Oral · PSLE 2025 debrief
PSLE 2025 English Oral: the ice cream queue and the hawker centre
The first year of the new Oral format. Here is what candidates reported on both days, model answers broken down step by step, and the pattern that 2025 and 2026 share.

On this page 6 sections
Key takeaways
- Candidates reported Day 1 as a photo of a queue at an ice cream stand, and Day 2 as a busy hawker centre.
- Each day followed the same shape: a judgement about the photo, a personal question, then a wider question about Singapore or children.
- The wider questions (Is Singapore orderly? Should children learn to cook?) reward two clear reasons and one real example, not general knowledge.
- Together with 2026, the pattern is consistent: everyday Singapore scenes, and a conversation that widens from the photo to society.
What 2025 asked
2025 was the first PSLE sitting under the revised Oral format, with a photograph for the conversation and a given situation for Reading Aloud. For parents of today’s P5s, it is worth looking at alongside 2026, because together they show a clear pattern.
About these questions. SEAB does not publish PSLE Oral papers. The questions below are as reported by candidates and their parents after the exam, described in our own words. We have not reproduced any exam passage or photograph.
Day 1: a queue at an ice cream stand
Candidates described a photo of many people queueing at an ice cream stand on a sunny day, with business clearly going well.
Question 1 · The photo
Whether this is a good place to sell ice cream.
What it really tests: a judgement backed by two clues from the photo: the weather and the queue.
Question 2 · Your own life
Whether you would queue for a long time for anything, and the story behind it.
What it really tests: one real experience, told in order with feelings.
Question 3 · Your opinion
Whether Singapore is an orderly society.
What it really tests: a view on society with two different reasons and an everyday example.
Model answer: Question 1
- PPoint
Yes, I think this is a good place to sell ice cream. Here are my reasons why.
- EExplain · the weather
Firstly, I can see that it is a sunny day, which is the perfect weather for selling ice cream, as people often crave something cold and refreshing during hot weather. This would naturally attract more customers to the stand.
- EExplain · the queue
Secondly, I can see a long queue of people waiting to buy ice cream, which suggests that this location already has good foot traffic, likely because it is situated in a busy or popular area where many people pass by.
- EExample
For example, I remember visiting a popular ice cream stall near my house during a hot afternoon, and there was also a long queue similar to the one in the picture. Despite the wait, I felt it was worth it, as the ice cream was very delicious and refreshing. This shows me that a good location combined with hot weather can really boost an ice cream business.
- LLink
In conclusion, I believe this is indeed a good place to sell ice cream, given the sunny weather and the crowd it seems to attract.
- How PEEL helps
- Two clues, two reasons. Each Explain starts with what is visible (“I can see…”) and ends with what it means (“…attract more customers”, “…good foot traffic”). The Example ends by linking back to business, which keeps the answer on the question rather than on the speaker’s snack.
Model answer: Question 3
- PPoint
Yes, I think Singapore is generally an orderly society. Here are my reasons why.
- EExplain · habits
Firstly, Singaporeans are generally taught from a young age to queue up properly and follow rules, whether it is at a bus stop, a food stall or a supermarket. This helps maintain order and fairness, ensuring that everyone gets their turn.
- EExplain · rules
Secondly, Singapore also has clear laws and regulations that are strictly enforced, which encourages people to behave in an orderly manner in public spaces, out of respect for these rules.
- EExample
For example, whenever I visit crowded places, such as hawker centres or shopping malls during weekends, I often notice that people still queue up patiently, even when the queue is very long. This orderly behaviour makes public spaces much more pleasant and fair for everyone involved.
- LLink
In a nutshell, I believe Singapore is indeed an orderly society, largely due to its strong emphasis on rules and queueing culture.
- How PEEL helps
- A big question about a whole society is answered with two different, simple reasons (what people are taught, and the rules) and one everyday observation. Notice “generally” in the Point: a careful word that shows balance without sitting on the fence.
Day 2: a busy hawker centre
Candidates described a photo of a busy hawker centre, with food from many cuisines and people queueing and eating.
Question 1 · The photo
Whether the people in the picture would enjoy eating at this hawker centre.
What it really tests: a judgement about other people, proved with what is visible: the variety and the crowd.
Question 2 · Your own life
Whether you prefer home-cooked meals or eating out.
What it really tests: a preference with reasons, and fairness to the other option.
Question 3 · Your opinion
Whether children should learn how to cook.
