✉️ Situational Writing
Situational Writing is Paper 1, Part 1. You have to write a short text of about 150 words based on a given situation. It is worth 14 marks and you should aim to complete it within 20-25 minutes, leaving the rest of the time for Continuous Writing.
This component tests your ability to write functional texts that serve a real-world purpose. The question will give you a specific scenario — for example, you might need to write a letter to your friend inviting them to a school event, or an email to your teacher asking for permission to use the school hall. You must address all the content points provided and use an appropriate tone and format.
The marking is split into two areas: Content (6 marks) for addressing the purpose, audience, and context, and Language (8 marks) for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and appropriate vocabulary. Many students consider this the "easiest" part of the exam because the format is predictable — but you still need to practise to score full marks.
📊 How Situational Writing Is Marked
| Criteria | Marks | What Examiners Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Content (PAC) | 6 | All content points addressed, correct purpose identified, appropriate tone for the audience, response fits the context |
| Language | 8 | Accurate grammar, correct spelling, proper punctuation, varied and appropriate vocabulary, well-constructed sentences |
The Biggest Mistake: Missing Content Points
The number one reason students lose marks in Situational Writing is not addressing ALL the content points. The question will usually give you 3-5 specific points to include. Missing even one point costs you marks. After you finish writing, go back and tick off each content point to make sure you have covered everything.
🎯 The PAC Strategy
Before you start writing, take 2-3 minutes to identify the PAC. This simple strategy helps you understand what you need to write and how to write it. Underline or highlight the PAC in the question.
Identify PAC Before Writing
Purpose
WHY are you writing? Common purposes include: to inform, to persuade, to request, to thank, to complain, to invite, to advise, to apologise, or to congratulate. The purpose determines the tone and content of your writing.
Audience
WHO are you writing to? This determines whether you use a formal or informal tone. Writing to a friend or family member = informal. Writing to a teacher, principal, editor, or someone in authority = formal. Never mix up the two!
Context
WHAT is the situation? Read the scenario carefully and identify ALL the content points. Underline each point in the question. These are the specific things you MUST include in your writing. Missing a content point means losing marks.
✉️ The 7 Writing Formats You Must Know
PSLE Situational Writing can ask you to write in any of these formats. Each format has its own structure, tone, and conventions. You must know all of them because you will not know which one will appear in the exam until you see the paper.
💌Informal Letter
Written to a friend, cousin, or someone you know well. The tone is friendly and conversational but must still be grammatically correct. Common scenarios include sharing about a school event, inviting someone, or giving advice.
- Start with your address in the top-right corner (e.g., Blk 123 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6, #08-456, Singapore 560123)
- Write the date below your address (e.g., 15 March 2026)
- Use a casual greeting like "Dear [Name]," (e.g., "Dear Amirah,")
- Open with a friendly line: "How are you? I hope you are doing well."
- Write in a warm, conversational tone — but avoid Singlish
- End with a friendly closing line: "Write back soon!" or "I look forward to hearing from you."
- Sign off with "Your friend," or "Love," followed by your name
- Address ALL the points given in the question — do not skip any
📄Formal Letter
Written to a principal, teacher, editor, or someone in authority. The tone is polite and respectful. Common scenarios include making a request, giving feedback, or applying for something.
- Include your address (top-right), the date, and the recipient's address and title (left-aligned)
- Use "Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms [Surname]," or "Dear Sir/Madam," if the name is not given
- State your purpose clearly in the opening paragraph: "I am writing to..."
- Use formal language — avoid contractions (use "I would" not "I'd")
- Organise points into clear paragraphs, each addressing one main idea
- Close with a polite line: "I hope you will consider my request." or "Thank you for your attention."
- Sign off with "Yours faithfully," (if "Dear Sir/Madam") or "Yours sincerely," (if a name was used)
- Write your full name below the sign-off
Can be formal or informal depending on the recipient. Emails follow a structured format with To, From, Subject, and Date fields. Common in PSLE for writing to teachers, school clubs, or friends.
- Include the header fields: To (recipient email), From (your email), Date, Subject
- The subject line must be clear and specific (e.g., "Request for Permission to Use School Hall")
- Match the tone to the audience — formal for teachers, informal for friends
- For formal emails, start with "Dear Mr/Mrs [Name]," and end with "Yours sincerely,"
- For informal emails, start with "Hi [Name]," and end with "Cheers," or "See you soon,"
- Keep paragraphs short and focused — one point per paragraph
- Address ALL content points from the stimulus material
- Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation before finishing
📋Report
A factual account of an event or activity, typically written for a teacher or school newsletter. Reports should be objective and well-organised with clear sections.
