The Visual Text also known as Text 1 and Text 2 under the New Secondary School English Syllabus 1184 constitutes 5 marks in Paper 2 of the Secondary English Comprehension Paper. For PSLE English, Visual Text 

In view of MOE’s new EL Syllabus 2020 which targets is to develop effective and affective language use in students hence promoting critical thinking amongst our youths, this section has been revamped to one with a comparative nature.

Text 1 is a visual text type such as a poster while Text 2 is a short blurb / extract that can be anything from something akin to a Straits Times forum post or a blog entry by someone. 

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What is Visual Text Comprehension?

In this media-saturated world, our student’s sense of reality about the world is often warped through the prism of the media we consume daily. These can be in the form of visual texts which are used to convey messages and communicate ideas in a variety of ways. These texts include print media such as posters and flyers as well as non-print ones like websites and online advertisements.

Visual text comprehension refers to the ability to understand and interpret information presented in visual formats, such as images, diagrams, charts, graphs, maps, and other non-verbal representations. Students need to try to make sense out of the visual elements such as the design of the artwork or photograph used in the poster in Text 1 and try to extract meaning and drawing conclusions from the visual information presented. 

How to do well for Visual Text? 

Understanding how to process and think critically about the messages that we encounter both online and offline is an important skill that students need to have in this 21st Century.  The visual text precisely test the students’ ability to process and interpret both visual and written texts. Mastering Visual Comprehension skills will also help us deepen our skills needed for scoring in the entire Paper 2. This is because the question and answer techniques are similar and can be applied across the different texts.

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Here are three tips to score for your Visual Text

  1. Know your PAC (Purpose, Audience and Context) 

Understanding the context in which the visual text is presented is crucial. It may involve considering the source (who produce the poster/advertisement?), what is the objective or purpose of producing such a poster or writing the blog? Who are the audience for the poster?  For Text 2, students must look closely at the accompanying textual information to fully comprehend the visual content.

   2. Extracting Information in relation to the question

Students must study the images or pictures carefully and read the questions closely so that students can extract relevant information from the visual text, which may involve reading numerical values, identifying the symbols or logos in the visual text drawing conclusions based on the visual cues. 

3. Be clear and precise in your answer

Very often in Visual Text, creators of the visual text may use words that are intended to have impact, also known and imparted to you by your English Teachers as “Language for impact” . This simply means the visual text uses  language in a way that captures the audience’s attention, conveys the intended meaning clearly, and leaves a lasting impression. Students must be sensitive to any metaphors, similes, and other forms of figurative language can add depth and vividness to the text. They must be able to the explain the effect fully to suit the questions requirements.

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Thank you for reading the entire article, to reward you for all that eyeballs, here’s a Free English Comprehension Sec 4 Prelims Visual Text Practice from St Margaret Secondary School with answer from our 2023 Secondary 4 English Prelims Papers based on the latest MOE Syllabus 1184. Looking for more free test papers

The Learning Space SG SMSS 2023 Prelims Visual Text with answers 

Are you looking for more help? 

English Tuition by Secondary School Teachers in Singapore 

Sign up for our Secondary English Online Group Tuition every Friday 5pm to 630pm or 7pm to 830pm and Sunday from 11am to 1230pm or 2pm to 3.30pm, contact us on Whatsapp for more details. Prepare for your O’levels English with our team of MOE/NIE-trained teachers today. You can get an experienced teacher to guide. Click here to know the tuition rates and contact us for 1 on 1 in-person lesson/group lesson or go Online 1 to 1 lesson / online group lesson. 

 

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PSLE English 2022 Question – A Long Wait (Model Essay) 小六PSLE英文优秀作文

 

有人说生活的字典里最重要的三个词,就是意志、工作、等待。

新加坡小六会考2022年的PSLE English 就是以“(漫长)的等待” 作为主题, “A Long Wait” 

请阅读我们学生的优秀作文。 要如何才能写出高雅亮洁的好文章?让我们的英文补习老师帮助您的孩子提高写作技能!今天就联络我们吧。

PSLE MODEL ESSAY: 2022 A Long Wait

As I gathered myself and try my best to hastened toward the door to greet my mother, the rampant thudding in my heart got louder. Unease slithered down my spine. My legs turned jelly. I could feel myself wobbling uncontrollably.

“What did the doctor tell them? Is it finally over?” I thought to myself grimly. As the door swung open,  a draft of air hits my face, the air was warm and with a tincture of bleach. I have been trapped in this hospital ward for weeks yet the acrid smell of the hospital never fails to assault my senses. I looked with anticipation at my mother’s weary face, hoping that she will give me some answers that I’ve longed for. 

“Can I leave now?”

“Carin, hang in there. The doctor has not told us the results yet.” my mother whispered as she stroked my cheeks gently, wiping away my tears. 

