2025 MOE Primary English Oral Changes
Oral exam weightage has increased to 20%. Below, we cover the new Reading Aloud and SBC formats and how you can prepare effectively.
2025 Key Changes to Primary English Oral Exam
The overall weightage of the PSLE Oral exam has increased to 20% of the total English score, up from 15% in 2024. This means the Oral exam now carries more weight than Paper 1 Continuous Writing, which accounts for 18% of the total score. The effort put into writing good compositions is just as important as preparing for the Oral exam.
Other than a shift in weightage, these are the changes to the Oral exam components:
Reading Aloud:
Introduction of a preamble (short instructions) that includes the Purpose, Audience, and Context of the reading passage.
The tone and delivery of your speech will be even more important based on the given scenario, whether it’s a celebratory speech, vivid recount, a passionate call to action, etc.
Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC):
Shift from posters (more text) to photographs (less to no text).
No thematic link between the Reading Aloud and SBC components.
The photographs will feature a common, everyday scenario that you can relate to and draw upon personal experiences for their responses.
How to Tackle Reading Aloud?
With the introduction of a preamble, it is important to understand the tone and delivery required for different contexts. One effective way to approach this is by using our REAP Oral Reading framework, which provides a structured method for tackling this component. It's possible to score full marks in Reading Aloud by closely following the REAP framework and the marking rubrics.
Rhythm, Stress & Intonation
Aim for clear highs and lows, emphasising keywords to avoid sounding monotonous.
Expression
Use appropriate emotions to convey the speech and apply vocal variations to enhance meaning.
Articulation
Pay attention to the pronunciation of ending sounds (“th,” “ed,” “k”), long vowels, short vowels and plural tenses.
Pace & Fluency
Maintain a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Pause at punctuation.
How different preambles influence the tone of delivery
Celebratory Speech
You have been invited to deliver a speech to kickstart a celebration during morning assembly. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to the school.
• Purpose: To set an uplifting and enthusiastic tone for the celebration, engaging the audience and generating excitement.
• Audience: The entire school, including students, teachers, and possibly school leaders.
• Context: A formal but festive school-wide event where the speaker's role is to energise and inspire the audience.
• Tone: Joyful, lively, and engaging, with a sense of warmth and inclusivity.
Vivid Recount
It is your turn to share an interesting activity you did during the school holidays. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to your classmates.
• Purpose: To entertain and engage classmates by describing a memorable experience in a lively and engaging manner.
• Audience: Classmates and possibly a teacher in a classroom setting.
• Context: A casual yet structured sharing session where students take turns recounting their experiences.
• Tone: Expressive, animated, and engaging, with a touch of personal reflection.
Call to Action
You have been asked to present an important message on World Earth Day during school assembly. You have prepared the script below and will now read it aloud to the school.
• Purpose: To raise awareness about an environmental issue and encourage students to take action.
• Audience: The entire school, including students and teachers, who may have varying levels of interest in the topic.
• Context: A school assembly focused on an important cause, where the speaker must persuade and inspire action.
• Tone: Passionate, persuasive, and urgent, with a sense of responsibility and motivation.
Demonstration from our Master Teacher
Based on the REAP Oral Reading framework, hear for yourself which version had good rhythm, expression, articulation and pace (the answer is in the video). Tone truly makes a difference. Our upcoming PSLE Oral webinar will showcase past PSLE questions and cover the oral frameworks in greater detail.
Oral Reading Aloud Rubrics (REAP)
Use our Reading Aloud rubrics (aligned with the MOE curriculum) to assess yourself — you must aim for the 13–15 mark range.
How to Tackle Stimulus-Based Conversation?
With the switch from posters to photographs, the prompts require you to relate more to real-life scenarios and draw from your personal experiences. Here’s how you can do it effectively: Use our PEERS Oral SBC framework to help you organise your ideas and elaborate on your points:
Point
Explanation through Example(s)
Experience
Reflection / Recommendation
Summary / So What? (Final thought)
Applying the PEERS SBC framework
Question: How do you think the people in the photograph might be feeling?
Point
I think the children in this photograph are feeling joyful and excited!
Explanation with Examples
It looks like they are thoroughly enjoying a public speaking activity. I notice two girls in the picture—one standing confidently in the middle and the other seated. Both have radiant, beaming smiles, which clearly suggest they are having a great time. I’m especially impressed by how enthusiastic the girl in the middle appears. It seems like it’s her turn to speak in front of an audience. Instead of looking nervous, she appears self-assured, holding her script and ready to connect with her listeners. She might have even said something amusing, causing the audience to laugh.
Experience
This scene feels familiar to me because I also attend a public speaking course at Master Speakers. At first, I was hesitant and overly self-conscious. However, with the help of my coach, I broke out of my shell. Like the children in the picture, I now delight in telling stories and sharing my opinions in front of my classmates, listening to their inspiring speeches, and witnessing their progress as speakers.
Reflection / Recommendation
This picture reminds us that public speaking—something many people fear—can be empowering and even fun! With the right support and a warm and encouraging audience, we can all feel safe stepping out of our comfort zones and trying something new.
Summary / So What? (Final Thought)
Public speaking can be a powerful tool for personal growth, and this photograph captures the excitement and joy that can come with it. It shows that with the right guidance, anyone can overcome their fears and find confidence in expressing themselves!
Oral SBC Rubrics (PEERS)
As you can see in the SBC rubrics (highlighted in yellow), simply answering the prompts is not enough. To achieve a score in the 21–25 mark range, you need to extend the conversation beyond the prompts.
Practice is king
Practise regularly! Look through your photo gallery or browse online and pick out some photos to talk about, anything can be your resource. Talk about it and ask yourself, “What are the people in the photo feeling?” Try recording yourself and see where you can improve. Here are some oral practice exercises you can start with.
Make it a habit to use good sentence structure in your reading and writing on a daily basis.
Build your vocabulary bank through reading news articles, model responses and more. Challenge yourself to use them intentionally in daily conversations.
Younger students should engage regularly in creative storytelling exercises, while older students should refine their skills through mock exams under timed conditions.
With consistent practice in fluency, confidence and clarity, achieving good results is well within reach. Get more tips and resources from our upcoming PSLE Oral webinars happening this March. We’ll cover reading and answering techniques for both English and Chinese Oral, such as REAP and PEERS, as well as how to help your child improve their reading skills and confidently tackle conversation questions.