+65 8144 2504

enquiries@edugrove.com.sg

EduGroveMandarinEnrichmentCentre

Book A Trial

Mastering the PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension and Written Exam

With the PSLE Chinese Oral Examinations behind them, students might feel a momentary relief, but the journey isn’t over just yet. The bulk of the challenge lies ahead with the Chinese Listening Comprehension and Written Exams scheduled for September 2024, which together account for a staggering 75% of the total grade for the PSLE Chinese language examinations.

This substantial portion of the PSLE can be daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to significantly boost overall scores.

Fear not—whether you’re looking for ways to optimise your review strategy in these final weeks or seeking effective methods to maximise learning, we’re here to provide essential tips and strategies to prepare you for success in the upcoming exams.

Part 1: PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension

Many students breeze through the Listening Comprehension part of their PSLE Chinese exam, often considering it one of the easiest segments—after all, you just have to listen, right?

However, just because it involves listening doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. Every component of language learning, including listening, requires attention and practice, and the Chinese language is no exception.

It’s thus worth asking: could this time be better spent revising for other papers, or is it crucial to focus here as well?

PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension Dates and Format

The Listening Comprehension exam kicks off in the second week of September:

Date

Session

Time

Friday, 13th September, 2024

Chinese Listening Comprehension

9:00AM – 9:35AM

During this exam, students will listen to a variety of audio materials, including dialogues, announcements, advertisements, instructions, introductions and stories. This diversity in content aims to test the student’s ability to understand and process Mandarin across different contexts. 

After listening, students will have to answer multiple-choice questions based on what they’ve heard, assessing their ability to recall details, understand the gist, and infer meanings from the spoken language.

What is the Breakdown of the PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension Marks?

The PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension consists of 10 questions (2 marks each).

Now, though the Listening Comprehension exam might only take approximately 30 minutes to complete, it does still contribute 20 points to the total score of 200. This means that its weightage of 10% is not to be underestimated. Excelling in this component can be considered “free marks” and provide a significant boost to the aggregate score, making it an essential area of focus for any student aiming for a high overall grade in PSLE Chinese.

How Do You Prepare for PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension?

So, how do you go about improving your listening comprehension skills?

Preparing effectively for the PSLE Chinese Listening Comprehension involves a mix of focused listening practices and consistent exposure to Mandarin.

Here’s how students can enhance their listening skills and ace this component:

Improving Listening Skills in Daily Life:

  1. Regular Exposure: Integrate Mandarin into daily routines. Listen to Chinese songs, watch Chinese shows or movies, and try to engage with the language as much as possible without relying on subtitles. If needed initially, use subtitles to bridge understanding but aim to wean off them as comprehension improves.
  2. Practice with Purpose: Use Chinese media to practice listening. Start with clear and slower-paced content and gradually move to more complex or faster dialogues as comprehension improves.

Enhancing Comprehension Skills:

  • Use Flashcards: Build vocabulary with flashcards. This technique helps reinforce new words and phrases, making them easier to recognise during listening exercises.
  • Engage in Chinese Tuition: Consider enrolling in Chinese tuition, where lessons are tailored to strengthen vocabulary and boost overall language skills. Experienced tutors can also provide the necessary practice and tips tailored to the PSLE format.

Effective Listening Strategies During the Exam:

  • Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the audio—this is probably a given.
  • Note Emphasis: Speakers often emphasise certain words and phrases. These emphases are clues to understanding key points that are likely to be questioned later.

Part 2: PSLE Chinese Language Paper 1 and 2

And now, the moment of truth—the grand finale of the PSLE Chinese examinations.

What’s in store for students on the last day of September? Collectively, the largest component of the entire Chinese PSLE, of course.

Date

Session

Time

Monday, 30th September, 2024

Chinese Language Paper 1

8:15AM – 9:05AM

Chinese Language Paper 2

10:15AM – 11:55AM

What is the Weightage of the PSLE Chinese Paper 1 and 2?

Chinese Language Paper 1 and 2 together form a critical part of the PSLE Chinese assessment, accounting for a combined total of 65% of the total grade (130 out of 200 marks). 

Paper

Component

Marks

Weightage

1

Composition Writing

40

20%

2

Chinese Application and Reading Comprehension

90

45%

This substantial weightage underscores the importance of excelling in these papers to significantly boost the overall score.

What is the Format of the PSLE Chinese Papers 1 and 2?

Paper 1: Composition (50 minutes)

This paper offers candidates a choice between a proposition essay and a picture-based essay.

Students have the flexibility to express their creativity either by constructing a narrative based on a series of pictures or developing an argumentative essay from a given proposition. Remarkably, this is the only part of the PSLE where dictionaries are permitted, providing students with additional support to enhance their language use.

Paper 2: Application and Comprehension (1 hour 40 minutes)

Paper 2 is more comprehensive and is split into two parts:

Part A:

  • Chinese Application: Involves multiple-choice questions on proper word and phrase usage.
  • Essay Filling: Students select the most appropriate words to complete passages.
  • Reading Comprehension I: Focuses on extracting and understanding information from short texts.

Part B:

  • Complete the Conversation: Requires selecting the most suitable responses in dialogue contexts.
  • Reading Comprehension II: Students tackle practical texts and narratives, answering multiple-choice and open-ended questions to demonstrate a deep understanding of the material.

