1

Paper

Component

Item
Type

Marks

Weighting

Duration

Situational Writing
Continuous Writing

OE
OE

55

27.5%

1h 10
min

Language Use and

Comprehension

MCQ
OE

95

47.5%

1h 50
min

Listening
Comprehension

MCQ

20

10%

35 min

Oral Communication

OE

30

15%

10 min

200

100%

Total

Old Format

New Format (2015)

Reading

10

Picture
Discussion
Conversation

10

Total

30

10

Reading
Stimulus-Based
Conversation
(Given a picture; to
answer 3 prompts

10

Total

30

20

Passage and picture are broadly linked to the same

theme
5 minutes of preparation time before examination

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

 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
Situational
Writing

15

Continuous
Writing
(Picture or
Situation)

40

Total

55

New Format (2015)

Situational
15
Writing
Continuous
Writing
(Given: 1 topic,
40
3 pictures and
2 questions)
Total
55

Content

(6 Marks)

Language,
Organisation
and Context
(9 Marks)

provide key information

required
understanding and
awareness of
PURPOSE, AUDIENCE
and CONTEXT
correct grammatical
structures, spelling and
punctuation
logical arrangement of
ideas
8

Study the following pictures carefully.

4th March 2015, 1.00 pm

4th March 2015, 1.25 pm

4th March 2015, after 1.25

pm
9

Your Task
You were at the supermarket buying some
groceries when you caught a man redhanded, 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.
10

Adequate and relevant ideas

(20 marks)
Development of ideas and interest
value
Language and Correct grammatical structures,
Organisation
spelling and punctuation
(20 marks)
Wide and appropriate use of
vocabulary
Sequencing, paragraphing and
linking of ideas and facts

Content

11

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.

12

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

Old Format

Graphic Stimulus
Grammar
Punctuation
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Cloze

Comprehension

New Format (2015)

5
7

Grammar

10

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Cloze

Visual Text Comprehension

3
5
5

Total

Total
30

28

14

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

Total
65

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.
_____ Chens thriftiness had allowed her to donate
large sums of money to charitable
organisations.

17

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)

Chen dreaded her job as a

vegetable seller.

True/
False

Reason

Chens mother went

missing after she had
completed her primary
school education
A teacher from Ren-Ai
Primary School was Chens
saviour.

18

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