PSLE Chinese - Top Tips

Primary 6 is a stressful year for both children and parents, as the PSLE exams loom at the end of the year. Here, we share our top tips on how to help your child ace PSLE Chinese.

1. Understand what matters in the PSLE Chinese Paper

Here, we have the weightage of each exam component tested in PSLE Chinese The two components with the heaviest weightage are: Oral (25%), and Language Use (25%).

Areas to focus on with your child for maximum gains should thus be:

1. Speaking

2. Learning the required vocabulary

(source: SEAB)

2. Start Preparing Early

The expectation of the MOE syllabus is that, by Primary 6, a child should be able to recognize and read 1800 - 1900 Chinese characters.

So don’t wait until the month before PSLE to start preparing! Based on brain science, most people cannot memorize a lot of content in a short span of time.

Practice and revise a little bit, consistently every day with your child.

3. Oral Examination: Practice conversation daily

One big element of stress for students is the interactive conversation element of the oral examination. You can help decrease that stress by setting aside a little time every day to practice conversing with your child in Chinese.

Some ways to practice:

• Tell your child about your day in Chinese, and then ask them about their day

• Watch a short youtube video together, and then discuss the video together

• Read a popular book together (e.g. Harry Potter translated into Chinese)

4. Vocabulary Building: Focus on the MOE vocabulary list

If you have limited time, how can you plan revision so that your child masters the necessary vocabulary for the PSLE exam?

Do so, by focusing first on the vocabulary list provided by MOE (link to vocab list). And then give your child diverse exposure to these words.

Here are some ideas for what you can do to help your child learn the words (besides rote memorization):

• Label items in the house with the chinese words

• Create flashcards for vocab words, and play taboo or charades

• Ask your chinese teacher for recommended books that include the vocabulary, and read them to your kid before bedtime