1
2
Paper Component Item
Type
Marks Weighting Duration
1 Situational Writing
Continuous Writing
OE
OE
55 27.5% 1h 10
min
2 Language Use and
Comprehension
MCQ
OE
95 47.5% 1h 50
min
3 Listening
Comprehension
MCQ 20 10% 35 min
4 Oral Communication OE 30 15% 10 min
Total 200 100%
3
Old Format New Format (2015)
Reading 10 Reading 10
Picture
Discussion
10 Stimulus-Based
Conversation
(Given a picture; to
answer 3 prompts
20
Conversation 10
Total 30 Total 30
Passage and picture are broadly linked to the same theme
5 minutes of preparation time before examination
4
Give personal response to 3 PROMPTS and extend the conversation by giving explanations, opinions or examples related to the prompts
Answer questions clearly using appropriate vocabulary and accurate grammatical structures
Interact with the examiner and maintain eye contact
Ask questions if there is a need for clarification
5
6
20 multiple-choice questions
texts include news items, announcements,
advertisements, instructions, conversations,
speeches and stories
number of graphic items increased from
4 to 7
time is given to read the questions before each text
is heard; options will not be read out
should think through options given before picking
answer and shade answers on OAS during the
exam
Old Format New Format (2015)
Situational Writing
15 Situational
Writing 15
Continuous Writing
(Picture or Situation)
40
Continuous Writing
(Given: 1 topic, 3 pictures and 2 questions)
40
Total 55 Total 55
7
Content
(6 Marks)
provide key information
required
understanding and
awareness of
PURPOSE, AUDIENCE
and CONTEXT
Language,
Organisation
and Context
(9 Marks)
correct grammatical
structures, spelling and
punctuation
logical arrangement of
ideas
8
9
4th March 2015, 1.00 pm
4th March 2015, 1.25 pm
4th March 2015, after 1.25
pm
Study the following pictures carefully.
10
Your Task
You were at the supermarket buying some
groceries when you caught a man red-
handed, stealing a wallet from a shopper
whose handbag was left in the
supermarket trolley.
Write a letter to your cousin, Christina,
giving her details about this incident.
You are to refer to the pictures.
In your letter, include the following
information:
•the name of the supermarket
•what you were doing at the supermarket
•what the man wearing a cap did and what
time it took place
•what the security guard did
•how you felt when you caught the man
red-handed
You may re-order the points. You should
write in complete sentences.
Content
(20 marks)
Adequate and relevant ideas
Development of ideas and interest
value
Language and
Organisation
(20 marks)
Correct grammatical structures,
spelling and punctuation
Wide and appropriate use of
vocabulary
Sequencing, paragraphing and
linking of ideas and facts
11
12
Write a composition of at least 150
words about an unexpected event.
The pictures are provided to help you
think about this topic.
Your composition should be based on
one or more of these pictures.
Consider the following points when you
plan your composition :
What was the event?
What was so unexpected about it?
You may use the points in any order and
include other relevant points as well.
must write based on topic given
must select at least one picture to write on; not necessary to use all pictures
should make use of the two guiding questions given
Writing process – planning, writing and checking
13
14
Old Format New Format (2015)
Graphic Stimulus
5
Grammar
7 Grammar 10
Punctuation
3
Vocabulary
5 Vocabulary 5
Vocabulary
Cloze
5 Vocabulary Cloze 5
Comprehension
5 Visual Text Comprehension 8
Total
30
Total
28
Old Format New Format (2015)
Grammar Cloze
10 Grammar Cloze 10
Editing for Spelling and Grammar
10 Editing for Spelling & Grammar 12
Comprehension Cloze
15 Comprehension Cloze 15
Synthesis & Transformation
10 Synthesis & Transformation 10
Comprehension Open Ended
20 Comprehension Open-ended 20
Total
65
Total
67
15
number of items increased from 10 to 12
required to identify the nature of errors
(spelling or grammatical) and correct them
16
Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the passage. (1m)
_____ Chen gained global recognition due to her
generosity towards the poor.
_____ After the passing of her parents, Chen took
over the vegetable stall business.
_____ Chen’s thriftiness had allowed her to donate
large sums of money to charitable
organisations.
17
True/ False
Reason
Chen dreaded her job as a vegetable seller.
Chen’s mother went missing after she had completed her primary school education
A teacher from Ren-Ai Primary School was Chen’s saviour.
18
Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is
true or false, then give one reason why you think so. (3m)
skim through the text to get main idea scan the text for details sequence details use contextual clues make predictions make inferences make connections between text and personal
experiences draw conclusions
19