✍️ Continuous Writing
Continuous Writing is Paper 1, Part 2, and it is worth 36 marks — making it the single largest component in the entire Writing paper. You will be given three topics, usually with picture-based prompts, and you choose one to write a composition of at least 150 words (aim for 200-250 words for a strong piece).
This is where your creativity shines. Unlike Situational Writing which follows a fixed format, Continuous Writing rewards students who can tell a compelling story with vivid language. The examiners are looking for well-structured narratives with strong openings, developed characters, clear conflict, and meaningful endings.
Your composition is marked on four criteria: Content (how interesting and relevant your story is), Organisation (story structure and paragraphing), Language (grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety), and Mechanics (spelling and punctuation). Let us break down each skill you need to master.
📊 How Continuous Writing Is Marked (COLM)
| Criteria | What Examiners Look For | How to Score Well |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Interesting, relevant story that fits the topic. Well-developed plot with clear conflict and resolution. | Plan your story before writing. Make sure it connects to the pictures/topic. |
| Organisation | Clear 5-part story structure. Logical sequence of events. Good paragraphing. | Use 4-5 paragraphs. Each paragraph should move the story forward. |
| Language | Varied sentence patterns. Vivid vocabulary. Accurate grammar. Show-don't-tell. | Mix short and long sentences. Use strong verbs and sensory details. |
| Mechanics | Correct spelling. Proper punctuation. Correct dialogue format. | Proofread your work. Pay attention to quotation marks for dialogue. |
📐 The 5-Part Story Structure
Every great story follows a structure. Learning and practising this structure will help you write organised, well-paced compositions that examiners love. Here are the five parts with detailed explanations:
Build Your Story Step by Step
Introduction
Set the scene by introducing the setting (where and when) and the main character(s). Use vivid descriptions to draw the reader in. Keep it brief — 2 to 3 sentences is enough. You can start with action, dialogue, or a description of the surroundings.
Rising Action
Build up the tension or excitement. Describe the events leading to the main problem or conflict. Show how the character feels and reacts. Use time connectors like "After that", "Soon", "The next day" to move the story forward.
Climax
This is the most exciting or important part of the story — the turning point. Describe the moment of highest tension in detail. Use short, punchy sentences to create suspense. Show the character facing the biggest challenge.
Falling Action
Show how the problem is being resolved. Describe the actions taken after the climax. The tension should gradually decrease. Include how the character and others respond to the outcome.
Resolution
Wrap up the story with a satisfying ending. Share what the character learned or how they changed. End with a reflection or a moral lesson. Keep it short — 2 to 3 sentences. Avoid introducing new problems at the end.
Picture Prompt Strategy
Look at ALL three picture prompts before choosing one. Pick the topic that gives you the clearest story idea — the one where you can immediately see the beginning, middle, and end. Then spend 3-5 minutes planning your story using the 5 W's: Who (characters), What (the main event), Where (setting), When (time), and Why (the reason or cause of the conflict).
📋 Planning Your Story (5 Minutes)
Never start writing without a plan. Spending 3-5 minutes planning saves you time later because you will not get stuck halfway through your story wondering what to write next. Here is a quick planning template:
Quick Story Planning Template
Characters (Who)
Name your main character and 1-2 supporting characters. Decide their relationship (friends, siblings, classmates). Give them a simple personality trait each.
Setting (Where & When)
Choose a specific setting: a school, an HDB neighbourhood, a park, a shopping mall. Choose a time: morning, afternoon, during recess, on a Saturday. Specific settings make stories feel real.
Problem (What)
What is the main conflict or challenge? This is the heart of your story. It could be a misunderstanding, an accident, a difficult decision, or an unexpected event shown in the pictures.
Resolution (How)
How is the problem solved? Who helps? What action does the main character take? The resolution should feel earned — not by luck or coincidence, but through the character's own effort or growth.
Lesson (Why It Matters)
What does the character learn? The ending should have a reflection or moral. This shows maturity and depth in your writing, which examiners reward.
