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100+ Free PSLE English Practice Questions

Pass your PSLE English Language (Primary School Leaving Examination) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Join the sentences using 'despite'. "The team played well. They lost the match." Which is correct?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PSLE English Exam

PSLE English Language is a 200-mark, four-paper SEAB examination for Primary 6 pupils; Paper 2 alone carries 45% of the marks, and results are graded AL1 (best) to AL8.

Sample PSLE English Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PSLE English exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "Neither the teacher nor the students ___ aware of the change in timetable."
A.was
B.is
C.were
D.be
Explanation: In 'neither ... nor ...' constructions, the verb agrees with the noun nearest to it. Here 'students' (plural) is nearest, so the plural verb 'were' is correct.
2Choose the most suitable word: "The pile of old newspapers ___ been left in the corner of the storeroom."
A.have
B.has
C.are
D.were
Explanation: The subject is 'pile' (singular), not 'newspapers'. The phrase 'of old newspapers' merely describes the pile, so the singular verb 'has' is correct.
3Choose the correct word: "By the time we reached the cinema, the movie ___ already started."
A.has
B.have
C.had
D.having
Explanation: Two past actions are described; the movie started before they reached the cinema. The earlier past action takes the past perfect tense, formed with 'had' + past participle ('had started').
4Choose the most suitable word: "Each of the girls ___ to bring her own water bottle for the excursion."
A.need
B.needs
C.are needing
D.have
Explanation: 'Each' is a singular pronoun that always takes a singular verb, regardless of the plural noun that follows. The singular verb 'needs' is therefore correct.
5Choose the correct preposition: "The children waited patiently ___ the bus stop in the morning drizzle."
A.on
B.at
C.in
D.to
Explanation: We use 'at' for a specific point or location such as a bus stop. 'At the bus stop' is the standard, idiomatic choice.
6Choose the correct preposition: "Mdm Lim has been teaching at this primary school ___ 2010."
A.for
B.during
C.from
D.since
Explanation: 'Since' is used with a specific starting point in time (a year, date or event) when an action continues up to the present. '2010' is a point in time, so 'since' is correct.
7Choose the correct word: "The two boys shared the prize money equally between ___."
A.theirselves
B.themselves
C.them
D.themself
Explanation: When the subject and object refer to the same people, a reflexive pronoun is used. The correct plural reflexive pronoun is 'themselves'.
8Choose the correct pronoun: "This is the author ___ books have won many awards."
A.who
B.whom
C.whose
D.which
Explanation: 'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun, showing that the books belong to the author. The books are owned by the author, so 'whose' is correct.
9Choose the correct connector: "___ it was raining heavily, the football match went ahead as planned."
A.Although
B.Because
C.So
D.Therefore
Explanation: The match going ahead contrasts with the heavy rain, so a contrasting connector is needed. 'Although' introduces a contrast between two clauses.
10Choose the correct word: "___ you finish your homework early, you may watch some television."
A.If
B.Unless
C.Although
D.Despite
Explanation: The sentence sets a condition: watching television depends on finishing homework. 'If' introduces this kind of conditional clause.

About the PSLE English Exam

The PSLE English Language paper is taken by Primary 6 pupils in Singapore at the end of their primary education and is one of the most heavily weighted PSLE subjects. The examination, set by SEAB under the 2020 English Language syllabus (examination format implemented from 2025), is worth 200 marks across four papers. Paper 1 (Writing, 50 marks, 25%) covers Situational Writing and Continuous Writing; Paper 2 (Language Use and Comprehension, 90 marks, 45%) tests grammar, vocabulary, vocabulary cloze, visual text comprehension, grammar cloze, editing, comprehension cloze, synthesis and transformation, and open-ended comprehension; Paper 3 (Listening Comprehension, 20 marks, 10%) is multiple-choice; and Paper 4 (Oral, 40 marks, 20%) covers Reading Aloud and Stimulus-based Conversation. Since 2021, results are reported using Achievement Levels from AL1 (best) to AL8.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Paper 1: 1 h 10 min; Paper 2: 1 h 50 min; Paper 3: about 35 min; Paper 4: about 10 min.

Passing Score

Achievement Levels AL1 (90+) to AL8 (below 20); AL1 is the best. Since 2021 there is no pass/fail per subject.

Exam Fee

No separate English subject fee for local candidates; PSLE fees are covered through MOE school fees and Singapore Citizens are exempt. (Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), on behalf of MOE)

PSLE English Exam Content Outline

30%

Grammar

Subject-verb agreement, tenses, prepositions, pronouns, articles, connectors and grammar cloze.

24%

Vocabulary and Vocabulary Cloze

Word meaning, synonyms, collocations and choosing the best word for meaning and context.

24%

Comprehension

Literal, inferential and evaluative understanding of written and visual texts.

14%

Synthesis and Transformation

Rewriting sentences with structures like unless, despite, so-that, reported speech and the passive voice.

8%

Listening and Editing

Listening comprehension MCQ and editing for spelling and grammar.

How to Pass the PSLE English Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Achievement Levels AL1 (90+) to AL8 (below 20); AL1 is the best. Since 2021 there is no pass/fail per subject.
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Paper 1: 1 h 10 min; Paper 2: 1 h 50 min; Paper 3: about 35 min; Paper 4: about 10 min.
  • Exam fee: No separate English subject fee for local candidates; PSLE fees are covered through MOE school fees and Singapore Citizens are exempt.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PSLE English Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Booklet A grammar rules such as subject-verb agreement, tenses and prepositions, since these MCQs are quick marks if the rules are secure.
2For vocabulary and vocabulary cloze, learn words in context and watch for clue words in the sentence that point to the correct meaning.
3Practise synthesis and transformation patterns (unless, despite, so-that, reported speech, passive voice, question tags) until each structure becomes automatic.
4In comprehension, distinguish literal, inferential and evaluative questions, and always support inferences with evidence from the passage.
5Time yourself on full Paper 2 sets, as managing 1 hour 50 minutes across many components is a key skill for the real examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is PSLE English scored in 2026?

PSLE English is reported using Achievement Levels from AL1 (raw mark 90 and above, the best) to AL8 (below 20). Since 2021 there is no pass or fail for individual subjects, and the four subject ALs are added to give a total PSLE score between 4 and 32.

How many papers are there in PSLE English?

There are four papers worth 200 marks in total: Paper 1 Writing (50 marks), Paper 2 Language Use and Comprehension (90 marks), Paper 3 Listening Comprehension (20 marks) and Paper 4 Oral (40 marks).

Which paper carries the most marks?

Paper 2 (Language Use and Comprehension) is the most heavily weighted, carrying 90 marks or 45% of the total. It tests grammar, vocabulary, cloze passages, comprehension and synthesis and transformation.

What multiple-choice sections does PSLE English have?

Multiple-choice items appear in Paper 2 Booklet A (grammar, vocabulary, vocabulary cloze and visual text comprehension, 25 items) and in Paper 3 Listening Comprehension (20 items).

Who sets and administers the PSLE English examination?

It is set and administered by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on behalf of the Ministry of Education (MOE), and is taken in primary schools across Singapore at the end of Primary 6.