Tips to Ace Your Chinese PSLE Written Exams

Maximising your scores in the PSLE Chinese written exams requires a solid preparation strategy and a deep understanding of the language. Here’s what you can do before and on the big day:

Tips for Paper 1 (Composition)

  • Developing Ideas and Narratives: Regularly read model compositions to understand how effective stories are structured and how characters are developed. Analyse how themes are woven into the narrative and try incorporating similar techniques in your writing.
  • Language Use and Vocabulary Tips: Expand your vocabulary by learning new words and practice using them properly. Focus on using varied linguistic expressions to enrich your compositions and make them more engaging.
  • Structuring Compositions Effectively: Ensure your composition has clear transitions between paragraphs and maintains a logical flow.

Tips for Paper 2 (Comprehension)

  • Tackling Different Types of Questions: Familiarise yourself with the format of both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Practice identifying keywords in questions that signal what the examiner is looking for, such as “explain,” “describe,” or “infer.”
  • Techniques for Managing Time During the Exam: Allocate time proportionally across questions, reserving more time for sections that carry higher marks. Regular practice under timed conditions prior to your exams can also help improve your speed and efficiency.

Navigating the intricacies of the PSLE Chinese exams can be challenging. Understanding this, at EduGrove, we’re dedicated to guiding students through their journey with tailored PSLE Chinese classes designed to build not just skills but also confidence. Our engaging and comprehensive approach ensures that every student is well-prepared to excel in their exams.

To further enhance your preparation, students can purchase our proprietary comprehensive online resources, including a specialised Listening Comprehension practice set. This set includes 8 practice sessions aligned with PSLE standards, featuring 20-minute recordings, question papers, answer sheets, and recording scripts—perfect for honing your listening skills before the exam. 

Enrol in EduGrove’s PSLE Chinese classes today and start your journey towards exam success!

SITEMAP

CONTACT US

EduGrove Mandarin Enrichment Centre Pte Ltd

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Hear more about EduGrove Mandarin Enrichment Centre!
EduGrove Mandarin Enrichment Centre

Thank you for your message.
It has been sent.

Our Teachers – They’re The Best!

EduGrove’s way of conducting Chinese lessons requires a very special breed of Chinese teacher. They are dedicated educators focused on meeting the needs of every class as a whole and every individual student in their care. Essentially they take on the role of form teachers. Working closely with parents, EduGrove teachers are concerned as much with the holistic development of their students as they are with nurturing and improving their Chinese studies.

Our teachers are also able to communicate with English-speaking parents and work closely with them to improve their child’s Chinese language abilities.

After passing through a rigorous selection process, these already experienced teachers are put through months of training to teach in the EduGrove way, ensuring your child’s educational journey with us will be nothing short of outstanding.

Voted 7 years in a row as the best Chinese enrichment centre in Singapore!

EduGrove has helped thousands of students not only achieve success in their Chinese grades but also fall in love with the language through our simple yet revolutionary approach. Voted by parents annually as the best Chinese enrichment centre in Singapore and having won the Industry Star Promising SME 500 Award, EduGrove is one of the leading providers for Chinese enrichment lessons.

One-stop solution for every age and needs!

As the only Chinese enrichment centre that offers specialised classes for students from playgroup to secondary, EduGrove’s team of specialist curriculum writers and teachers are experts in helping every student from each age group achieve their full potential in the Chinese language. 

If your child requires something a little different from the norm, be it to focus on composition writing or one-to-one tutoring, we are able to tailor a specific plan to suit their needs.

Strong Teacher-Parent Communication

Through updates and feedback after each class, teachers work hand-in-hand with parents to ensure their child’s positive progress. We track the progress of each student, cultivating their strengths and identifying areas for improvement. Regular evaluation allows teachers to adjust the goals for each student according to their learning style.

Small Group Sizes and Spacious Classrooms

We aim for big successes but keep our class sizes small. With a maximum of 12 students per group, teachers are able to pay close attention to the needs and development of every student in their care. Each classroom has a dedicated area for drama and games, as well as desk-bound activities. Teaching takes place in spacious, light-filled studios, equipped with state-of-the-art learning tools, enabling students of all ages and levels to play, discover, and thrive in a truly conducive learning environment.

Learn Chinese while developing 21st century skills!

Not only do we help students ace their Chinese examinations, we also develop their 21st century competencies like creativity, critical thinking, and presentation skills that are crucial for them to thrive in their future tertiary education and adult professional lives.

Proven track record to ace your PSLE and O-Levels!

EduGrove has assembled a team of industry experts to specially design a set of curriculum that combines  with our award-winning methodology to ensure students excel in their national exams. 

Covering all commonly     tested keywords, oral, comprehension, composition and listening comprehension, EduGrove students are confident and well-prepared when it comes to taking on their PSLE and O-Levels!

Effective EduGrove methodology that gets results

We use drama, word games, and creative activities interactively not only to excite, motivate, and inspire, but more importantly to coax the students to vocalise and apply the keywords and phrases taught. These dynamic learning tools also help students remember more effectively.

Learning at EduGrove is Fun, Engaging, and Effective – at every level!

Learning a language doesn’t have to be a chore. Research has shown that children learn best through play and that’s why our classes are designed to get away from the traditional rote-learning way of learning Chinese. Our curriculum is designed to ignite every student’s desire to learn, which means every activity is designed to be FUN!

Instead of focusing on the tedious memorisation of keywords, we use drama and word games in all classes from Preschool through to Primary and Secondary to help students remember lesson content in a more FUN, ENGAGING, and EFFECTIVE way!