Mastering PSLE Vocabulary: Essential Tips, Word Lists, and Strategies for Singapore Students

In the competitive landscape of Singapore’s education system, excelling in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) English paper requires more than just grammar and comprehension skills. A strong vocabulary is the foundation for success in composition, oral exams, and even visual text comprehension. As we move into 2026, with updates to the MOE syllabus emphasizing contextual language use and critical thinking, building an advanced vocabulary has never been more crucial. This comprehensive guide provides practical tips, curated word lists, and fun strategies tailored for Primary 6 students preparing for PSLE. Whether you’re a parent, tutor, or student, these insights will help you boost language proficiency and aim for that AL1 score.

Why Vocabulary is Key to PSLE Success

Vocabulary isn’t just about memorizing words—it’s about understanding nuances, idioms, and phrases that elevate your writing and speaking. According to the Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore, the PSLE English syllabus focuses on effective communication, where a rich vocabulary helps students express ideas clearly and creatively. Poor vocabulary can lead to repetitive phrasing in compositions or struggles in oral discussions on topics like “A Day I Will Never Forget” or “Overcoming Challenges.”

Research from educational platforms shows that students with a broader vocabulary score 20-30% higher in language assessments. In 2025/26, with AI tools and digital learning on the rise, integrating tech-savvy methods like apps can make vocabulary building engaging and efficient.

Top 10 Strategies to Build Vocabulary for PSLE

Here are proven, MOE-aligned strategies to enhance your child’s vocabulary. These are based on best practices from top tuition centers and Singapore’s leading schools.

1. Read Widely and Regularly

Exposure to diverse texts is the most natural way to learn new words. Encourage reading newspapers like The Straits Times, children’s novels, or non-fiction books on Singapore history.

• Tip: Set a daily reading goal of 30 minutes. Highlight unfamiliar words and discuss them.
• Resource: Check out the National Library Board Singapore for free e-books.

2. Use Flashcards and Spaced Repetition

Create flashcards with words on one side and definitions, synonyms, and example sentences on the other. Apps like Anki use spaced repetition to reinforce memory.

• Tip: Review 10-15 cards daily, focusing on PSLE-themed words like those from past papers.

3. Play Word Games and Challenges

Turn learning into fun with games like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, or online quizzes.

• Tip: Join the “Word-a-Day” challenge: Learn one new word daily and use it in a sentence.
• Resource: Try Vocabulary.com for interactive games.

4. Contextual Learning Through Themes

Group words by PSLE composition topics such as “Friendship,” “Environment,” or “Technology.” This helps in oral and writing sections.

• Tip: Create theme-based word webs connecting related terms (e.g., “pollution” links to “contamination,” “degradation”).

5. Keep a Vocabulary Journal

Maintain a notebook for new words encountered in school or reading. Include definitions, parts of speech, and personal sentences.

• Tip: Review the journal weekly and test yourself on usage.

6. Learn Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes (below for extended resources)

Understanding word parts like “tele-” (far) or “-phobia” (fear) unlocks hundreds of words.

• Tip: Study common roots: “Bene” (good) leads to “beneficial,” “benevolent.”

7. Engage in Conversations and Debates

Discuss current events or PSLE oral topics at home to practice using advanced vocabulary.

• Tip: Role-play oral exams on themes like “Healthy Living” or “Community Service.”

8. Use MOE-Aligned Resources

Stick to syllabus-approved materials for relevance.

• Resource: Download the latest PSLE English syllabus from MOE’s official site.

9. Incorporate Multimedia

Watch educational videos or listen to podcasts to hear words in context.

• Tip: Platforms like TED-Ed offer short talks with transcripts for vocabulary mining.

10. Regular Practice with Past Papers

Analyze vocabulary from top school WA1/SA1 papers and PSLE prelims.

• Tip: Focus on idioms and phrasal verbs commonly tested.

Essential PSLE Vocabulary Word Lists

We’ve curated top 100 intermediate-level words, categorized for easy learning. These are drawn from common PSLE themes and top school papers. Aim to master 20 words per week.

