# PSLE English Oral Guide: Format, Marks and How to Prepare | Coastline Tutors

> The PSLE English oral explained: reading aloud (15 marks) and stimulus-based conversation (25 marks), about 10 minutes with 5 minutes to prepare, and how to practise at home.

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# PSLE English Oral: Reading Aloud and the Conversation

Updated 2026-10-11 · by Coastline Tutors 

 Short answer: The PSLE English oral is worth 40 of 200 marks (20%): reading aloud a passage (15 marks) and a conversation with the examiners about a photo (25 marks). It takes about 10 minutes: 5 minutes of preparation and about 5 minutes of examination. 
[Coastline Tutors](/) writes these guides from SEAB and MOE documents and published Singapore figures; each claim links to where it comes from. 

## The format

Paper 4, Oral Communication, carries 40 marks, 20 percent of PSLE English ([SEAB](https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/334/6c4dc7cf-bf0b-4d79-9005-1b1f7fa68cc9/0001_y26_sy.pdf)): 

 Part Task Marks 
 1. Reading Aloud Read a passage aloud to suit the purpose, audience and context of a given situation 15 
 2. Stimulus-based Conversation Converse with the examiners on a topic based on a photo stimulus 25 

About 10 minutes in all: 5 minutes of preparation and about 5 minutes of examination . The two parts are not linked thematically . 

## What the examiners listen for

SEAB’s assessment objectives for the oral ([SEAB](https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/334/6c4dc7cf-bf0b-4d79-9005-1b1f7fa68cc9/0001_y26_sy.pdf)): 

- read aloud fluently and expressively, with clear and accurate pronunciation, to suit purpose, audience and context

- express personal opinions, ideas and experiences clearly and appropriately, to engage the listener

- speak fluently, with clear pronunciation and grammatical accuracy, using a range of vocabulary and structures

## How to practise at home

- Read aloud for five minutes a day, from a newspaper or a storybook, paying attention to pauses at punctuation.

- Talk about a photo. Pick any picture and ask three questions: what is happening, has this happened to you, what do you think about it. A full answer has a point, a reason and an example from the child’s own life.

- Avoid memorised scripts. The conversation follows the child’s answers, so rehearsed paragraphs break down at the first follow-up question.

The conversation is worth 25 marks, more than half the oral. It is the part home practice improves fastest. 

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## More questions

 Is the reading passage linked to the conversation? + 
No. SEAB states the two parts are not linked thematically. What is assessed in the conversation? + 
Expressing personal opinions, ideas and experiences clearly to engage the listener, and speaking fluently with clear pronunciation, grammatical accuracy and a range of vocabulary. [Related tuitionPrimary English TuitionComposition, comprehension, grammar and oral, taught against the four PSLE English papers so every lesson moves a mark that counts.](/primary-english-tuition/) 

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