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“This is not fair!” I whimpered as I ran my hand over the rough paint on the hospital wall. I could feel my insides squirm in a way they haven’t done before. I absolutely hate this place. This cold, unfeeling and upsetting place. 

 “How long more must we wait?” I begged for an answer in a soft voice.

My mother bit her lips in an attempt to stop them from quivering. I could feel her body press in, soft and warm as she enveloped me in a hug so tight, it was as if she was worried it would be for the last time.

“Just a few more days, sweetheart. The doctor said we can go home today but we have to come back in three days for the results” she answered tenderly, pointing at the doctor’s letter with a date circled in red ink and a note scribbled ‘White Blood Cell Count Results.”

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“I cannot do this anymore, Mummy! Please let me stop all these tests!” I screamed inconsolably, my energy depleting along with my tears. 

The day finally came and we headed back to the dreaded hospital waiting room again. Everything was the same. The rooms, the outfits, the pain. Nothing felt different and I was losing sight of when, if ever, this nightmarish ordeal would ever end.

“Carin Tan Xiyue” I heard the nurse called my name and I nearly jumped out of my seat.

“He’s ready to see you now,” the nurse announced as she opened the door, motioning for my mother and I to enter. I dragged my feet into the doctor’s room reluctantly, moving to sit opposite the doctor, a man in his late forties with heavy brown-rimmed glasses that kept sliding down from his nose. 

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 “I have good news for you Carin. Your wait is finally over . That was your last chemotherapy session,” the doctor cheerfully declared. Your cancer cells have been destroyed.”

As he uttered these words, I could not believe my ears. Tears of relief rolled down my cheeks. I thought to myself, “Of the hardships a person had to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” I am so glad that this long wait is finally over. 

时间如此短暂而又如此公平,不同的人对待它截然不同,有人视时间为生命,分秒必争,为人类作出了许多贡献;而有人却不然,他们碌碌无为虚度光阴,时间的价值在他们的身上完全消失 了,这样的人生又有何意义而言呢?家长们,时间就是如此,如果你是一位智者,请珍惜身旁的每分每秒吧! 2023一转眼就到了,今天就 Whatsapp 我们,让我们的老师们帮助你的孩子吧!#新加玻英文补习

 

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English O’Levels 1184: How to answer Oral Planned Response Question 

 

In this new syllabus for GCE O Level English Language Paper 4, students have to present their ideas and opinions fluently and effectively to engage the listener through Planned Response. 10 out of 15 marks are allocated to delivery. Some common questions that students have would be “How then do you structure a planned response so that it can be easily understood?”

Read on for our useful template to structure your planned response or contact us now and we will link you up with one of our MOE (current or ex tutors) for a one-to-one session for oral crash course preparation.

We have a strong team of qualified ex and current MOE teachers who can help you improve your grades. You can also access our LC Videos for Listening Comprehension Specimen Paper (based on 1184) here. 

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You can also check out 2023 O’Levels English Oral (Syllabus 1184) Questions below with their recommended approach. 

List of Oral Questions for 2023 English O’levels

Day 1: Character Development / UG

 
Day 2: Elderly  

Day 3: Greenery / Neighbourhood

Day 4: Haze / Environment

 

Day 5: Education

Day 6: Technology

Day 7: Sports

 

PART 1 – PLANNED RESPONSE ORAL SPECIMEN QUESTION 2023

How can you get good grades for Planned Response component? Two key points to note. 

  1. Know the Requirements: You will watch a video which shows people watching a lion dance performance (sample question). After watching the video, you will be required to plan a two minutes Planned Response with the given prompt. The prompt will ask you for your opinion on either the recommendations that you have e.g. “What do you think can be done to …?” or your preference about something (a career, an activity) or the “Who do you think is/are watching this / what feelings they have?” Candidates’ main concern should be “Am I answering the question?, organisation, time management and making sure that they are answering the Planned Response with relevant and well considered examples and pronunciation / intonation. 

2) Cherish the preparation time to brainstorm: As you watch the video, think about how you will respond to the following prompt. You can consider using the 5Ws and 1H approach to brainstorm, examine the prompt closely and prepare a 2-mins speech that will answer the prompt. You should not exceed the time. A good guide will be to prepare two PEEL paragraphs that answers the examiner’s question. You will be given paper and need to submit the paper to examiners at end of the 10-mins prep session.

Possible Prompts for this question:
Would attending such an event appeal to you? Why or why not? 

Who do you think are the audience watching this event? What do you think the audience are thinking as they watch such an event? 

These are some of the typical planned response questions during Oral Examinations. On the day of your oral, you will be given ten minutes to view a video. The audio of the video is inconsequential. You should focus on the theme of the video. Candidates are expected to plan and deliver a two-minutes response to the 1 minute video clip and accompanying prompt presented on a computer screen. 

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How to approach the planned response question?

Step 1: Brainstorm on possible questions while watching the video. You can consider using 5Ws and 1H method. 