- Start with a clear title: "Report on [Event Name]"
- Include "Prepared by: [Your Name], [Your Role]" and "Date: [Date]"
- Begin with an introduction stating the purpose, date, time, and venue of the event
- Describe key events in chronological order or by importance
- Use past tense since you are reporting on something that already happened
- Include specific details: how many people attended, what activities were held, what was achieved
- End with a conclusion summarising the event and any suggestions for improvement
- Maintain a formal, objective tone throughout — do not include personal feelings
📓Diary / Journal Entry
A personal account of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences about an event or day. Written in first person with a reflective, personal tone. Common scenarios include writing about a memorable day or an important experience.
- Start with the date and day at the top (e.g., "Monday, 15 March 2026" or "Dear Diary,")
- Write in the first person ("I") and use past tense for events that already happened
- Express your feelings and emotions honestly: "I felt so proud when..."
- Include sensory details to bring the experience to life
- Reflect on what you learned or how the experience affected you
- Write naturally as if you are talking to yourself — but use proper grammar
- You may use contractions (I'm, it's, didn't) since it is personal writing
- End with a closing thought or reflection about the day
📝Note / Message
A short, practical piece of writing to inform or remind someone about something. Notes and messages must be brief but include all essential information. Common scenarios include leaving a message for a family member or classmate.
- Start with the recipient's name (e.g., "Dear Mum," or "Hi Wei Ming,")
- State the purpose immediately — notes should be short and direct
- Include ALL essential information: who, what, when, where, why
- Use a clear and simple structure — number your points if needed
- Keep the language simple but grammatically correct
- Include the date and time if relevant (e.g., "Your tuition teacher called at 3 p.m.")
- Sign off with your name
- Even though it is short, check that you have addressed every point in the question
🔄 Formal vs Informal: Know the Difference
One of the most critical skills in Situational Writing is matching your tone to your audience. Using an informal tone when writing to a principal, or a formal tone when writing to a close friend, will cost you marks. Here are the key differences:
👔Formal Tone
- Use full words: "I would like" not "I'd like"
- Polite openings: "I am writing to..."
- Polite closings: "Thank you for your attention"
- Sign off: "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully"
- No contractions, no slang, no exclamation marks
- Used for: Teachers, principals, editors, officials
😊Informal Tone
- Contractions OK: "I'm", "it's", "don't"
- Friendly openings: "How are you?"
- Casual closings: "Write back soon!"
- Sign off: "Your friend" or "Love"
- Warm, conversational — but still proper grammar
- Used for: Friends, cousins, siblings, close family
📝 Practice Task 1: Informal Letter
The Task
Your school recently held a Sports Day event. Write a letter to your friend, Amirah, who was absent that day. In your letter, you should:
- 1. Tell her about the opening ceremony
- 2. Describe one event you participated in and how you felt
- 3. Share the results of the house competition
- 4. Suggest something fun you can do together soon
📝 Practice Task 2: Formal Email
The Task
You are the chairperson of the English Language Club. Write an email to your teacher-in-charge, Mrs Tan, to request permission to organise a book fair. In your email, you should:
- 1. State the purpose of the book fair
- 2. Suggest a date, time, and venue
- 3. Explain how it will benefit students
- 4. Request her approval and offer to discuss further details
✅ Dos and Don'ts
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📋 Step-by-Step Approach
Follow this approach every time you do a Situational Writing question. With practice, it will become second nature and you will be able to complete it quickly and accurately.
Your 5-Step Approach
Read and Identify PAC (2 min)
Read the question carefully. Identify the Purpose (why you are writing), Audience (who you are writing to), and Context (the situation). Underline each content point in the question.
Choose Format and Tone (1 min)
Based on the audience, decide if you need formal or informal tone. Set up the correct format: letter (address, date, greeting), email (To, From, Date, Subject), report (title, prepared by), diary (date, Dear Diary), or note (recipient name).
Draft Your Response (12-15 min)
Write your response, making sure each content point is addressed clearly. Use one paragraph per content point. Start with an opening line that states your purpose. End with an appropriate closing line.
Add the Correct Sign-off (1 min)
Formal: "Yours sincerely" (if you used the person's name) or "Yours faithfully" (if you wrote "Dear Sir/Madam"). Informal: "Your friend", "Love", "Cheers". Always write your name below the sign-off.
