2012 PSLE Situational Writing

For this post, we'll go though the Situational Writing assignment that was posed in the 2012 English PSLE.


The question is extracted from 2008-2012 PSLE Examination Questions - English Language.


The pictures below show what Amy Tan did after she saw what happened to a boy in school.

Your Task

Imagine you saw what happened in the pictures.

Write a letter to your principal, Mr Raj, requesting him to include in the assembly talk what Amy Tan did.

You are to refer to the given information for your letter.

In your letter, include the following information:

·        the date you saw what happened

·        what Amy told the boy not to do and why

·        what Amy immediately did for the boy

·        the advice Amy gave the boy about his worksheet

·        one important value that pupils can learn from Amy

You may reorder the points. Write in complete sentences.

Note 1: A letter written to the principal would be a formal letter so the candidate must use formal language in the letter.

Model Answer

6 content points:

1.      the date you saw what happened

·        23 September 2012

2.      what Amy told the boy not to do,

·        happen told the boy to stop trying to retrieve his worksheet

3.      and why

·        or he would fall over into the Eco pond

4.      what Amy immediately did for the boy

·        stepped into the pond and retrieved the boy’s worksheet

5.      the advice Amy gave the boy about his worksheet

·        advised the boy to get another worksheet from the teacher

6.      one important value that pupils can learn from Amy

·        helpful/caring/any logical answer

Dear Mr Raj,

On 23 September 2012, I witnessed an incident that I would like to share with you.

One of my classmates, Amy Tan, saw a small boy using a stick to try to retrieve his worksheet from the Eco Pond. Amy immediately asked the boy to stop what he was doing or he might fall over into the pond. Then Amy personally stepped into the pond and retrieved the worksheet for the boy. However, the paper was thoroughly soaked and could not be handed in to the teacher. Thus Amy advised the boy to get another worksheet from the teacher.

I am relating this incident to you, Mr Raj, in the hope that you would mention this incident during our assembly talk.* It would be apt to commend Amy publicly for her kind deed and it would also be a good reminder to our pupils to learn to be helpful like Amy.

I thank you for your kind attention and hope that you find my suggestion useful.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Foo (Primary 6 Everest)

*Note 2: This point about Mr Raj bringing up the incident in the assembly talk must be mentioned in the letter for it is stated in bold in Your Task. So although it is not awarded any content marks, the overall score for Situational Writing will be penalised for it will be considered that the candidate did not complete the task fully if he did not mention it in the letter.