Do you know that over 67 countries have English as their official language? Or that over 1.4 billion people speak English globally. English simply isn’t a language—it is a bridge that allows people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds to communicate with each other.
If you are a student sitting for the Singaporean GCE O level English exam, this article is perfect for you. Whether you want to know more about O level English format or O level English essay questions, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we will discuss the paper’s format and O level English marking scheme in greater detail.
Let’s begin!
Why English Matters
English is spoken globally and is needed in a lot of countries. This language also opens up a lot of prospects, which is why many countries teach this language, including Singapore. Regarding your O levels, English is critical as it is a requirement for you to proceed to Junior College or Poly.
Not doing well in your English language will directly affect the courses you are offered after your O levels. Failing this paper can be a disaster, as you cannot progress your education in Singapore. Being a country that is a business hub, the Ministry of Education of Singapore has realised and emphasised the importance of the English language in business and day-to-day living.
The advantages of learning English are:
- It will improve your career prospects
- It will improve your communication skills
- It gives you a competitive edge in competitive examinations and interviews
- It will help you land a better job
- It helps in understanding other cultures
What is the O Level English Format?
Secondary students in Singapore take the O level English exams. These exams are jointly administered by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) along with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and MOE.
The O level English format comprises of 4 papers, each designed to test a student’s English proficiency levels.
1. O Level English Paper 1 Writing (70 marks, 1hr50 min)
Paper 1 consists of three sections designed to test your writing skills.
Section A – Editing (10 marks)
Students are given a short written text containing grammatical errors. They have to identify the errors and write the correct answer.
Section B - Situational Writing (30 marks)
In this section, students have to write 250 to 350 words on a given situation involving a visual text.
Section C - Continuous Writing (30 marks)
- In section C, students will be given four topics, out of which they have to pick one and write a 350 to 500-word essay on it.
- Students are given a total of 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete all three sections of the writing paper.
2. O Level English Paper 2 Comprehension (50 marks, 1hr50 min)
The comprehension paper comprises 50 marks with a weightage of 35%. The paper assesses a student’s capability to respond to different types of texts. Given the weightage of this paper, it's important that you master English comprehension early on.
There is a total of 3 sections for this paper:
Section A (5 marks)
- In Section A, there are two texts—Texts 1 and 2.
- Students have to respond to questions based on these two texts, one of which is a visual text.
Section B (20 marks)
In section B, students are given one narrative or recount text based on Text 3 and asked to answer questions based on it.
Section C (25 marks)
- Students are given Text 4, a non-narrative text. They have to answer comprehension questions based on the text.
- They also have to write an 80-word response on a summary writing task.
3. Paper 3 Listening (30 marks, 45 minutes)
- Paper 3 tests a student’s English listening skills.
- This paper consists of 2 parts and comprises of 30 marks.
- Students are given 45 minutes to complete this assessment.
- The exam weightage is 10%.
Section A (22 marks)
Students have to respond to various audio recordings and record their observations. Note: the recordings are played twice.
Section B (8 marks)
In this exercise, students listen to an audio recording and complete a note-taking exercise. Unlike section A, this recording will only be played once.
4. Paper 4 Oral Communication (30 marks, 20 minutes including 10 minutes preparation time)
This paper consists of two parts and is of 30 marks. It tests your oral communication skills.
Part 1 – Planned Response (15 marks)
Students will have to plan and deliver a response to a video clip.
Part 2 – Spoken Interaction (15 marks)
- In Part 2, students have to discuss a topic based on a video clip with the examiners.
- These two parts may be interrelated, and students will be given approximately 20 minutes to complete the assessment.
Getting to Know the O Level English Marking Scheme
Here is a consolidated view of the marking scheme for the English language examinations at different levels.
| Paper | Section | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Writing Editing Situational Writing Continuous Writing | ( 70) 10 30 30 | 35% |
| Paper 2 | Comprehension Section A Section B Section C | (50) 5 20 25 | 35% |
| Paper 3 | Listening Section A Section B | (30) 22 8 | 10% |
| Paper 4 | Oral Communication Planned Response Spoken Interaction | (30) 15 15 | 20% |
| Total | 180 | 100% |
Changes from Previous Syllabi (1128 vs 1184)
Starting in 2023, several changes have been made to the O level English format. These changes are in line with the MOE’s shift towards 21st-century skills, promoting real-world communication skills and critical thinking.
The new syllabus goes beyond just testing on academic English. Instead, there is greater emphasis on equipping students for 21st-century skills like critical thinking and media literacy.
In the new syllabus, Situational Writing is focused more on a practical range of text types like emails, blog entries, reports, etc.
| Old Syllabus | New Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Visual text mostly based on local context More number of bands to assess skills | Visual text on both local and overseas context Number of bands for assessing skills reduced |
The comprehension paper has undergone significant change, with now there being a clear three-text structure: a visual, narrative, or descriptive text, and a non-narrative text.
Old Syllabus New Syllabus One visual text
Less diverse questions
Text could be poster/webpage/ad
Two visual texts
More diverse questions
Text includes webpage/social media post/poster
In the Oral Communication (paper 4), the Reading Aloud section has been done away with. The Spoken Interaction section follows the Planned Response task, and they could be thematically linked.
| Old Syllabus | New Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Reading Aloud section present No Planned Response task Spoken Interaction consisted of 3 prompts | Reading Aloud section has been removed Planned Response task has been introduced Spoken Interaction has been reduced to 2 prompts |
Are you currently studying for your O-levels and struggling with the English comprehension paper? Not to worry! There are several tips and tricks you can implement to enhance your performance and achieve a better score.
How to Score Well in Your O Level English Paper 1 and O Level English Paper 2
If you are currently studying for your O-levels and are struggling with the O level English essay questions or even O level English Paper 1 and Paper 2, don’t worry! We have compiled several tips and tricks you can use to enhance your performance and achieve a better score.
Follow these tips to ace your exam.
1. Have a disciplined approach to your studies. Make a study schedule and stick to it.
2. Whenever you encounter any doubt, don’t be shy to talk to your tutor. Talk to them and get your doubts clarified.
3. There are loads of resources available online. Attempt as many of these past years and practice questions as possible before sitting for the examination.
Ace Your O Level English Paper with a Superprof Tutor
The O level English paper is important for progressing to polytechnic or JC in Singapore. With so much at stake, you need all the help you can— someone who can guide you in your preparation journey.
One of the best things you can do is hire a tutor to help you with your studies. They will provide you with valuable resources and guides to ensure you are thoroughly prepared for your exam. But with so many tuition centres in Singapore, how do you decide which tuition centre or tutor best fits you?
Superprof is an online platform that connects students and tutors from all over the world. It offers a level of flexibility that most places do not. You can also choose whether to have an online or face-to-face class. Our tutors are extremely knowledgeable and can also guide you on how to answer O level English essay questions and tips to tackle O level English Paper 1 and O level English Paper 2.
Unsure about whether a tutor is fit for you? No problem. Most of the tutors on Superprof offer their first lesson for FREE. Our tutors can help you:
- Tackle challenging essay questions
- Master comprehension techniques
- Improve your speaking and listening skills
Visit the Superprof website today to find the perfect tutor and get started on your journey to success.
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