All about Situational Writing

"If Situational Writing is so easy to score, why can't my child score full marks?"

This is a common question asked and a common problem faced by many parents and students. Before we start to explain why, let's first understand what is SW ?

SW is a section of PSLE English Paper 1, this section adds up to a total of 15 marks - 6 marks for content and 9 marks for language.

There are three main types of stimulus and writing task. Examples are provided:

Key point to note for type A:

1) The picture aid is generally in one big picture, a summary of what was discussed or what had happened.

2) Students are given a character to portray. "Imagine you are Ben"

3) For questions like this, students must take note of their signing off as, they are Ben.

Key point to note for type B:

1) The picture aid is generally a comic strip, sequence of event based on time.

2) Students have to pay attention to the timings in this task as most of the time, it is needed in the content.

3) For questions like this, students must take note of their tone. Task like this are generally in formal - to report something.

Key point to note for type C:

1) The picture aid is generally like a composition detailing what had happened into four different parts.

2) As the picture is normally about an accident/incident, the characters involved will be included in the picture aid. Students are to scrutinise the picture and look for details.

Now, let's proceed to the format of SW

Certainly, SW is easy to score but there are a few things to note.

Tone of the context (persuassive, serious, casual), forms of writing (informal / formal), template (salutation/signing off).

As long as the children follows the format well, answer all points required in the correct tense, acing SW is not difficult.

Common Errors in SW

1) Students will sign off wrongly with their own names in scenario where there is a character for them to portray.

2) Students will tend to sign off on the right hand corner instead of left hand corner.

3) Students messed out when to use 'faithfully' and 'sincerely'.

4) Students did not use a capital 'Y' for Yours.

5) Students miss out points required - normally points being missed out are 'asking' points. Example: Ask your friend if she would like to go

Students should write in their context, - "Would you like ... ?" instead of "I would like you to ..."

Want to know more about SW, keep a lookout for our parents' seminar / short term courses