🎭 Show, Don't Tell: The #1 Writing Skill
"Show, don't tell" is the single most important skill that separates a good composition from an excellent one. Instead of telling the reader how a character feels, you show them through actions, body language, dialogue, and sensory details. Here are examples:
Telling (Weak)
"I was very scared."
Showing (Strong)
"My heart hammered against my ribcage as I backed into the corner, my palms slick with cold sweat. Every shadow in the room seemed to be reaching for me."
Telling (Weak)
"She was very happy when she got her results."
Showing (Strong)
"A wide grin spread across her face as she stared at the paper, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. She leapt from her chair and threw her arms around her mother. 'I did it, Mum! I really did it!' she cried."
Telling (Weak)
"The hawker centre was very busy."
Showing (Strong)
"The aroma of sizzling satay mingled with the clatter of plates and the buzz of a hundred conversations. Uncles and aunties jostled for seats while children darted between tables, clutching bowls of steaming noodles."
Telling (Weak)
"He was angry at his friend."
Showing (Strong)
"His fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Hafiz. 'You promised,' he said through gritted teeth, his voice trembling with barely contained fury."
✨ Descriptive Writing Techniques
Good descriptive writing uses a variety of techniques to paint pictures with words. Here are the key techniques you should use in your compositions:
Engage the reader's senses to make your writing immersive:
👁️ Sight
"golden rays"
👂 Sound
"thundering waves"
👃 Smell
"sizzling satay"
🤚 Touch
"powdery sand"
👅 Taste
"bitter medicine"
Simile (comparing using "like" or "as"): "Her voice was as sweet as honey."
Metaphor (direct comparison): "The classroom was a furnace in the afternoon heat."
Personification (giving human qualities to non-human things): "The wind whispered through the trees."
Onomatopoeia (words that imitate sounds): "The door creaked open and the floorboards groaned under my weight."
Strong, specific verbs make your writing more vivid and powerful. Replace common weak verbs:
💬 Dialogue Writing
Dialogue brings your characters to life and makes your story more engaging. Aim to include at least 2-3 lines of dialogue in your composition. Here are the rules for writing dialogue correctly:
Rule 1: Punctuation Inside Quotation Marks
Place the comma, full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark inside the quotation marks.
"Let us go to the park," suggested Mei Ling.
Rule 2: New Speaker = New Line
Start a new paragraph each time a different character speaks.
"Where are you going?" asked Mother.
"To the library," I replied. "I need to return some books."
Rule 3: Use Said-Alternatives
Avoid overusing "said". Use alternatives that show how the character speaks:
Rule 4: Add Action Tags
Instead of always using dialogue tags (he said, she said), add action tags to show what characters are doing while they speak.
Hafiz slammed his fist on the table. "That is not fair!"
📚 Common PSLE Composition Themes
PSLE compositions tend to revolve around a set of common themes. Preparing story ideas for these themes in advance gives you a huge advantage because you can adapt a prepared story to the pictures in the exam.
Friendship — helping a friend, resolving a misunderstanding, standing by a friend in trouble
Courage — overcoming a fear, doing the right thing even when it is hard, facing a bully
Honesty — admitting a mistake, returning something valuable, telling the truth even when it hurts
Family — helping out at home, appreciating a family member, a family outing gone wrong
Perseverance — never giving up, studying hard for an exam, practising for a competition
Kindness — helping a stranger, volunteering, being kind to someone who is lonely
Responsibility — taking care of a pet, being a class monitor, doing chores at home
Gratitude — appreciating teachers, thanking parents, learning to value what you have
💡 Paragraph Writing Tips
1.Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that signals what the paragraph is about.
2.Use time connectors to show the order of events: "First", "Then", "After a while", "Finally".
3.Include at least one line of dialogue in your story — it makes characters come alive.
4.Vary your sentence length — mix short sentences (for impact) with longer ones (for detail).
5.Use "show, don't tell" — instead of "I was scared", write "My heart pounded and my palms turned cold and clammy."
6.End each paragraph with a sentence that links to the next paragraph or moves the story forward.
7.Aim for 4 to 5 paragraphs in total: introduction, 2 to 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
8.Use sensory details — describe what you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste.
