PSLE Foundation English Language syllabus for Singapore families: a plain guide to SEAB code 0031, the four papers, the marks and weightings, how Foundation differs from Standard English, and how to use the official document.
The SEAB syllabus is the official description of the PSLE Foundation English examination.
It is short, precise and dense. Most of the numbers sit in one table.
It is easy to glance at it once and put it away.
Once you know how it is organised, it becomes a useful map.
This guide is useful for families who need to:
- understand the four Foundation English papers and what each one tests;
- see where the 100 marks come from;
- compare the Foundation format with the Standard English format; or
- check what the SEAB document actually says before a consultation.
At eduKateSG, we read the SEAB syllabus before we plan lessons, so practice matches the papers students will actually sit.
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PSLE Foundation English Language Syllabus at a Glance
- Syllabus: PSLE Foundation English Language
- Code: 0031
- Who takes it: PSLE candidates taking Foundation English Language (Standard English Language has its own syllabus, code 0001)
- Examination year of this document: 2026 (the format is implemented from the Year of Examination 2025)
- Papers: four (Writing, Language Use and Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, Oral Communication)
- Total marks: 100
- Written papers: 1 h 10 min (Paper 1) and 1 h (Paper 2)
- Listening: about 35 min
- Oral: about 10 min, including 5 min of preparation
- Where to download: SEAB: PSLE Formats Examined in 2026
This guide is based on the SEAB syllabus document examined in 2026. SEAB can update syllabuses, so always check the latest version on the SEAB website. SEAB has not yet published the 2027 PSLE formats at the time of writing.
What the Syllabus Is For
The document states one purpose.
The examination assesses a candidate’s attainment in Foundation English Language, based on the Learning Outcomes in the English Language Teaching and Learning Syllabus 2020: Primary Foundation English & Secondary Normal (Technical) Course. Those Learning Outcomes are the basis for the assessment objectives.
So there are two documents. The teaching syllabus describes what pupils learn. This SEAB document describes how it is examined.
Standard English Language has a separate SEAB document, code 0001, based on the English Language Teaching and Learning Syllabus 2020 (Primary).
The document does not explain how pupils come to take Foundation English. For that, read how subject-based banding works in primary school.
How the Examination Is Structured
Paper 1: Writing
- Duration: 1 h 10 min
- Marks: 25 (Situational Writing 9 + Continuous Writing 16)
- Weighting: 25%
- Part 1, Situational Writing: a short functional piece, such as a letter or an email, for a given situation
- Part 2, Continuous Writing: a composition of at least 120 words in continuous prose, based on a series of pictures
Paper 2: Language Use and Comprehension
- Duration: 1 h
- Marks: 40
- Weighting: 40%
- Booklet A, 15 multiple-choice questions; its component marks add up to 15: Grammar (5), Punctuation (2), Vocabulary (3) and visual text comprehension (5)
- Booklet B, 22 open-ended questions; its component marks add up to 25: Form Filling (3), Editing for Grammar (3), Editing for Spelling (3), Synthesis (3), Comprehension Cloze (3) and Comprehension on Passages A and B (7 questions, 10 marks)
Paper 3: Listening Comprehension
- Duration: about 35 min
- Marks: 15, from 15 multiple-choice questions
- Weighting: 15%
- Format: each text is read twice, with time to read the questions before the first reading; graphic representations are used for the first four items
Paper 4: Oral Communication
- Duration: about 10 min (5 min preparation time; about 5 min examination time)
- Marks: 20 (Reading Aloud 8 + Stimulus-based Conversation 12)
- Weighting: 20%
- Part 1, Reading Aloud: one passage, read aloud
- Part 2, Stimulus-based Conversation: a conversation with the Examiners on a topic based on one photo stimulus
- Link between parts: none; the two parts are not linked thematically
How Foundation Differs from Standard English
Both SEAB documents use the same four papers. The differences are in marks, timing, components and the wording of two objectives:
- Total marks: 100 for Foundation; 200 for Standard English Language (0001)
- Paper 1: same time and weighting (1 h 10 min, 25%); 25 marks in Foundation (9 + 16), 50 in Standard (14 + 36)
- Composition: at least 120 words, based on a series of pictures, in Foundation; at least 150 words on a given topic, based on at least one of three pictures, in Standard
- Paper 2: 1 h, 40%, 15 multiple-choice and 22 open-ended questions in Foundation; 1 h 50 min, 45%, 25 and 50 in Standard
- Paper 2 components: only Foundation lists Punctuation and Form Filling; only Standard lists Vocabulary Cloze and Grammar Cloze; Foundation has Synthesis where Standard has Synthesis / Transformation
- Paper 1 writing objective: Standard asks candidates to write ’effectively’; Foundation does not use that word
- Paper 2 reading objective: literal and inferential levels in Foundation; Standard adds the evaluative level
- Listening: 15 questions and 15% in Foundation; 20 questions and 10% in Standard; about 35 min in both
- Oral: same time and weighting (about 10 min, 20%); 20 marks in Foundation (8 + 12), 40 in Standard (15 + 25)
In practice, Foundation English has its own components, so practise with Foundation-format material.
