PSLE 2027 · Paper 2 · Vocabulary
PSLE 2027 Vocabulary Cloze and MCQ: how to choose the right word
Ten marks of Paper 2 test vocabulary directly, and many more depend on it. Here are five ways to choose the right word, even when your child does not know every option, and a simple way to build vocabulary over the year.
On this page 6 sections
Key takeaways
- Vocabulary MCQ (5 marks) and Vocabulary Cloze (5 marks) are both multiple choice, in Booklet A of Paper 2.
- Use the context: the rest of the sentence, or the passage, usually points to the answer.
- Many questions test collocations (words that go together, such as impose a ban), word forms (economic or economical) and idioms.
- When unsure, rule out the options that clearly do not fit, then choose between the rest.
- Vocabulary grows from reading and a word journal, a little every day, more than from long word lists.
What is tested
Two sections of PSLE English Paper 2 test vocabulary directly: Vocabulary MCQ and Vocabulary Cloze, each worth 5 marks. Both are multiple choice. Many other marks depend on vocabulary too, from understanding the Comprehension passage to filling the Comprehension Cloze.
The good news is that these questions can often be answered without knowing every option, by reading the clues around the blank.
About this guide. The sections and marks are as schools presented the format to parents in 2026. The examples are from our own practice app’s question bank, written by our tutors; they are not from PSLE papers. Mustard Seed is an independent tuition provider and is not affiliated with SEAB or MOE.
Five ways to choose the right word
1. Find the clue in the sentence
Example from our app
It was ___ of the new intern to double-check every report before submission.
A) careless B) meticulous C) reckless D) impulsive
Answer: B. The clue is double-check every report, which shows great care. Meticulous means very careful about details.
Even a child who does not know meticulous can get this right: the other three options all mean not careful, so they cannot fit.
2. Rule out the opposites
In many questions, two or three options mean roughly the opposite of what the sentence needs. Crossing them out first leaves a much easier choice. Encourage your child to physically cross out options on the paper.
3. Know which words go together
Example from our app
The government ___ a ban on smoking in all public parks.
A) made up B) imposed C) did D) took
Answer: B. We say impose a ban. The other verbs are not used with ban in this way.
These pairings are called collocations: make a decision, pay attention, heavy rain, strong wind. They are learnt by noticing them in reading.
4. Check the word form
Example from our app
The small car is very ___ and uses little petrol.
A) economic B) economy C) economical D) economist
Answer: C. Economical means using little money or fuel. Economic relates to the economy.
When all four options share a root, the question is testing the form. Ask: does the blank need a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb? Then ask which adjective has the right meaning.
5. Know common idioms
Example from our app
The two neighbours have been ___ for months over the exact boundary of their gardens.
A) out of the woods B) at loggerheads C) on thin ice D) in the dark
Answer: B. At loggerheads means strongly disagreeing, which fits an argument over a boundary.
Doing a Vocabulary Cloze passage
In a Vocabulary Cloze, the same five methods apply, with one addition: read the whole passage first. A word that fits one sentence may clash with the mood or events of the passage. For example, if a character is described as anxious earlier, an option meaning relaxed is unlikely later, unless something in the passage has changed.
Building vocabulary for PSLE 2027
A little every day
Read, note, use
- ReadFifteen minutes of reading a day. Choose books slightly above your child’s comfort level, plus a children’s newspaper.
- NoteKeep a word journal: the new word, what it means, and the sentence it appeared in. Add collocations and idioms too.
- UseEach week, choose three words from the journal to use in conversation, in writing, or in Oral practice answers.
Vocabulary also lifts the Oral and Composition, so the time is well spent. Precise words, such as relieved instead of happy, make spoken answers and stories stronger.
Practising in our app
Our practice app has free Vocabulary sessions at P4, P5 and P6 level, ten questions at a time, drawn from a large question bank. After each session, your child sees the correct answer for anything they missed, with a short explanation like the ones on this page. It is free with an account.
See also our guides to open-ended Comprehension and every Paper 2 section.
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Vocabulary MCQ and Vocabulary Cloze?
In Vocabulary MCQ, each question is a single sentence with four options. In Vocabulary Cloze, the blanks are in a short passage, so the clue may come from another sentence. Both are multiple choice.
Should my child memorise word lists?
Lists help a little, but words stick when they are met in context and used. Reading widely, noting new words with an example sentence, and using them in speech and writing works better over a year.
Are idioms tested?
Idioms and fixed phrases do appear in vocabulary practice, including in our app’s question bank. It is worth learning common ones with their meanings and an example sentence.
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.