🖼️ Picture Prompt Strategy
Since PSLE compositions are usually picture-based, here are specific strategies for handling picture prompts effectively:
1.Study ALL the pictures carefully before you start writing. Note the characters, setting, and sequence of events.
2.Identify the main problem or conflict shown in the pictures.
3.You MUST include what is shown in the pictures, but you can add extra details to make the story richer.
4.Think about what happens BEFORE the first picture and AFTER the last picture.
5.Give the characters names, feelings, and dialogue — do not just describe what you see.
6.Use the pictures as a guide for your plot structure: each picture can be one section of your story.
7.Add emotions and reactions that the pictures suggest but do not explicitly show.
8.Write a strong conclusion that goes beyond the last picture — reflect on the experience.
🏆 Model Composition Openings
The opening of your composition sets the tone for the entire story. A strong opening grabs the examiner's attention immediately. Study these model openings and notice how each one uses a different technique to hook the reader:
📝Topic: A Day at the Beach
Look at the pictures below. The pictures show a family outing at the beach that took an unexpected turn. Write a story based on what you see in the pictures. You may add details to make your story more interesting. Your story should be at least 150 words.
📝Topic: An Act of Kindness
Write a story about a time when you or someone you know showed kindness to a stranger. You may write a true story or an imaginary one. Your story should be at least 150 words.
📝Topic: The Competition
Look at the pictures below. They show a boy preparing for a school competition and what happened on the day of the event. Write a story based on what you see in the pictures. You may add details to make your story more interesting. Your story should be at least 150 words.
⚠️ Common Composition Mistakes
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What is the most important part of a composition opening?
Which is an example of 'show, don't tell'?
How should you plan your time for Continuous Writing?
📝Paragraph-by-Paragraph Writing Template
Not sure how to structure your composition? Use this 6-paragraph template as a guide. Each paragraph has a specific purpose, and together they form a complete, well-structured story:
Opening Paragraph (Setting the Scene)
Introduce the setting (where and when), the main character, and create a mood. Use sensory details to pull the reader in.
Template:
"The [time of day] sun cast [description] shadows across [setting]. [Character name], a [age]-year-old [description], [action that sets up the story]. Little did [he/she] know that this [ordinary/special] day was about to change [his/her] life."
Build-Up (Rising Action)
Develop the situation. Add details, introduce other characters if needed, and hint at the problem to come.
Tips:
Include at least one line of dialogue here to make the scene feel alive. Describe what the character sees, hears, and feels.
The Problem / Conflict
Introduce the main problem or challenge. This is what makes your story interesting! Use vivid descriptions to show how the character feels.
Show emotions with body language:
Fear: "knees trembled", "heart pounded". Shock: "jaw dropped", "froze in place". Anger: "clenched fists", "face turned crimson".
The Climax (Most Exciting Part)
This is the turning point! The character takes action to solve the problem. Use short, punchy sentences for tension and excitement.
Tip:
Use short sentences for action: "I ran. My lungs burned. The door was just ahead." This creates urgency and excitement that grabs the reader.
Falling Action (Resolution)
Show the result of the climax. How did the situation resolve? What happened to the characters?
Tip:
Slow the pace back down. Use longer sentences to show relief and resolution after the excitement of the climax.
Ending / Moral / Reflection
End with a reflection, a lesson learned, or a meaningful closing thought. This is what separates good stories from great ones.
Strong ending types:
(1) Lesson learned: "From that day on, I understood that..." (2) Looking forward: "As I walked home, I realised..." (3) Circular ending: echo your opening image. (4) Emotional statement: "That was the proudest moment of my life."
✍️5 Types of Story Openings (With Examples)
Your opening is the first impression the examiner gets. A boring opening like "One day, I went to school" will not impress. Here are 5 powerful opening techniques with examples:
1Action Opening
"CRASH! The glass trophy slipped from my hands and shattered into a thousand glittering pieces on the floor. I stared at the mess in horror, my mind racing. The Science Fair was in two hours, and my project was in ruins."
Starts with immediate action or a sound effect. Grabs attention instantly.