Paper 2 carries the largest share, at 40%. Listening and Oral together carry 35%, so they are not side events.
What the Syllabus Covers
The document does not list topics. It is a format document, and the Learning Outcomes sit in the teaching syllabus it names.
What it does show is the skill areas the papers assess:
- writing: a short functional piece and a composition from a series of pictures;
- language use: grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, form filling, editing and synthesis;
- reading: a visual text, a comprehension cloze and two passages;
- listening: spoken texts, main ideas and details; and
- speaking: reading aloud and a conversation based on a photo.
Vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling appear in the objectives for both written papers. They link Writing and Language Use.
What the Examiners Are Looking For
The assessment objectives are listed paper by paper. They have no separate weightings; weightings are given per paper.
Paper 1: Writing
- writing that suits purpose, audience and context, with accurate and appropriate vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling; and
- relevant ideas, selected and organised so that the writing is coherent and cohesive.
Paper 2: Language Use and Comprehension
- understanding of written and multimodal texts at the literal and inferential levels; and
- appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling in context.
Paper 3: Listening Comprehension
- understanding of spoken texts at the literal, inferential and evaluative levels, including main ideas and details.
Paper 4: Oral Communication
- reading aloud fluently and expressively, with clear and accurate pronunciation;
- expressing personal opinions, ideas and experiences in a way that engages the listener; and
- speaking fluently, with clear pronunciation and grammatical accuracy, using a range of suitable vocabulary and structures.
In our words: literal is what the text says, inferential is what it suggests, and evaluative is a reasoned judgement about it.
How to Read the Syllabus Document
The document is short. Read it in this order:
- Cover: the subject name and the line saying the format is implemented from the Year of Examination 2025
- Contents: three parts, Purpose of Examination, Assessment Objectives and Examination Format
- Purpose of Examination: the link to the teaching syllabus and its Learning Outcomes
- Assessment Objectives: what each paper rewards, written paper by paper
- Examination Format table: every component with its item type, number of items and marks, with weighting and duration given once per paper; MCQ means multiple-choice questions and OE means open-ended questions
- Paper descriptions: the details, such as the 120-word minimum, texts read twice and the photo stimulus
Common Misunderstandings
Foundation English is the Standard paper with fewer marks
It has its own format. Paper 2 is shorter, at 1 h, and lists components such as Punctuation and Form Filling that the Standard format does not.
The composition must be at least 150 words
That is the Standard requirement. Foundation Continuous Writing asks for at least 120 words, based on a series of pictures.
Foundation questions only check what a text says
Paper 2 assesses the literal and inferential levels, so pupils also work out what a text suggests. The Listening objective adds the evaluative level.
The two oral parts are on the same theme
They are not. The document states that the two parts of Paper 4 are not linked thematically.
How Students Can Use the Syllabus
1. Map the 100 marks
Copy the format table onto one page. Because the total is 100, each mark is also one percentage point.
2. Practise Paper 2 by component
Form filling, editing, synthesis, comprehension cloze and comprehension on Passages A and B each have their own marks. Track them separately.
3. Check writing against the objectives
Before writing, ask: who is it for, and why? After writing, check vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
4. Rehearse the listening routine
Use the time before each text to read the questions. Use the second reading to confirm answers.