Proofread and Check (3-5 min)
Read through your writing once for meaning (did you address all points?), and once for language (spelling, grammar, punctuation). Tick off each content point from the question. Fix any errors you spot.
⚠️ Common Format Mistakes to Avoid
Using "Yours sincerely" with "Dear Sir/Madam"
When you do not know the recipient's name and write "Dear Sir/Madam", you must sign off with "Yours faithfully", not "Yours sincerely". "Sincerely" is only for when you know the person's name.
Forgetting the email subject line
The subject line is a key part of the email format. It should be clear and specific: "Request for Permission to Use School Hall" not just "Request".
Writing a letter when the question asks for a report
Each format has different features. A report does not have "Dear..." or "Yours sincerely". It has a title, "Prepared by", date, and an objective tone throughout.
In situational writing, what does PAC stand for?
You are writing a formal letter to your school principal, Mrs Lee. Which sign-off should you use?
How many marks is Situational Writing worth, and how are they split?
✉️Sample Formal Letter (with annotations)
Below is a model answer for a formal letter task. Study the format, tone, and how all content points are addressed:
Task: Write a formal letter to the principal of your school suggesting an activity for Racial Harmony Day.
123 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
#05-678
Singapore 560123
15 June 2026
Mrs Tan Mei Ling
Principal
Ang Mo Kio Primary School
20 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3
Singapore 569814
Dear Mrs Tan,
I am writing to suggest an activity for the upcoming Racial Harmony Day celebration on 21 July 2026. [Purpose clearly stated]
I would like to propose a "Cultural Food Fair" where students from each class prepare a traditional dish from a different culture. [Activity suggestion] For example, one class could prepare nasi lemak, another could make prata, and another could offer Chinese tang yuan. This would allow students to appreciate the diverse food cultures in Singapore.
The event could be held in the school hall during the afternoon recess period, from 12.00 pm to 1.30 pm. [Practical details: time and venue] Each class could set up a stall, and students from other classes could visit the stalls to taste the food and learn about its cultural significance.
I believe this activity would be enjoyable and educational for all students, as it promotes understanding and appreciation of our multicultural society. [Why the activity is beneficial]
I hope you will consider my suggestion. Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
Ahmad bin Hassan [Sincerely because name is known]
📧Sample Informal Email (with annotations)
Task: Write an email to your cousin in Malaysia inviting him/her to visit you during the school holidays.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Come Visit Me in Singapore! [Clear, specific subject line]
Dear Sarah, [Informal greeting — first name]
How are you? I hope you are doing well! I am writing to invite you to stay with my family in Singapore during the June holidays. [Purpose + warm tone]
We have so many fun things planned! On the first day, I would like to bring you to Gardens by the Bay to see the Supertree Grove light show. On the second day, we can visit Universal Studios Singapore at Sentosa. [Content point: activities] My mother is also planning to cook your favourite chicken rice! [Personal touch]
The holidays start on 31 May and end on 29 June. [Content point: dates] You can come anytime during the first two weeks. We have a spare room ready for you.
Please let me know if you can make it. I really hope to see you soon!
Your cousin,
Mei Ling [Informal sign-off]
📋Quick Format Checklist for Each Type
Formal Letter
- ☐ Your address (top right)
- ☐ Date
- ☐ Recipient's name, title, and address
- ☐ "Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms [Name],"
- ☐ Formal language (no contractions)
- ☐ "Yours sincerely," + full name
Informal Letter
- ☐ Your address (top right)
- ☐ Date
- ☐ "Dear [First Name],"
- ☐ Friendly, casual tone
- ☐ Ask how the person is doing
- ☐ "Your friend," / "Love," + name
- ☐ To: (email address)
- ☐ Subject: (clear topic)
- ☐ Greeting
- ☐ Tone matches audience
- ☐ Closing + name
Report
- ☐ Title of report
- ☐ Prepared by / Date
- ☐ Introduction (purpose)
- ☐ Findings (what happened)
- ☐ Conclusion / Recommendations
- ☐ Formal, objective tone
⚠️Top 8 Mistakes in Situational Writing
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Quick Revision Strategy
In the weeks before your PSLE, practise writing one Situational Writing response every two days. Alternate between formal and informal tasks, and try all 7 formats. Time yourself — you should finish within 20 minutes. Ask a parent or teacher to check your work against the content points and mark your format.