.

Part B: Stimulus-Based Conversation (10 marks)

You discuss a picture with the examiner: describe it, then answer personal-opinion questions connected to its
theme.

The 3-Part Response Structure

Part Purpose Example starter

Describe State what you see — people, place, “In this picture, I can see…”
action, mood

Give your opinion / Answer the personal question “I think… because…” / “This reminds me of a time
experience directly, then explain WHY when…”

Elaborate Add a specific detail, example or “For example…” / “As a result…”

consequence — don't stop at one
sentence

What Examiners Reward

• Elaboration — one-word or one-sentence answers score poorly even if correct. Always explain your
reasoning.
• Eye contact and confidence — speak clearly and don't rush out of nervousness.
• Relevance — answer the actual question asked; don't recite a memorised, unrelated answer.
• Natural language — use connectors like ‘because’, ‘however’, ‘for example’, ‘in addition’ to link ideas
smoothly.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 14

9 · Oral
Reading Aloud & Stimulus-Based Conversation

KEY INSIGHT — Final reminder

There are no ‘wrong’ opinions in Stimulus-Based Conversation — you are marked on HOW well you express
and support your view, not WHAT view you hold. Speak with confidence.

Useful Oral Phrase Bank

• Describing: “I can see… in the • Elaborating: “For instance… / To illustrate…”
foreground/background”
• Opinion: “In my opinion… / I feel that…” • Balanced view: “On one hand… on the other
hand…”
• Personal experience: “This reminds me of • Concluding: “Overall, I believe…”
when I…”

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 15

10 · Model Answers
Annotated worked examples — see the techniques in action

Situational Writing — Annotated Sample

Scenario: Write an email to your school's librarian, Mr Tan, to suggest ways to encourage more students to borrow
books.

Dear Mr Tan,

I am writing to suggest some ways to encourage more students to borrow books from our school library.

Firstly, the library could organise a reading rewards programme, where students who borrow a certain
number of books each month receive a small prize. In addition, setting up a cosy reading corner with
beanbags might make the library more inviting for students to spend time in.

I would be grateful if you could consider these suggestions. I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,
Wei Jie

■ Teal = purpose/closing phrases ■ Coral = linking/transition phrases

Composition Climax — Annotated Sample

Extract: the moment a character realises they are lost in an unfamiliar place.

Without warning, the crowd swallowed my mother's figure whole. My heart pounded against my ribs as I
spun around, searching for her familiar blue jacket among the sea of strangers. My palms grew clammy and
my breath came in short gasps. “Mum?” I called out, my voice swallowed by the noise of the market. Just as
panic threatened to overwhelm me, a firm hand landed on my shoulder.

■ Coral = paragraph-starter phrases ■ Teal = ‘show don't tell’ physical/sensory detail

TIP — What makes this work

Notice there's no “I was scared” anywhere — fear is shown entirely through physical sensations (pounding
heart, clammy palms, short breath) and action (spinning around, calling out).

Open-Ended Comprehension — Annotated Sample

Question (2m): Why did Mrs Lim feel relieved at the end of the passage? Support your answer with evidence.

Mrs Lim felt relieved because her son had finally arrived home safely [Point — 1m], as shown when the
passage states that “she pulled him into a tight embrace, her hands trembling from the ordeal.” [Evidence —
1m]

KEY INSIGHT — Notice the structure

One clear point sentence answering ‘why’, immediately followed by a direct textual reference. This 2-part
structure (point + evidence) reliably scores full marks on ‘support your answer’ questions.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 16

10 · Model Answers
Annotated worked examples — see the techniques in action

Editing — Annotated Sample

Extract from an editing passage, with the errors identified and corrected below.

Line 1: Every students in the class was excited about the trip.
Line 2: They had been waited for this day since January.
Line 3: The bus arrived on time and everyone boarded quickly.

Line Error Correction Reason

1 was were ‘Every students’ (plural noun) needs a plural verb — correct would
actually be ‘Every student’ + ‘was’, OR ‘students’ + ‘were’

2 waited waiting Past perfect continuous needs ‘had been’ + V-ing, not V3

3 No error — ‘quickly’ is already the correct adverb form

TIP — Key takeaway

Not every line has an error — don't force a correction where the sentence is already right. Trust your grammar
instincts, and re-read the line in isolation to check it sounds natural.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 17

11 · Idioms & Proverbs
Frequently tested expressions for compo, oral & vocabulary

Why This Matters

Idioms and proverbs show up in vocabulary MCQs, comprehension passages, and can add flavour to your
composition or oral answers when used naturally (never forced).

Common Idioms
Idiom Meaning

a piece of cake something very easy

break the ice to start a conversation / ease tension

burn the midnight oil to study/work very late into the night

hit the books to study hard

under the weather feeling unwell

once in a blue moon very rarely

the last straw the final problem that causes a reaction after enduring many

a blessing in disguise something that seems bad but turns out good

keep your chin up stay positive/hopeful

bite off more than you can chew take on more than you can handle

actions speak louder than words what you do matters more than what you say

let the cat out of the bag to reveal a secret accidentally

Common Proverbs
Proverb Meaning

Practice makes perfect. Repeated effort leads to improvement/mastery.

Better late than never. Doing something late is better than not doing it at all.

Honesty is the best policy. Being truthful is always the wisest approach.

Where there's a will, there's a way. Determination will help you find a solution.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't form an opinion based on appearance alone.

Slow and steady wins the race. Consistent, careful effort beats haste.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. A true friend helps you when you're in trouble.

TIP — Use with care

One well-placed idiom or proverb in your composition conclusion can impress — but forcing several into a short
piece looks unnatural. Quality over quantity.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 18

12 · Exam Day Checklist
Final preparations — the night before and the morning of

The Night Before

■ Re-read this Cram Sheet (Section 1) once more — don't cram brand-new content.
■ Skim the Commonly Confused Words and Idioms tables one last time.
■ Pack your stationery: pens (spare included), pencil, eraser, ruler.
■ Check your exam admission details — hall, seat number, reporting time.
■ Sleep early — a rested mind recalls vocabulary and grammar rules far better than a tired one.

On the Morning Of
■ Eat a proper breakfast — don't sit for a 2-hour paper on an empty stomach.
■ Arrive early to avoid last-minute stress.
■ Do a final 5-minute skim of this Cram Sheet if time allows — not new material.
■ Take a few deep breaths before the paper starts. You've prepared — trust it.

During Each Paper

■ Paper 1 (Writing): allocate time — roughly 20 min for Situational, 50 min for Composition. Leave 5 min to
check for spelling/tense errors.
■ Paper 2 (Language Use & Comprehension): don't get stuck on one hard question — mark it, move on, return
later.
■ Paper 3 (Listening): read the questions BEFORE the recording starts, so you know what to listen for.
■ Paper 4 (Oral): use your full preparation minute for Reading Aloud; for Conversation, always elaborate
beyond one sentence.

FINAL WORD — You've got this

These notes cover the highest-value techniques across every paper. Trust your preparation, read each question
carefully, and manage your time — you're ready.

End of notes — good luck with your revision! Consistent practice with past papers alongside these notes gives the
best results.

PSLE English — Quick Notes Page 19