2Dialogue Opening
"'You have exactly five minutes,' whispered my best friend, her eyes wide with fear. 'After that, the teacher will be back.' My heart sank. Five minutes to find the missing test paper before anyone noticed it was gone."
Starts with speech that creates mystery or tension. Makes the reader want to know more.
3Setting / Atmosphere Opening
"The abandoned shophouse stood at the end of the narrow lane, its peeling paint and broken shutters giving it the look of a face frozen in surprise. Even on the brightest afternoon, shadows seemed to cling to its walls like dark cobwebs."
Creates a mood through vivid description. Uses simile and personification to set the scene.
4Flashback Opening
"Looking back, I still cannot believe what happened that rainy Tuesday in November. If someone had told me that morning that I would end the day as a hero, I would have laughed and called them crazy. But life, as my grandmother always says, is full of surprises."
Hints at an exciting event that already happened. Creates curiosity about what the "event" was.
5Question / Thought Opening
"Have you ever wished you could turn back time? That was exactly what I wanted as I stood outside the principal's office, staring at the brown wooden door. My palms were clammy and my stomach churned like a washing machine."
Starts with a thought or rhetorical question. Directly engages the reader and creates empathy.
💪Power Words to Replace Common Words
Using specific, vivid vocabulary instead of generic words shows the examiner that you have a strong command of language. Replace these common words with more powerful alternatives:
| Weak Word | Power Alternatives | Example in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| said | whispered, shouted, murmured, exclaimed, stammered, announced | "I found it!" she exclaimed. |
| happy | elated, overjoyed, delighted, thrilled, ecstatic | I was thrilled to receive the award. |
| sad | devastated, heartbroken, miserable, gloomy, downcast | She felt devastated when she heard the news. |
| scared | terrified, petrified, horrified, panic-stricken, alarmed | I was petrified when I heard the thunder. |
| angry | furious, livid, enraged, infuriated, seething | Father was livid when he saw the broken vase. |
| nice | thoughtful, considerate, generous, compassionate, warm-hearted | The thoughtful girl helped the old lady. |
| big | enormous, massive, gigantic, towering, immense | The towering waves crashed against the shore. |
| small | tiny, minute, microscopic, compact, petite | A tiny kitten was hiding under the bench. |
| walked | strolled, trudged, marched, shuffled, ambled, dashed | He trudged home in the pouring rain. |
| looked | stared, gazed, glanced, peered, squinted, glimpsed | She peered through the foggy window. |
🎨Figurative Language Toolkit
Using figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole) shows the examiner your creative flair and can boost your Language marks significantly. Aim to include at least 3 different types in your composition.
| Type | What It Does | Weak Example | Strong PSLE-Level Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simile | Compares using "like" or "as" | He ran fast like a car. | He sprinted like a cheetah chasing its prey across the savannah. |
| Metaphor | Direct comparison (is/was) | She was happy. | She was a ray of sunshine, brightening every corner of the room. |
| Personification | Gives human qualities to objects | The wind was strong. | The wind howled furiously, rattling the windows as if demanding entry. |
| Onomatopoeia | Sound words | The door closed. | The door slammed shut with a thunderous BANG that echoed down the corridor. |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for effect | I was very tired. | I was so exhausted that I could have slept for a thousand years. |
| Alliteration | Repeated starting sounds | The snake moved. | The slithering serpent slid silently through the shadows. |
🎭Show Don't Tell: Describing Emotions
Instead of telling the reader how a character feels, show it through physical reactions, actions, and sensory details. This technique alone can push your composition into the top band.
