3 Critical Chinese Composition Mistakes That Lower Your PSLE Score

Scoring well in PSLE Chinese composition writing isn’t just about using impressive vocabulary — it’s about clarity, structure, and avoiding costly errors. Many students unknowingly make the same common mistakes that significantly affect their PSLE Chinese Paper 1 scores.

In this article, we’ll explore the 3 most critical composition mistakes that Singaporean students often make and how to avoid them, especially with the guidance of a good Chinese tuition teacher.

1. Writing Off-Topic – Losing Marks from the Start

One of the most common and serious mistakes in Chinese composition (写作) is straying off-topic. In the PSLE, composition topics are often open-ended yet tied to specific themes such as “helping others”, “unexpected surprise”, or “honesty”. Many students dive into writing before fully understanding the question and key requirements.

How this affects your score:
Examiners award higher marks to compositions that stay focused and relevant. A well-written piece that is off-topic can still receive a low score due to “内容不切题” (content not related to topic).

How to avoid:

• Spend a few minutes planning your story based on the provided pictures and theme.
• Always link your ending back to the theme.
• Ask yourself: Does my story clearly relate to the topic provided?

With the right Chinese tutor, students learn to identify themes accurately and practice crafting relevant storylines during composition lessons.

2. Poor Sentence Structure and Grammar Errors

Many Singaporean students grow up speaking a mix of English, Chinese, and dialects — which is culturally rich but leads to grammar issues in formal Chinese writing.

Examples of common problems:

• Directly translating from English to Chinese (中英翻译式错误)
• Mixing up sentence order (语序错误)
• Wrong use of measure words (量词用错)

Why this hurts your grade:
Composition markers deduct marks for grammar, spelling, and sentence flow under “语言表达” (language expression). Repeated or glaring mistakes can pull your overall marks down significantly.

Solution:

• Read more model compositions (范文) to understand proper structure.
• Learn from a local Chinese tutor who can explain common errors influenced by Singlish or dialect and provide immediate correction.
• Build strong grammar foundations from P1 onwards.

3. Lack of Structure – Messy Flow, No Climax

A good PSLE Chinese composition should have a clear beginning (开头), body (经过), climax (高潮), and conclusion (结尾). Many students jump straight into the action or fail to build a storyline with logical flow.

What goes wrong:

• Stories feel rushed or incomplete
• No tension or climax
• Ending is abrupt and lacks reflection

What examiners want:
Markers look for well-developed ideas with emotions, reflections, and life lessons. A weak or messy structure lowers the “内容与结构” (content and structure) score.

Tips to fix this:

• Use a simple plot framework: 起 (beginning), 承 (development), 转 (twist/climax), 合 (conclusion).
• Highlight emotions and character changes.
• Practice writing different types of endings: reflective, meaningful, or with a twist.

Through structured Chinese tuition, students learn to outline their stories effectively and develop impactful story arcs that resonate with markers.

Help Your Child Write Compositions That Score

Avoiding these 3 critical mistakes can make a huge difference in your child’s PSLE Chinese results. With proper guidance from a qualified local Chinese tutor, your child can improve not just in writing, but in confidence and creativity as well.

Many of our tutors are MOE-trained or experienced local educators who know the PSLE marking scheme inside out. More importantly, they understand how Singaporean kids think, speak, and write — making it easier to correct bad habits early and sharpen their composition skills.

✅ Don’t wait until prelims to panic.
✅ Give your child a head start with expert guidance.

👉 Sign up for a FREE trial class with one of our PSLE Chinese specialists now — just click the button below!