PSLE English Summary & Comprehension — Best Practices & Errors to Avoid
For many students, the comprehension section of the PSLE English Paper 2 is where valuable marks are lost, not because they don’t understand the passage, but because they don’t know how to answer the questions effectively. Summary skills, too, often get overlooked until it’s too late.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the best practices for tackling PSLE comprehension and summary questions and the most common errors to avoid. Whether your child is in Primary 5 or heading into the PSLE soon, these techniques will help them sharpen their responses, understand exactly what the examiner is looking for, and avoid easy pitfalls.
Understanding the Comprehension & Summary Format
In PSLE English Paper 2, the comprehension section is worth a significant portion of the overall mark. It includes:
A narrative or non-narrative passage
Multiple open-ended comprehension questions
A summary question, typically based on a specified paragraph or idea
Your child is expected to:
Show understanding of literal, inferential, and evaluative meaning
Answer in full sentences using information from the passage
Avoid copying large chunks of text
For summary: condense key ideas into their own words with clarity
Best Practices for Comprehension Questions
1. Read the Questions First
Before jumping into the passage, get your child to skim the questions quickly. This gives them a “reading purpose” as they know what to look out for as they read.
Example:
What did Ravi feel when he saw the envelope?
Now your child knows to look for Ravi’s emotions or thoughts during that moment.
2. Highlight Keywords in the Questions
Teach your child to underline question keywords like:
Why, How, What…
Give one reason, Explain…
What does this tell you about…
This helps them pinpoint whether the question is asking for a cause, reason, emotion, or inference.
3. Use Your Own Words (Paraphrasing)
Copying straight from the passage often leads to irrelevant or incomplete answers. Children must practise rephrasing.
Instead of:
"Because he ran quickly away from the scene, not wanting to be seen by the crowd."
Better:
"He didn’t want to be seen by the crowd, so he left quickly."
Summary Question Techniques
The summary question is often the last in the comprehension section and carries higher-order thinking marks.
Here’s what your child should aim for:
✅ Stick to the Word Limit
There’s usually a maximum word count (e.g., 80 words). Practice writing within this limit during mock exams.
✅ Group Similar Ideas
Encourage grouping — if two sentences both describe why the character is tired, merge them.
✅ Avoid Repetition
Marks are lost when students repeat the same idea twice using different words. Get to the point.
✅ Link Ideas Smoothly
Use connectors like “because,” “so,” “although” to create flow. Summary writing should sound natural.
Example (for a summary on how plants grow):
❌ “The plant needs water. The plant also needs sunlight. The plant must be in soil.”
✅ “The plant grows best when it receives water and sunlight and is planted in soil.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Now let’s look at where most students lose marks — and how to fix it.
❌ Copy-Pasting from the Passage
Why it happens: Students think copying the passage ensures accuracy.
Why it fails: The answer may not directly respond to the question or might include unnecessary info.
Fix: Teach your child to identify the key idea in the sentence, then restate it clearly.
❌ Giving Vague Answers
Q: What does the phrase “his face fell” suggest?
❌ “He was sad.”
✅ “He was disappointed after hearing the news.”
Fix: Push your child to be specific. Use emotional vocabulary they’ve learned from English cloze practice.
❌ Ignoring Inference Clues
Many questions ask “why” or “how”, requiring more than just copying from the text.
Fix: Use a strategy we call “Clue–Connect–Conclude”:
Clue: Find hints in the text
Connect: Link them with what they already know
Conclude: Write a sentence explaining the likely reason/motive
❌ Answering in Incomplete Sentences
It’s a surprisingly common error in open-ended questions.
❌ “Because he was tired.”
✅ “He did not go to the party because he was tired.”
Fix: Encourage your child to write in full, complete sentences, even under time pressure.
Practice Tools That Work
At The Exam Coach, we’ve tested dozens of comprehension strategies with students — here’s what we know works best:
✅ Timed Comprehension Practice — to improve speed & stamina
✅ Answer Writing Clinics — marking answers together with model responses
✅ Error Tracking Sheets — students record common mistakes & their corrections
✅ Summary Rewrites — students compare their answers with model summaries and rewrite with feedback
Want to try these at home? Use our free PSLE Practice Papers or ask about our weekly classes that include comprehension-focused sessions.
Practice Passage with Annotations
Here’s a short example you can try with your child at home.
Passage:
Ravi peeked cautiously through the doorway. His hands trembled as he reached for the letter on the floor. It had no name, but he knew it was for him. Folding it quickly, he slipped it into his pocket and backed away, heart pounding.Comprehension Question Example:
Why did Ravi react the way he did?
Strong Answer:
Ravi was nervous about the letter and didn’t want to be seen taking it, which is why he acted cautiously.
Annotation Notes:
“Peeked cautiously” = afraid or unsure
“Hands trembled” = anxiety
“Slipped it into his pocket” = trying to hide it
“Heart pounding” = strong emotional reaction
Summary Task:
Summarise Ravi’s actions and emotions in this paragraph in no more than 25 words.
Strong Summary:
Ravi was anxious as he retrieved a mysterious letter, quickly hiding it in his pocket and leaving before anyone could see him.
The PSLE English comprehension and summary section isn’t just about understanding the passage, it’s about knowing how to respond effectively.
With the right techniques:
Your child will write more confidently
Their answers will match examiner expectations
Their marks will reflect their real ability
Start early, focus on paraphrasing and inference, and build in regular practice.
