PSLE English | English Paper 3 Listening Comprehension
Each year in Singapore, Primary 6 students across the country sit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). As one of the first major national exams a child takes, the PSLE can be a stressful time for both students and their parents. There are often many questions about the process and what it involves, so weโve put together this guide to help you understand what the PSLE English Examination Paper 3 includes.
Contents
PSLE English โ General Information
What is the PSLE?
What subjects are tested in the PSLE?
What PSLE English papers do children take in Primary 6?
When is the PSLE taken?
Where is the PSLE taken?
How is PSLE marked?
When are PSLE results released?
What are PSLE results used for?
PSLE English Paper 3 โ Listening Comprehension
How many marks are available in PSLE English Paper 3?
What topics are covered in PSLE English Paper 3?
What question types are found in PSLE English Paper 3?
What is the expected standard for Primary 6 in this paper?
What is a good score?
PSLE English Preparation
Do children need to revise for their PSLE?
Where can I find practice materials for the PSLE?
How can I help my child prepare for the PSLE?
PSLE English โ General Information
What is the PSLE?
The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is a national examination taken by all Primary 6 students in Singapore. It marks the end of primary school education and assesses studentsโ readiness for secondary school.
What subjects are tested in the PSLE?
The PSLE tests students in four core subjects:
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ English Language
๐ธ๐ฌ Mother Tongue Language
โ Mathematics
๐งช Science
What PSLE English papers do children take in Year 6?
The PSLE English examination consists of the following components:
Paper 1: Writing
Paper 2: Language Use and Comprehension
Paper 3: Listening Comprehension
Paper 4: Oral Communication
When Is the PSLE taken?
The PSLE is usually conducted over several days in September and October. The exact schedule is announced by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) each year.
Where Is the PSLE taken?
Students take the PSLE in their own primary schools under formal examination conditions.
How Is the PSLE marked?
PSLE papers are marked centrally by trained examiners appointed by SEAB. Students are graded on an Achievement Level (AL) system ranging from AL1 (highest) to AL8 (lowest) for each subject.
When are PSLE results released?
PSLE results are typically released in November. Students will then make their secondary school choices based on their overall results.
What are PSLE results used for?
PSLE results are used for secondary school placements. They help determine the most suitable academic path for each student, such as the Express, Normal (Academic), or Normal (Technical) streams in secondary school.
PSLE English Paper 3 โ Listening Comprehension
How long is PSLE English Paper 3?
PSLE English Paper 3 lasts 35 minutes.
How many marks are available in PSLE English Paper 3?
This paper is worth 20 marks in total.
What topics are covered in PSLE English Paper 3?
The paper assesses a studentโs ability to listen attentively and understand spoken English in various everyday and formal contexts. It includes:
Understanding main ideas and details
Following spoken instructions or narratives
Interpreting announcements, dialogues, or conversations
Inferring meaning from tone and context
What question types are found in PSLE English Paper 3?
All questions are multiple choice, based on audio recordings. Students will listen to:
Short dialogues or monologues
Narratives or factual passages
Announcements or conversations
Students are allowed to listen to each recording only once and must select the most appropriate answer from the given options.
What is the expected standard for Primary 6 in this paper?
To meet the expected standard, students should:
Pay close attention to both specific details and overall meaning
Demonstrate the ability to understand tone, mood, and speaker intent
Make accurate inferences based on what they hear
Be familiar with the question format and practice active listening
What is a good score?
A high score in Paper 3 supports a strong overall English Achievement Level (AL). Scoring close to full marks (18โ20/20) indicates excellent listening and comprehension skills, contributing positively toward achieving AL1 or AL2 for English.
PSLE English Preparation
Do children need to revise for PSLE English?
While the PSLE is designed to assess what children have learned throughout their primary school years, some revision can be greatly beneficial. It can help reinforce their understanding of key concepts and build confidence.
Weโd recommend focusing on topics your child finds challenging and practising the key PSLE skills as much as possible.
Where can I find practice materials for the PSLE?
How can I help my child prepare for the PSLE?
There are many ways you can support your child's preparation for their PSLE.
1. PSLE English Tuition ๐ฉโ๐ซ
Tuition can be a useful tool to assist your childโs preparation for the PSLE English because it can help them progress faster than they otherwise would do at school. There are several different types of tuition available for PSLE students, each with their own benefits.
