PROGRAMMES
Primary 4 English Tuition
In Primary 4, students are expected to be able to craft a composition based on the 3 -picture format used for PSLE, with a purposeful integration of the question’s theme. Other components of Paper 2 are also introduced at Primary 4, such as Synthesis and Transformation.
At AWS, we work towards bridging the gap for our students from lower primary towards upper primary demands.
Close Partnership with Parents
Our teachers believe in a close partnership with parents to successfully help students be the best they can be.
We give:
- regular updates on the student’s progress
- explain the importance of a particular lesson if necessary
- a mid-year Parent Teacher Meeting
How does AWS prepare students for Primary 4 English?
- Our curriculum will cover all components of the Paper, including composition writing and oral
- Provide regular practice in composition writing with exposure to common themes tested in exams
- Provide additional practices such as grammar and vocabulary drills
- Detailed marking of composition scripts with draft 2 as homework to achieve maximum retention of ideas and skills
Important Changes in 2025 in view of the PSLE 2028
- Lowered weightage of Paper 1 and Paper 2 (5 marks taken from each paper, respectively)
- Increased weightage of Paper 3 (oral) – from a total of 30 marks to 40 marks
- Greater focus on real-life communication and inference skills as seen from the new oral format
WHAT DOES PRIMARY 4 ENGLISH EXAM REQUIRE?
Paper 1: Composition Writing
PSLE format with three pictures is introduced
- At P3, the composition question has three pictures provided that are interconnected, and can be sequentially linked up to create a coherent story.
- P4 students will be introduced to an entirely new way of composition assessment: PSLE format with three distinct pictures. Students have to choose at least one picture and use it to develop a piece of writing that is relevant to the topic.
- While the new P4 format indicates that students can use as many pictures as they want, it is advisable for them to pick only one. Given that all three pictures are wholly distinct from each other, it is more straightforward to choose one and develop a plan based on it. This will ensure that the picture chosen is meaningfully used in the story. Vague references or unclear descriptions of the picture(s) will render marks loss in the content component.
- Purposeful integration of theme in composition
To ensure that topic is meaningfully addressed in their composition, especially in light of the new assessment format, students need to 1) read the guiding questions provided and 2) plan their composition. - No helping words and phrases provided anymore
In the P3 composition assessment, students are given eight to ten helping words or phrases that can be used within their writing. The new format is devoid of these helping words, which means that students need to use their own contextual knowledge to supplement relevant descriptions to their writing.
Paper 2: Increased in Components and Marks
- Editing: students need to rectify misspelt words or grammatical errors
- Synthesis and Transformation: students need to merge or ‘transform’ the sentence
- Comprehension Cloze: students need to fill in the blanks with words of their own based on a passage
- Challenging questions for the Comprehension Open-ended section: True/False question now require written responses.
Paper 3: Oral
- P4 students are introduced to new types of visual stimuli, such as scenario-based settings, posters, and advertisements.
- Students are expected to provide more insightful thoughts and personal anecdotes about the subject matter.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Regular English Lessons
Lesson Duration: 2 hours
A focus on helping your child to build confidence in reading, writing and speaking helps your child enjoy all aspects of learning with a safe space to ask questions and explore interests.
Interested in our Primary classes? Contact us.
testimonials
Chloe Ooi
parent of P5 SCGS (bootcamp attendee)
Short and concise introduction to composition writing with important tips given along the way. Many humourous moments which reinvorce learning unwittingly. A thoroughly enjoyable sessions with kids begging for more thereafter!
Lee Wen Kym
Nanyang Girls' High School & HCI (College)
Ms Lala is an excellent LA & GP teacher. Prior to joining AWS, I struggled to achieve an A2 in
Language Arts. However, since I have had the privilege of being taught by Ms Lala I have achieved
A1 comfortably and consistently throughout my 4IP year. What is most remarkable about Ms Lala
is that she goes a step further, to help students who need to clarify any doubts they may have and is
able to provide clear explanations. Ms Lala is a caring and compassionate teacher who is
enthusiastic during lessons and constantly adapts her lessons to fit students’ needs. I am extremely
appreciative of the support that AWS has provided, and more grateful still to have a teacher as
experienced, professional and nurturing as Ms Lala.
Nicole Tham
Parent
For me, language has always been something very hard to teach. Ms Eu however is able to turn this subject that is boring to many children into lessons that are both interesting and challenging (in particular for my son who is both weak and disinterested in languages). What impresses me most about AWS’ teachers is their passion and love for the students, frequently spending extra hours beyond the usual lessons to ensure that the kids understand their topics and to help them develop holistically. This is admirable because not many
schools go beyond the books and lessons to mentor the children. My children are very blessed to have such teachers and I am very thankful.
Alison Wong
HCI cohort 2018
Ms See is a teacher who not only made GP much less daunting, but also made learning about current affairs and the world around us interesting and exciting. She is a very caring teacher as well. She was always willing to take time out to go through any content that we were unclear about and to help us to improve on our different skills. I looked forward to her lessons every week as I knew that I would learn a lot, while having a very good time! Ms See is someone who became not just a tutor but also a friend .
Harisankar Nambi
2023 A level Cohort; Joined in 2022 'B' Grade for GP 2023
Ms See is a great and approachable teacher whom I’m very comfortable to confide in when I have questions. She provides vivid examples whilst answering the question to enhance my ability to comprehend. Even when it is time consuming, Ms See takes the time to ensure that my question is answered properly. She also takes the initiative to keep us all up to date with the recent developments around the world which is very insightful and helpful as they are all very useful GP examples. There is someone to explain world politics to me! Her lessons are highly enriching and very informative for everyone. I’m glad to have picked Ms See to help me with my GP for A levels.
Jareath Tan
2023 A level Cohort; joined in 2022 'A' Grade for GP 2023
The GP lessons at AWS were structured in a helpful way because we are taught how to answer specific questions and understand the different question types. There are content notes and skill based tutorials to help me practise the application of ideas. I understood how to approach GP, which often tends to be difficult because there is no one textbook or set of notes to rely on. Finally, I personally feel that the tuition has improved my ability to answer the essay questions properly.
Augustine Chia
HCI Cohort 2016
Ms See is a very humourous teacher who never fails to lift the spirits of her students up with her witty remarks. Her lessons are extremely insightful and enjoyable where she always brings up the latest news from around the world to discuss with us. It is through her effective lessons that i am able to beef up my content knowledge and broaden my perspectives towards many world issues. I am extremely thankful to Ms See for so approachable and willing to sacrifice her spare time in order to answer my queries and guide me through my mistakes in my exam papers. I always look forward to attend her lessons and will highly recommend anyone who is struggling with GP to sign up for her classes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long is each lesson?
2 Hours
What will you cover in each lesson?
We cover components of paper 1 and paper 2, such as grammar MCQ, vocab MCQ, synthesis and transformation and comprehension open-ended.
How do I do replacement classes?
The student may attend another physical class in the same week or attend a workshop that will be held during the school holidays.
Do I get refunds if I miss classes?
No refunds will be provided for classes missed but notes or materials covered will be supplied. Students are encouraged to make up within the week or in our holiday workshops.
Will mock exams be conducted for students?
Yes, we will conduct mock exams to simulate exam conditions for the students. We typically conduct mock exams once a term for Terms 1-3.
How often will the oral component be covered?
We cover the oral component every 3 weeks.
JOIN US FOR A TRIAL LESSON
We believe that a trial lesson will let students experience our teaching style, class structure, and learning environment firsthand. It helps students see if the approach suits their needs and learning preferences. More importantly, the trial lesson is free of charge, so both students and parents can make an informed decision with confidence.