For those with kids taking PSLE in 2026 or later, MOE/SEAB has adjusted the Paper 1 weighting. It’s actually 50 marks now (used to be 55). The old “15/40” split for Situational/Continuous writing is now 14/36.

The tricky part is Situational Writing (14m). It seems they are getting stricter on the “Inference” point—meaning kids can’t just lift the answer from the poster anymore; they have to come up with their own idea based on the visual. If they miss that, they lose content marks instantly.

I’ve been testing a new AI tool that specifically marks based on this new 2026 rubric (checks for the inference point and tone). It’s quite useful to see if your kid is still writing the “old way.”

The developer is letting parents try it for free right now to test the system. You can just upload a photo of an old essay to check.

1 Link here if anyone wants to stress-test their kid’s writing: https://t.me/PSLE_Marker_Pro_Bot
2 Tap “Start” and click the consent button.
3 The bot will generate a Parent ID for you (e.g., 12345678).
4 Simply email ml1978acc@gmail.com with that ID and try it once for free.

Hope this helps anyone else confused by the new format!

We’ve put together some recommendations for creative and composition writing classes here:

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/20-creative-and-composition-writing-classes-for-kids-in-singapore-and-online

Would love to hear your thoughts too!

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2115253\" time=\"1690937734\" user_id=\"28674:

Encouraging reading is best done by a multiprong approach tailored to the individual child. As CKS points out, reading comics is still reading! Perhaps help her find story books that contain the same themes or topics as the comics, which should make her more interested in the books. If she's interested in ballet, find books about girls dancing - even if she prefers physical movement, she has to sit down sometimes.

I haven't had experience with enrichment centres, but I find the \"model\" compos in books I see quite bad. Helping your daughter \"compose\" verbally may help since she seems to be an active person - talk about things, get her to describe events or activities, gently prompt her with questions if she's too brief, provide additional vocab... all this will help, even if not on paper.

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115234\" time=\"1690887921\" user_id=\"135913:

Thank you for the post. recently she was very into this comic series. So i have bought it for her. and the deal is read 5 comic books after reading one story book. any story book. and i hope it will help her enjoy reading more. sigh i dont know when i should or should rely on enrichment centres. i really hated the idea of one sentence full of big words. there's no longer emotions in the compo. but its better than not having at all.

kiasu parent so thats why im here seeking help. the good news is, as im trying to encourage her to read, her younger sister has now started to pick up reading. my elder daughter is very involved in ballet, she's crazy over it but not interested in reading much on it. She prefers the physical activity more.

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115234\" time=\"1690887921\" user_id=\"135913:

Thank you for the post. recently she was very into this comic series. So i have bought it for her. and the deal is read 5 comic books after reading one story book. any story book. and i hope it will help her enjoy reading more. sigh i dont know when i should or should rely on enrichment centres. i really hated the idea of one sentence full of big words. there's no longer emotions in the compo. but its better than not having at all.
...

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115234\" time=\"1690887921\" user_id=\"135913:

...
kiasu parent so thats why im here seeking help. the good news is, as im trying to encourage her to read, her younger sister has now started to pick up reading. my elder daughter is very involved in ballet, she's crazy over it but not interested in reading much on it. She prefers the physical activity more.

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2115218\" time=\"1690877545\" user_id=\"3:

I was very fortunate to have an English teacher in P1 whom I loved. She would pick up a story book and start reading and all the class would sit cross-legged around her and listen enthralled. At the end of the year, I won an MPH $20 voucher for toping the class and went and bought some books. I still remember one of them... Secret Seven Fireworks (with Guy Fawkes as the character). I read, don't really understand, and then got it finally after many tries. I was ecstatic at my power and started wolfing down book after book in the next 5 years, from Enid Blyton, to Alfred Hitchcock, Asimov, Frank Herbert, etc.

I HATE English lessons especially comprehension where you have to read passages done by others and then answer questions. I love English compositions as it really allows me to do whatever I want (within the confines of the pictures :roll: )

The point is, your daughter is still young at P3. Find out her interest and then direct her at books related to that interest. Make it a point to read to her regularly, especially on topics of her interest. Get her a kindle or some ebook reader and teach her how to use it. Don't rely on enrichment centers. Reading is a lifelong skill that needs to be inculcated ASAP. Of course the bad thing is it might get so addictive that all she wants to do is to read storybooks. But she will be a master of the language.

smilexy\" post_id=\"2115213\" time=\"1690871920\" user_id=\"135913:

Hi All,
My gal is p3 and is weak in compo and comprehension. Im thinking to try out TWC for in jurong centre. Any other recommendations? Her paper 2 mcq almost always full marks, but comes to comprehension its zero. we started to do more reading together in the hopes to help improve her english.

