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):
| 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):
- 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.