Step 2: Pay attention to the prompt and work your answer around it. You should have two PEEL paragraphs as part of your response, drawing reference to the video when apt. You are expected to use your own personal stories or other facts to support your opinion. 

Step 3: Consider using this template in setting up your PEEL response

Need more help?

Get a tutor to help you with English, Math and more! Contact us and let us connect you with our team of MOE and NIE trained tutors for English Tuition today. We have a strong team of experienced ex and current MOE Teachers who are able to help you achieve better grades.

Watch our youtube for O’levels Oral Practice questions and you will soon be on your way to scoring distinctions. Stay tuned and subscribe for more free tips on oral English for PSLE and O’levels. 

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Check out the O’levels Oral questions for 2023 Day One here

 

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2022 PSLE Posting is finally over and Secondary One students have received their posting. Most are rejoicing and preparing for an exciting journey to secondary school. There are a handful, however, who are not rejoicing because they did not get into their dream school. If you are looking to appeal, or keen to find out more about the Secondary School Cut Off Points for 2023, do read on! 

Cut Off Points for Top Twenty Schools in Singapore (IP and O’Levels)

Secondary School  Cut off Points 2023 for IP Cut off Points for O’levels (Non-Aff)
     
Anglican High School   5(HCL Dist) -12 (HCL Pass) Points
     
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)   7-13 (Affiliated) 
    6-9 (Non-Affiliated)
     
     
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School 4-9 4-8
     
     
Raffles Girls’ Secondary (IP) 4-6  
     
     
Raffles Institution  (IP) 6  
     
     
Methodist Girls’ Sec 4-6 7-17 (Affiliated)
    6-8 (Non-Affiliated)
     
     
Nanyang Girls High School (SAP) 7 Dist in HCL   
  8 Merit in HCL  
     
     
Hwa Chong Institution (SAP) 4 Dist in HCL  
  7 Merit in HCL  
     
     
CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ Sec (SAP) 4 Dist in HCL 7 Merit in HCL 5 Dist in HCL
    8 Dist in HCL
     
     
Nan Hua High School (SAP)    6-11     
     
     
National Junior College 5-7   
     
     
Dunman High Sch 4-8 Dist in HCL  
     
     
Catholic High Sch 5-8 Merit 6-9 Merit
     
     
Crescent’s Girls    6-11
     
     
Singapore Chinese Girls’ Sec 4-8 5-9 (Non-Affiliated) 
     
     
St Joseph’s Institution 8 10 (Non-Affiliated)
    12 (Affiliated) 
     
     
Victoria Sch 5-8 6-9
     
     
River Valley High School(SAP) 4 Merit in HCL   
  9 Dist in HCL  
     
     
Temasek Junior College 4-9  
     

Getting to your dream school is your first step to success, get the best tutors to help you achieve your dreams. Contact us via whatsapp or email today. If you are a Secondary One IP student, quote “S1IP” to get $10 off your online tuition class for Language Arts or Higher Chinese.

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THE GIFTED EXAMINATION PROGRAMME (GEP) Sample Test Papers is available for download for all members of The Learning Space. Please sign up here and indicate your interest in getting a sample question for the GEP Sample Test Paper (English).

We provide GEP preparation class online (3 Days) either group or individual 1 on 1. Our GEP Preparation Programme will give your children the critical insights and familiarise your child with question types commonly seen during the GEP round 1 Screening Exercise. Run twice each year, this highly sought after popular programme is conducted by our team of specialist teachers and provide practical strategies and techniques to excel in the MOE’s highly competitive 2-stage selection exercise.

What is the GEP Programme?

GEP Screening Exercise is held annually for all Primary 3 students in Singapore.

There are two stages:

Stage 1: Screening

Stage 2: Selection

At the Learning Space, we provide GEP Preparatory Tuition for students who are keen to have a head start. Students can choose a small group class or engage a 1 to 1 GEP Prep Teacher to guide them in this exciting endeavour. Lessons are available online or in-person and conducted by our team of highly experienced GEP Teachers. 

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How can you prepare your child for the GEP Identification Exercise?

Is a gifted child a product of nature or nurture? Since time immemorial, this has been a highly controversial subject. Evidence from many recent source points to the superior character of most of the homes or families as a strong contributing factor to the high standing of these boys and girls whose I.Qs are 130 or higher. According to the University of Chicago Press Journals, other than genetics, nurture is an important consideration and there has been a consideration of methods of training gifted children. 

To help parents better prepare for the challenges of the GEP Prep test, we provide a 16 hours of intensive preparation (6 lessons of 3 hours each) to tackle the commonly tested components of the GEP Screening Exercise. All lessons are conducted online in small groups. Contact us today for more details!

GEP Boot Camp

Click here to register.

Who should sign up?

Primary 2 and Primary 3 students who are keen to gain exposure to sample questions of the Gifted Education Programme (English, Maths and General Ability). Whatsapp us at 9364 6977 for more details. 

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