What it really tests: an opinion with two different reasons and a personal example.
Model answer: Question 1
- PPoint
Yes, I think the people in this picture would enjoy eating at this hawker centre. Here are my reasons why.
- EExplain · variety
Firstly, I can see that there is a wide variety of food stalls offering different cuisines, which means that people would have many options to choose from, based on their personal preferences. This variety would likely satisfy the different tastes of everyone visiting the hawker centre.
- EExplain · the crowd
Secondly, I can see many people queueing up and eating at the hawker centre, which suggests that the food served here is likely popular and well-liked among customers, encouraging even more people to visit.
- EExample
For example, I also enjoy visiting hawker centres with my family, as it allows each of us to order different dishes according to what we feel like eating. I remember visiting a hawker centre near my grandmother’s home, where my father ordered char kway teow while I chose chicken rice, and we all left feeling very SATISFIED with our meals.
- LLink
In conclusion, I believe the people in the picture would likely enjoy their meal, given the wide variety of food available at the hawker centre.
- How PEEL helps
- The same shape as Day 1’s first question: two visible clues, each explained. The Example echoes the first reason (each person orders something different), which makes the whole answer feel joined up.
Model answer: Question 3
- PPoint
Yes, I think children should learn how to cook. Here are my reasons why.
- EExplain · a life skill
Firstly, learning how to cook is an important life skill that will benefit children as they grow older and become more independent, especially once they need to prepare their own meals in the future.
- EExplain · values
Secondly, cooking can also teach children important values such as patience and responsibility, as following a recipe correctly often requires careful attention and time management.
- EExample
For example, I have started learning simple recipes from my mother, such as fried rice and scrambled eggs. Although I sometimes make mistakes, such as forgetting an ingredient, I have learnt to be more careful and patient with each attempt. I feel very PROUD whenever I successfully cook a dish on my own, as it makes me feel more capable and independent.
- LLink
In a nutshell, I believe learning how to cook is a valuable skill that children should pick up from a young age.
- How PEEL helps
- The two reasons are genuinely different: one practical (independence), one about character (patience and responsibility). The Example proves the second reason with a real mistake, which is more convincing than a perfect story.
What 2025 and 2026 have in common
| Sitting (as reported) | Photo | The wider question |
|---|---|---|
| 2025, Day 1 | Ice cream queue | Is Singapore an orderly society? |
| 2025, Day 2 | Hawker centre | Should children learn to cook? |
| 2026, Day 1 | Playground | Do students have enough time to relax? |
| 2026, Day 2 | Crowded bus | Is it easy to find your way around Singapore? |
Every photo shows ordinary Singapore life. Every first question asks for a judgement from the photo. Every conversation widens to children or Singapore in general. That is not a prediction of 2027 topics, but it is a clear guide to the kinds of question your child should be ready for. Our 2026 Day 1 and Day 2 guides cover the most recent sittings in the same detail.
Try this at home: the widening conversation
Try this at home · 10 minutes
Photo, me, everyone
- 0:00Choose an everyday Singapore photo: a market, an MRT platform, a park, a queue.
- 1:00Ask a judgement question about the photo: “Is this a good place to…?” or “Would these people enjoy…?”
- 3:30Ask a personal question on the same theme: “Have you ever…?” or “Do you prefer…?”
- 6:00Ask a wider question: “Do you think Singaporeans…?” or “Should children…?”
- 8:30One compliment, one fix.
Tonight’s prompt
“Do you think hawker centres are an important part of Singapore? Why?”
Questions parents ask
Are these the exact 2025 questions?
No. SEAB does not publish Oral papers. These are as reported by candidates and parents after the exam, so treat the wording as close, not exact.
Should my child practise hawker centres and queues for 2027?
Practising these is useful because they are everyday Singapore topics, but please do not treat past themes as predictions. The skills (judging a photo, telling an experience, giving a balanced view) transfer to any topic.
What changed in 2025?
2025 was the first year of the revised format: the conversation is based on a photograph, Reading Aloud comes with a given situation, and the two parts are not linked by theme. Our guide to the Oral format explains it in full.
The questions described in this guide are as reported by candidates after the exam. SEAB does not publish PSLE Oral papers, and we have not reproduced any exam passage or photograph. The model answers are from our AI oral practice. Mustard Seed is an independent tuition provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SEAB, MOE or Cambridge Assessment. No tutor can guarantee a particular grade.


