Before buying a dictionary for a PSLE or GCE Mother Tongue paper, check whether that exact paper permits a dictionary and whether the particular print edition or electronic model is approved for your examination. SEAB publishes a separate dictionary list through its Calculators and Dictionaries directory.
Take the details from the item itself. For a print dictionary, use the full title, edition and ISBN where the official list gives one. For an e-dictionary, match the full model identifier. If you have an older dictionary and its status is unclear, ask your school or SEAB before relying on it.
- Find the exact examination year, subject and paper.
- Check whether a dictionary is permitted and which type applies.
- Match the actual print edition or model against the current list.
- Confirm ambiguous cases before buying or packing the item.
Start with the paper rules
Find the candidate instructions for the exam and the component your child will sit. A list of approved items answers the equipment question. The paper rules answer whether you can use that equipment for the assessment you are taking.
Read the subject and component together. A student who uses a dictionary in class or during one written exercise should check the rules again before another paper. Where instructions differ by exam year, use the ones for the actual sitting.
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How to check a print dictionary
Open the title or copyright page and find the edition and ISBN where available. Compare them with the current official entry for the language and exam. A familiar publisher can produce several titles or editions, so the publisher name by itself gives too little information.
Suppose a relative offers a dictionary with a similar title to the one the school suggested. Check the item in hand instead of comparing covers. If the list identifies a particular edition, use the printed edition details to confirm that they match.
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How to check an electronic dictionary
Look for the full make and model on the device or packaging and compare it with the relevant official listing. When buying online, verify the model on the actual unit you receive. A store’s general claim that a device is suitable for school does not tell you the exam or paper for which it is permitted.
Check the current rules for any accessories or conditions on use. If a device is unfamiliar, practise looking up several words with the same model before exam day. Use the official paper instructions to decide when you can use it.
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What if an older model is missing from the current list?
Older SEAB lists include a note about previously approved dictionaries and situations in which approval can be withdrawn. The current official FAQ also directs candidates to use dictionaries on the approved list. If an older edition or model is missing, confirm its current status for your exam with the school or SEAB. Keep the exact model or ISBN available so they can check the right item.
For an exam in the SEC cycle, consult the instructions and approved list applicable to that exam and subject. The eduKateSG SEC dictionary guide covers that route separately.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use another dictionary from the same publisher?
Match the specific edition or model. SEAB’s FAQ directs candidates to the approved list when a title differs.
Can I bring a spare approved dictionary?
SEAB’s PSLE and GCE FAQ says candidates may bring more than one approved dictionary. Check that the particular paper permits dictionary use and follow its equipment instructions.
Does a calculator use the same list?
SEAB provides separate lists. See the approved calculator guide if you need to check a calculator.
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Official information
Consult SEAB’s Calculators and Dictionaries directory, its official dictionary FAQ and the instructions for your own paper. Guidance checked on 8 November 2026.