If you cannot name something in a PSLE Chinese oral video, describe what the person does with it or how it helps. Then answer the question you were asked. SEAB’s public explanation of the 2026 oral examination says the video provides a context for observations and viewpoints. Pupils are not expected to identify every object shown. Check the PSLE 2027 format when SEAB releases it.
Practise replacing one unfamiliar noun with a short description in Chinese. You can talk about who uses the object, where it is or what changes because of it. That leaves more time to explain your own idea.
- Describe the action you saw using words you already know.
- Choose a detail that helps answer the question.
- Add a reason or example in your own words.
- Practise with unfamiliar clips as well as familiar topics.
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Describe what the object does
Start with a person and an action. If you see someone press a button and a gate opens, you can describe that sequence even if you cannot name the device. Then decide whether the detail helps answer the question. A question about helping people use a public space might call for the gate example. A question about how people should treat one another may call for a different observation.
Try a sentence beginning with “我看到有人……” and finish it with the action. When the question calls for a viewpoint, follow with “我觉得……因为……”. These are practice starters. Say the idea in whichever clear words fit the actual question.
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Worked example | A tool at a community garden
Imagine a video shows a child using a small tool to pick up litter without bending down. You do not know the Chinese name for the tool. You could say “那个孩子用一个工具把地上的垃圾捡起来。” This gives the listener the action and the result.
If the examiner asks what pupils can do to keep a shared place clean, build on the observation. You could say “我觉得大家可以把垃圾丢进垃圾桶。看到地上有垃圾时，也可以请老师或大人帮忙处理。” The first sentence makes a suggestion and the second gives an example of what to do.
Try another question with the same video
Ask what a group leader could do to help younger pupils take part. Your answer might describe giving everyone a simple job or showing the group where equipment goes. The video stays the same while the question calls for a new idea.
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A five-minute practice for parents and pupils
Choose a short clip about an ordinary activity. Ask the child for one observation, then one suggestion with a reason. If the child gets stuck on a word, ask what the person did or what happened next. After the answer, pick one expression to practise again on a different clip.
Listen for whether the child answered the question and whether you could follow their example. Save corrections that do not affect meaning until after the child has finished speaking.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to describe the whole video?
Choose the detail that helps answer the question. SEAB’s explanation says pupils are not expected to narrate every action in the stimulus.
Where can I check the format?
Read SEAB’s explanation of the Chinese oral video stimulus and check the SEAB PSLE page for the examination-year format.