5. Practise both oral parts
Read short passages aloud regularly. Talk about photos and give a personal view with a reason or an example.
How Parents Can Help
- read the format table together once, calmly;
- ask which component lost marks in the last test, not only the total;
- listen to your child read aloud for a few minutes, a few times a week;
- talk about photos and daily events, and ask for your child’s opinion; and
- look at everyday forms together and talk through how to fill them in.
How eduKateSG Uses the PSLE Foundation English Syllabus
- we check whether each student takes Foundation or Standard English, and plan from the matching SEAB document;
- we plan lessons around the four papers and the components in the format table;
- we diagnose by component, so practice goes where marks are being lost;
- we use the assessment objectives as checklists when giving feedback on writing and oral; and
- we check SEAB’s latest format document before planning each year.
Class Details
Format: Premium 3-pax small-group tutorials
Levels: Primary 1 to Primary 6, including PSLE preparation
Subjects: English, Mathematics and Science
Duration: 1.5 hours weekly
Teaching approach:
- diagnosis before teaching;
- clear explanation from first principles;
- guided and independent practice;
- retrieval and mixed revision;
- error analysis; and
- alignment with school assessments and the PSLE format.
Limited trial lessons may occasionally be available when the 3-pax class configuration permits. The usual first step is a parent–student consultation.
What Parents Can Bring to the Consultation
Useful materials include:
- a copy of the syllabus, or its code;
- recent test papers and weighted assessments;
- the latest report book;
- the school’s assessment schedule; and
- examples of questions the student finds difficult.
We are not only looking at the score.
We are looking for patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many papers are there in PSLE Foundation English Language?
There are four papers: Writing (25%), Language Use and Comprehension (40%), Listening Comprehension (15%) and Oral Communication (20%). Together they total 100 marks.
How long is each PSLE Foundation English paper?
Paper 1 is 1 h 10 min and Paper 2 is 1 h. Listening Comprehension takes about 35 min, and Oral Communication about 10 min, including 5 min of preparation.
How is Foundation English different from Standard English at PSLE?
Both have the same four papers, but Foundation totals 100 marks and Standard 200. Foundation Paper 2 is 1 h rather than 1 h 50 min, and the composition minimum is 120 words rather than 150. Foundation Paper 2 assesses reading at the literal and inferential levels, without the evaluative level.
Is the SEAB syllabus the same as what my child’s school teaches?
Not exactly. The SEAB document describes the examination. It states that the examination is based on the Learning Outcomes in the English Language Teaching and Learning Syllabus 2020: Primary Foundation English & Secondary Normal (Technical) Course.
Where do I download the PSLE Foundation English Language syllabus?
It is on the SEAB page PSLE Formats Examined in 2026, listed under Foundation English Language with code 0031.
Helpful Reading
- SEAB: PSLE Foundation English Language Syllabus (0031), PDF
- SEAB: PSLE Formats Examined in 2026
- How to Make Sense of the PSLE English Language Syllabus in Singapore
- How Does Subject-Based Banding Work in Primary School?
- Can My Child Take Foundation Maths and Standard English at PSLE?
- What Do Children Learn in Primary School English?
The eduKateSG Syllabus Series
Plain-language guides to SEAB syllabuses, from PSLE to A-Level. More guides are being added.
English guides
- PSLE English Language (0001)
- PSLE Foundation English Language (0031) (this guide)
- SEC G1 English Language (K100)
- SEC G2 English Language (K200)
- SEC G3 English Language (K300)
- A-Level General Paper (8881)
More Primary (PSLE) guides
- PSLE Mathematics (0008)
- PSLE Science (0009)
- PSLE Foundation Mathematics (0038)
- PSLE Foundation Science (0039)
- PSLE Chinese Language (0005)
- PSLE Malay Language (0006)
PSLE Foundation English Language Syllabus: Four Papers, 100 Marks
The PSLE Foundation English Language syllabus is short.
It does not list topics.
It lists papers, components, marks and objectives.
It has its own format, not a smaller copy of Standard English.
Read the format table once, carefully.
Then let every piece of practice point to a part of it, steadily.
Arrange a Parent–Student Consultation
Speak with us about your child’s level, recent results, learning gaps and the dates ahead.
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