6 English Oral Tips to Ace Your PSLE Oral Exam

Feeling worried about the PSLE English Oral exam? You’re not alone.

For many children, the idea of speaking in front of an examiner can be scary. Some freeze up from nerves, others just don’t know what to say. As a parent, it can be tough to know how to help—especially when this part of the exam feels harder to prepare for than written papers.

The good news? With the right strategies and a bit of consistent practice, your child can build the confidence to speak clearly, think on the spot, and score well.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through six practical tips to help your child tackle the PSLE Oral with less stress—and more self-assurance.

What’s in the 2025 PSLE English Oral Examination?

Before diving into preparation, it’s important to understand what your child is up against.

The Oral Communication component of the PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) now carries a total of 40 marks, making oral examination account for 20% of the PSLE English paper.

It assesses not just your child’s reading ability, but also how confidently they can express their thoughts in conversation.

The PSLE English Oral exam consists of two components:

1. Reading Aloud (15 marks)
   Students read a short passage aloud. Examiners are listening for clear pronunciation, natural phrasing, and whether your child can bring the passage to life using pauses, expression, and intonation.
2. Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC) (25 marks)
   Students view a visual prompt (such as a photo or poster) and respond to questions based on it. The goal is to evaluate how well they can express ideas, relate them to their own personal experiences, and engage in meaningful oral communication.

With a combined score of 40 marks on the line, the oral exam can make a big difference—especially for students aiming to move up an Achievement Level.

Strong speaking skills don’t just help during PSLE, but in interviews, presentations, and everyday life beyond school.

6 Proven Tips to Prepare Effectively for the PSLE Oral Exam

Now that you know what the oral exam involves, the next step is helping your child prepare in a way that builds real confidence.

Here are six simple, proven tips that you can use at home to guide your child towards a stronger performance in both Reading Aloud and Stimulus-Based Conversation.

1. Practise Reading Aloud

The Reading aloud section is more than just saying the words—it’s about sounding fluent and natural. Examiners listen for clear pronunciation, proper pacing, and expressive tone that reflects the meaning of the text.

To improve, encourage your child to practise reading aloud daily, this can be a short news article, a storybook from the school library, or even school newsletters.

Better still, have them read to a family member, or record themselves and play it back. This helps them self-correct and build awareness of their speech patterns.

Consistent practice over time leads to natural fluency and removes the fear of reading in front of others.

2. Encourage Your Child to Share Personal Experiences

In the Stimulus-Based Conversation, students are expected to go beyond describing the picture—they need to connect it to real-life experiences. This helps their answers feel more natural and personal.

Encourage your child to talk about everyday events, like a school activity or a recent family outing, and reflect on what they learnt or enjoyed. Simple conversations at the dinner table can be great practice.

Ask open-ended questions like, “What did you enjoy most?” or “Why do you think that was important?” Over time, this builds the habit of sharing thoughts clearly and confidently.

The more they share, the more natural it becomes to answer questions with detail and authenticity.

3. Teach Them to Stay Focused and Answer to the Point

Oral examiners appreciate answers that are clear, relevant, and well-organised. Some children tend to ramble or go off-topic when they get nervous.

Teach your child a simple format:

• State the main point clearly

• Give a supporting example

• Wrap up with a short opinion

Let’s say the topic is about keeping classrooms clean. A good response might go:

“Yes, I think keeping classrooms clean is important. For example, in my school, we have a weekly cleaning roster where each class takes turns to sweep the floor and arrange the tables. I feel it teaches us responsibility and respect for shared spaces.”

Practising this structure keeps their responses sharp and easy to follow. It also shows the examiner that they can express ideas in a thoughtful way.

4. Practice Under Exam-Like Conditions

To help your child stay calm during the actual exam, try recreating the setting at home. Set aside a quiet space, choose a reading passage, and show a picture prompt for them to respond to—just like the real thing.

Let them practise thinking on the spot and speaking without too much prompting. Time each part and give gentle feedback afterwards. The goal is to make the exam format feel familiar, so nerves don’t get in the way.

To make it more fun, let them practise with a good friend or a family member and switch roles. Not only does this reduce anxiety, but it also helps them build fluency and confidence through repetition.

This kind of consistent practice, especially in the lead up to the exam, can help remove mental blocks and prepare them for the real thing.

5. Invest in a Quality PSLE Oral Preparation Book

If your child prefers making quiet, independent efforts outside of class time, a structured PSLE oral book can be an excellent resource and support.

Look for one that includes updated reading passages, sample visuals, model answers, and pronunciation tips aligned to the latest MOE syllabus.

Books like the PSLE English Oral book are great during the school holidays when students have more time to explore various topics at their own pace. They also allow students to prepare effectively by building confidence through self-paced learning.

If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, it’s a great time to pick one up and help your child get a head start. Click here to get a copy of our PSLE English Oral book today.

6. Enrol in a Specialised Oral Workshop or Tuition Class

Some children improve fastest with structured guidance and expert feedback.

A specialised oral class provides focused practice on both reading aloud and conversation skills, with coaches who know exactly what examiners are looking for. Students also benefit from peer learning, mock exams, and personalised tips to improve weak areas.

If your child tends to get shy and struggles to deliver their point with ease, this extra support can make a real difference.

Choose a centre that aligns with the MOE syllabus and has a strong track record of PSLE success. With the right environment, your child can grow in confidence and be better prepared to shine on exam day.

How Right Preparation Can Make All the Difference

With the right support, even the most reserved child can learn to speak with clarity and conviction during the PSLE Oral exam. The tips we’ve shared—practising reading aloud with expression, sharing personal stories, structuring clear responses, simulating exam conditions, using quality resources, and seeking expert help—can go a long way in building your child’s oral skills.

But preparation isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about helping your child feel calm, ready, and sure of themselves when they walk into the exam room.

For some students, that extra edge comes from more than home practice—it comes from learning in the right environment, with the right guidance, and feedback tailored to their needs.

Right environment, with the right guidance, and feedback tailored to their needs.

If that sounds like what your child needs, we’re here to help.

Master the PSLE Oral Exam with Learning Journey Education Centre’s Proven Support!

If your child freezes up, struggles to organise ideas, or just isn’t speaking with confidence yet—you’re not alone, and that’s exactly what we specialise in at Learning Journey Education Centre.

Our Ace Your PSLE English Intensive Oral Prep Workshop and PSLE/Primary Mock Oral Practice Classes equip students with updated strategies, must-know vocabulary, essential speaking techniques, and a proven PSLE English Oral Success Plan they need to excel in the 2025 oral format.

With small class sizes, real-time coaching, and an MOE-aligned curriculum, students get the focused support they need—no worksheets, no guesswork.

For added home support, our Ace Your PSLE English Oral Book (2025 Edition) is packed with model answers, topic phrases, and themes based on 9 years of accurately spotting PSLE oral trends.

It’s a complete toolkit to help your child go from unsure to self-assured—in the exam room and beyond.

Contact us today to secure a workshop slot or get your copy of the book before exam season kicks in — and don’t miss the chance to sign up for our free webinar to help your child get PSLE oral-ready with confidence.