| Emotion | Telling (Weak) | Showing (Strong — Use This!) |
|---|---|---|
| Fear | I was very scared. | My heart hammered against my ribcage. My palms turned clammy, and I could barely breathe as cold sweat trickled down my spine. |
| Happiness | I was very happy. | A grin spread across my face from ear to ear. I leapt into the air, pumping my fist as tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. |
| Sadness | I felt sad. | A lump formed in my throat. I blinked rapidly, but the tears spilled over, tracing warm paths down my cheeks as I turned away. |
| Anger | I was angry. | My hands balled into tight fists, my knuckles turning white. I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached, glaring at him with blazing eyes. |
| Nervousness | I was nervous. | My stomach churned with butterflies. I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, my mouth as dry as sandpaper as I waited for my name to be called. |
| Surprise | I was shocked. | My jaw dropped. I froze mid-step, blinking in disbelief as the words slowly sank in. Was this really happening? |
| Guilt | I felt guilty. | A wave of shame washed over me. I could not meet her eyes, staring instead at my shoes as the weight of what I had done pressed down on my shoulders. |
| Relief | I felt relieved. | I let out a long, shaky breath I did not know I had been holding. My tense shoulders finally relaxed as a wave of calm washed over me. |
👁️Sensory Details: Engage All Five Senses
Good writing makes the reader feel like they are inside the story. Include details from at least 3 out of 5 senses to create vivid, immersive scenes.
👁️ Sight
- “The golden sunset painted the sky in shades of amber and crimson.”
- “Shadows danced across the cracked walls of the abandoned building.”
- “A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the entire room.”
👂 Sound
- “The leaves rustled softly in the gentle breeze.”
- “A deafening crack of thunder shook the house to its foundations.”
- “The rhythmic ticking of the clock filled the eerie silence.”
✋ Touch
- “The icy wind stung my exposed cheeks like a thousand tiny needles.”
- “I ran my fingers along the rough, splintered surface of the old bench.”
- “The warm sand squished between my toes as I walked along the beach.”
👃 Smell
- “The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted from the kitchen.”
- “A pungent smell of burning rubber filled the air.”
- “The sweet fragrance of frangipani flowers drifted in through the open window.”
👅 Taste
- “The bitter medicine left a horrible aftertaste on my tongue.”
- “I savoured the rich, creamy taste of the chocolate cake melting on my tongue.”
- “The salty tang of sea spray coated my lips.”
💬Dialogue Writing Tips
Well-written dialogue brings your story to life and reveals character personality. Always include 2-3 lines of dialogue in your composition.
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📚Common PSLE Composition Themes
These themes appear frequently in PSLE compositions. Prepare at least one story outline for each theme so you are never caught off guard on exam day.
⭐ Honesty & Integrity
A character faces a moral dilemma — returning found money, confessing to a mistake, standing up against cheating. Lesson: doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
Keywords: wallet, cheat, lie, confession, conscience
🤝 Friendship & Loyalty
A friendship is tested — a misunderstanding, peer pressure to betray a friend, helping a friend in trouble. Lesson: true friends stick together through thick and thin.
Keywords: argument, forgiveness, sacrifice, trust, loyalty
💪 Perseverance & Hard Work
A character overcomes challenges — failing an exam, losing a competition, mastering a difficult skill. Lesson: success comes from never giving up.
Keywords: failure, practice, determination, champion, sweat
❤️ Family Love
Appreciating family — a parent's sacrifice, taking care of a sick grandparent, sibling rivalry resolved. Lesson: family is our greatest support.
Keywords: sacrifice, gratitude, argue, reconcile, love
🎒 Responsibility
A character learns responsibility — taking care of a pet, looking after a younger sibling, completing a project. Lesson: being dependable builds trust.
Keywords: careless, consequence, trust, duty, mature
🌟 Kindness to Others
Acts of kindness — helping a stranger, standing up for someone being bullied, volunteering. Lesson: small acts of kindness create big impact.
Keywords: bully, help, stranger, volunteer, smile
😲 An Unexpected Event
Something unexpected disrupts a normal day — a fire, an accident, meeting a celebrity, finding treasure. Creates exciting plots with suspense and resolution.
Keywords: suddenly, panic, shock, discover, unbelievable
📖 Learning from Mistakes
A character makes a mistake and grows from it — shoplifting, bullying, being rude to an elder. Lesson: mistakes are stepping stones if we learn from them.
Keywords: regret, lesson, apologise, change, growth
Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to improve your Continuous Writing is to write at least one full composition every week. After writing, read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Ask a parent or teacher to give you feedback on your story structure, language, and show-don't-tell. Keep a notebook of good vocabulary, similes, metaphors, and strong openings that you can use in the exam.