PSLE 2027 · Paper 2 · Editing
PSLE 2027 Editing: the spelling and grammar errors to look for
Editing is 10 marks of Paper 2, and every mark depends on spotting a small slip and fixing it exactly. Here are the errors that come up most, a worked passage, and a spelling routine that fits into a busy week.
On this page 8 sections
Key takeaways
- Editing is worth 10 marks in Paper 2. Your child corrects errors in spelling and grammar in a short passage.
- Most grammar errors fall into a few groups: tense, subject–verb agreement, plurals, word forms and prepositions.
- Always read the whole sentence. The clue to the correct form is often elsewhere in it.
- Spell every correction carefully. A misspelt correction is still wrong.
What Editing tests
In the Editing section, your child reads a short passage containing mistakes in spelling and grammar, and writes the correct word for each one. It is worth 10 marks. Each mark rests on two things: noticing the error, and writing the correction exactly right.
Children who read quickly often miss errors, because their brain fills in what it expects to see. Editing rewards slow, deliberate reading, one sentence at a time.
About this guide. The section and its marks are as schools presented the format to parents in 2026; please follow the instructions on the paper for how to write corrections. The passage below is written by our tutors for practice; it is not from a PSLE paper. Mustard Seed is an independent tuition provider and is not affiliated with SEAB or MOE.
The grammar errors to look for
| Error type | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Tense | Yesterday, we go to the museum. | went |
| Subject–verb agreement | Each of the boys have a locker. | has |
| Plurals | She bought three loaf of bread. | loaves |
| Word forms | He spoke confident on stage. | confidently |
| Prepositions | She is good in drawing. | at |
| Past participles | The vase was broke by the cat. | broken |
| Comparatives | This is the more exciting ride of all. | most |
Words children often misspell
These words catch many primary pupils. They are a good starting list, alongside the words your child gets wrong in their own writing.
| Word | The tricky part |
|---|---|
| necessary | one c, double s |
| separate | par in the middle |
| definitely | finite inside, not -ately |
| embarrassed | double r, double s |
| disappointed | one s, double p |
| receive / believe | i before e, except after c |
| beginning | double n before -ing |
| occasionally | double c, one s, double l |
| environment | the silent n before -ment |
| Wednesday / February | the letters we do not say aloud |
| colour / favourite / neighbour | British spelling, with -our |
A worked passage
Each underlined word contains one error. Our corrections and reasons follow.
Practice passage (written by our tutors)
Last December, my family travel to Malacca for a short holiday. On the first day, we visitted a museum about the city’s history. My younger brother was exciting to see an old ship, and he asked so many questions that the guide laugh. In the evening, we ate at a small restaurant, where each of the dishes were delicious. It was definately the best holiday we have had.
| Error | Correction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| travel | travelled | “Last December” is the past. British spelling doubles the l. |
| visitted | visited | Spelling: the t is not doubled, because the stress is on the first syllable. |
| exciting | excited | Word form: a person feels excited; a thing is exciting. |
| laugh | laughed | Tense: the rest of the sentence is in the past. |
| were | was | Agreement: the subject is each, which is singular. |
| definately | definitely | Spelling: think of finite. |
A method that catches more errors
Editing
Slow down, one sentence at a time
- ContextRead the whole passage once. Note the tense and who the passage is about.
- SentenceFor each marked word, read its whole sentence. Ask: is it the right tense? Does it agree with its subject? Is it the right form? Is it spelt correctly?
- WriteWrite the correction neatly, and spell it letter by letter.
- CheckRead the sentence again with the correction in. Does it now sound right?
A ten-minute spelling routine
- Collect. Keep a list of words your child has misspelt in schoolwork, plus words from the list above.
- Look, say, cover, write, check. Five words at a time, three times a week.
- Find the tricky part. For each word, underline the letters that cause the mistake. Remembering one tricky part is easier than remembering a whole word.
- Revisit. A word moves off the list only after it has been right three times, on different days.
How to practise for PSLE 2027
Editing draws on the same grammar knowledge as Grammar MCQ and Grammar Cloze. Short, regular grammar practice with explanations helps all three. Our practice app has free P4, P5 and P6 Grammar sessions, each with an explanation for every mistake, which your child can copy into their error log.
See also our guides to Grammar Cloze and every Paper 2 section.
Questions parents ask
How is Editing different from Grammar Cloze?
In Grammar Cloze, your child fills a blank. In Editing, the word is already there but wrong, and your child must notice what is wrong and write the correct form. It tests the same grammar knowledge, plus careful spelling.
What is the best way to improve spelling?
Short, regular practice of words your child actually gets wrong, rather than long lists. Our routine below takes about ten minutes, three times a week.
Should my child write in capital letters?
Follow the instructions on the paper and the school’s guidance. Whatever the format, the correction should be written clearly, with the right capital letters where needed.
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.