I wanted to try The alternative story but the timing cannot match. She is very involved in activity and many days of training thus need to find something to fit into the schedule. But Im open to suggestions.

She was initially attending an online english enrichment class. we saw improvement, but she has requested for physical classes so to focus better

Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2109374\" time=\"1684849339\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2109374 time=1684849339 user_id=195250]
人之初，性本善.[/quote]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2109304\" time=\"1684764936\" user_id=\"3:

But isn't the process of learning about learning from others? You read a story, then critique it from various angles to explore the different meaning to the story. Of course, if the tutor only chucks the story to the kids and tell them to memorize it by heart, well... that's rote learning, and it doesn't really do anything for the kids. Maybe combine it with a catchy jingle... that's how I still remember 人之初，性本尚...

Vamos\" post_id=\"2109192\" time=\"1684726490\" user_id=\"200806:

Hi everyone. Just to find out which is the best online course for PSLE cohort in terms of their teaching & marking feedback? E.g. Chalkboard Academy, Writing Samurai, Big Ideaz etc.

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2109304\" time=\"1684764936\" user_id=\"3:

But isn't the process of learning about learning from others? You read a story, then critique it from various angles to explore the different meaning to the story. Of course, if the tutor only chucks the story to the kids and tell them to memorize it by heart, well... that's rote learning, and it doesn't really do anything for the kids. Maybe combine it with a catchy jingle... that's how I still remember 人之初，性本尚...

manorway\" post_id=\"2109201\" time=\"1684731403\" user_id=\"9303:

Best if parents can share examples.

Chalkboard academy class only writes 1 story though parents pay for 6 hours of lessons. Pricey. Give kids model compo to read. But reading model compo does not mean kids can apply in their own writing. If kids can apply from JUST reading others' stories, they would ALREADY have done so by P6.

Vamos\" post_id=\"2109192\" time=\"1684726490\" user_id=\"200806:

Hi everyone. Just to find out which is the best online course for PSLE cohort in terms of their teaching & marking feedback? E.g. Chalkboard Academy, Writing Samurai, Big Ideaz etc.

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2074697\" time=\"1657932305\" user_id=\"28674:

I don't know if you have already found a class. Just a couple of suggestions that you (or anyone with kids who are having difficulties with sentences) could try at home:
- try to speak complete sentences in one language, without mixing. The kids will then be able to compose complete sentences for compo purposes.
- read aloud to your kids from storybooks, and get them to read aloud as well. They will then learn the rhythms of the language, and also learn how to use complete sentences, and widen their vocab. Even if they are now older, do some reading aloud - from newspaper articles, snatches of books/articles you think might interest them, etc.
- get kids to do \"leisure writing\" - anything that they want, and not school compos! Letters, diaries, instruction manuals for some game, their own stories. Just getting the practice writing is good, and working on school compos will be easier (but of course more boring, but what to do?)

These are tried and true methods used on my own kids who are both grown-up now.

tracychew\" post_id=\"2072644\" time=\"1656596903\" user_id=\"143434:

I tried joining a compo writing class at P1 but it was every fortnight not weekly. At 6-7 years old my children were struggling with handwriting and too many commas.. learning the stories helped but the teacher spent more time correcting their basics.. which is important too.

At the younger age maybe it helps more to find something that covers writing and speaking. I see children who speak English primarily at home seem to do better than mine as we speak half half between eng and chi.

tracychew\" post_id=\"2072644\" time=\"1656596903\" user_id=\"143434:

I tried joining a compo writing class at P1 but it was every fortnight not weekly. At 6-7 years old my children were struggling with handwriting and too many commas.. learning the stories helped but the teacher spent more time correcting their basics.. which is important too.

At the younger age maybe it helps more to find something that covers writing and speaking. I see children who speak English primarily at home seem to do better than mine as we speak half half between eng and chi.

Vicky2016\" post_id=\"2062570\" time=\"1648187962\" user_id=\"176407:

Hello parents,
When do you thini is a good time for your child to be exposed to creative writing? I am considering whether to put my dd for creative writing classes when she goes p1 next year however, I feel that it could be too soon as compo writing is only introduced in p3. Am I right ??
Confused mummy here please help. 😄

Vicky2016\" post_id=\"2062570\" time=\"1648187962\" user_id=\"176407:

Hello parents,
When do you thini is a good time for your child to be exposed to creative writing? I am considering whether to put my dd for creative writing classes when she goes p1 next year however, I feel that it could be too soon as compo writing is only introduced in p3. Am I right ??
Confused mummy here please help. 😄