๐๐ฟโโ๏ธ Individual Tuition: learning alone provides a 1-on-1 environment in which some students thrive due to uninterrupted attention from a tutor. This can be done in-person or online, and it can achieve great results for your child. Particularly in subjects such as maths and science, where students are required to fully understand each step of the question in order to arrive at the correct answer.
๐จโ๐งโ๐ง Group Tuition: group tuition provides a collaborative learning environment where students can interact with peers and learn from each other, as well as their tutor. A collaborative learning environment is especially helpful in PSLE subjects such as English writing, comprehension and language use. Students can listen to and analyse each otherโs answers in order to improve and refine their own.
Group PSLE tuition can achieve exceptional results compared to a class in school because all of the children are highly-motivated and ready to learn. The tutor must also teach the class at the appropriate level to achieve excellent PSLE performance, not at the level of the least able student (as in school). It's also a more cost-effective option.
๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ซ In-Person Tuition: this traditional approach involves face-to-face sessions with a tutor, either individually or in a small group. In-person tuition allows for personalised attention and immediate feedback, but it can often be less thoroughly planned and more improvised than online tuition.
๐ฉ๐ผโ๐ป Online Tuition: learning online is an increasingly popular choice. It offers flexibility and convenience, allowing students to learn from the comfort of their own homes with top-rated tutors from across the UK.
Furthermore, the lesson plans are more robust and less improvised than in-person tuition because, in order to effectively deliver an online lesson, the teacher absolutely must have a variety of pre-prepared and well structured resources ready to be shown through the screen.
โฉ Intensive Courses: intensive courses are designed to cover a significant amount of material in a short period of time. They're ideal for parents who want a more structured learning programme with a clear start and end point. At times, tuition sessions can drag on without the progress or structure of the learning totally evident. Intensive courses are a good remedy for this problem.
The Exam Coach: Your Partner In PSLE English Tuition
The Exam Coach delivers group online tuition for children studying to sit the PSLE. We offer weekly online tuition workshops that fit in with your schedule and set your child on a steady path of improvement.
Our 11 Plus Tuition Model
๐จ๐ผโ๐ซ Expert Tutors: our tutors are experienced, top-performing teachers who are passionate about helping children succeed in the PSLE English exams.
โ Proven Approach: our approach is based on years of experience and has helped countless students achieve their goals.
๐ฏ Targeted Skill Development: sessions are focused on essential PSLE English exam techniques and skill development in order to score marks in the exam.
โฐ Online and Flexible: our online tuition options offer flexibility and convenience, allowing your child to learn from home.
๐ Comprehensive Preparation: we specialise in the core PSLE English disciplines, including English comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
๐ Build Exam Confidence: our supportive and encouraging group learning environment helps build your child's confidence and reduces anxiety about the PSLE.
With The Exam Coach tuition team, your child will be well-prepared and confident on exam day.
2. Practice Papers and Mock Exams ๐
Practice papers are a vital preparation resource for several reasons:
๐ฑ Familiarisation with Format: working through practice papers helps your child become comfortable with the structure, timing, and types of questions they'll encounter in the actual PSLE. This is especially useful if the PSLE will be their first formal exams.
๐ Identify Areas for Improvement: by reviewing their answers with a mark schemes, you can work with your child to pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses.
๐ช Build Exam Technique: practice papers help develop essential exam skills, such as time management, careful reading, and clear answer presentation.
Click the buttons below to access our free PSLE papers and resources.
3. Focus on Key Skills ๐
The fundamental concepts of Primary 6 are what will be tested in the PSLE.
๐ Regular Reading: encourage your child to read a wide variety of texts โ fiction, non-fiction, poetry, magazines. Reading exposes them to different writing styles, expands their vocabulary, and helps them develop a strong grasp of grammar and punctuation in context.
โ Mental Maths: practice mental maths regularly. Quick recall of number facts, times tables, and mental calculation strategies are essential for success in the Maths papers. Use games, flashcards, and everyday situations (like shopping) to make it fun.
โ๏ธ Spelling: create a spelling diary or use flashcards to focus on tricky words, common exception words, and spelling rules. Encourage your child to use new words in their writing and conversation.
๐ฃ๏ธ Vocabulary Expansion: expand your child's vocabulary by introducing new words, exploring synonyms and antonyms, and discussing word meanings. A rich vocabulary improves reading comprehension and writing skills.