Emotions and Descriptions (20 Words)

1. Melancholic – Feeling pensive sadness.
2. Ecstatic – Overwhelmed with joy.
3. Apprehensive – Anxious about the future.
4. Resilient – Able to recover quickly.
5. Whimsical – Playfully quaint.
6. Formidable – Inspiring fear or respect.
7. Gruesome – Causing horror.
8. Benevolent – Kind and generous.
9. Adversity – Difficult situation.
10. Elaborate – Detailed and complicated.
11. Deceive – Mislead someone.
12. Consequence – Result of an action.
13. Hierarchy – Ranking system.
14. Brevity – Concise expression.
15. Absurd – Ridiculously unreasonable.
16. Hierarchy – System of ranks.
17. Formidable – Intimidating.
18. Gruesome – Horrifying.
19. Elaborate – Intricate.
20. Deceive – Trick.

Actions and Movements (20 Words)

1. Saunter – Walk leisurely.
2. Scramble – Move hurriedly.
3. Plunge – Jump or dive quickly.
4. Meander – Wander aimlessly.
5. Hurdle – Overcome an obstacle.
6. Cascade – Fall like a waterfall.
7. Surge – Sudden increase.
8. Dawdle – Waste time.
9. Vault – Leap over.
10. Trudge – Walk wearily.
11. Bolt – Run away suddenly.
12. Slink – Move stealthily.
13. Stride – Walk with long steps.
14. Hobble – Walk unsteadily.
15. Gallop – Run fast like a horse.
16. Tiptoe – Walk quietly on toes.
17. Lumber – Move clumsily.
18. Skitter – Move lightly.
19. Prowl – Move stealthily.
20. Scamper – Run playfully.

Environment and Nature (20 Words)

1. Pristine – Untouched and clean.
2. Arid – Extremely dry.
3. Lush – Rich and abundant.
4. Barren – Empty of life.
5. Verdant – Green with vegetation.
6. Polluted – Contaminated.
7. Ecosystem – Biological community.
8. Biodiversity – Variety of life.
9. Deforestation – Clearing forests.
10. Sustainable – Maintainable long-term.
11. Erosion – Wearing away.
12. Habitat – Natural home.
13. Flora – Plant life.
14. Fauna – Animal life.
15. Climate – Weather patterns.
16. Drought – Prolonged dry period.
17. Flood – Overflow of water.
18. Conservation – Protection.
19. Renewable – Replenishable.
20. Extinct – No longer existing.

Technology and Modern Life (20 Words)

1. Innovative – Introducing new ideas.
2. Digital – Electronic data.
3. Algorithm – Step-by-step procedure.
4. Virtual – Simulated.
5. Cybersecurity – Protection online.
6. Automation – Machine-operated.
7. Gadget – Small device.
8. Interface – Connection point.
9. Bandwidth – Data capacity.
10. Encrypt – Secure data.
11. Augmented – Enhanced reality.
12. Blockchain – Digital ledger.
13. Nanotechnology – Tiny scale tech.
14. Sustainable – Eco-friendly.
15. Disruptive – Radically changing.
16. Connectivity – Linked state.
17. Artificial – Man-made intelligence.
18. Quantum – Advanced computing.
19. Haptic – Touch feedback.
20. Biometric – Body-based ID.

Idioms and Phrases (20 Common for PSLE)

1. Break the ice – Start a conversation.
2. Hit the nail on the head – Be exactly right.
3. Piece of cake – Very easy.
4. Spill the beans – Reveal a secret.
5. Under the weather – Feeling ill.
6. Burn the midnight oil – Work late.
7. Cost an arm and a leg – Very expensive.
8. Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal secret.
9. Barking up the wrong tree – Mistaken.
10. Jump on the bandwagon – Join trend.
11. Kill two birds with one stone – Achieve two things.
12. Raining cats and dogs – Heavy rain.
13. The ball is in your court – Your turn.
14. Throw in the towel – Give up.
15. Beat around the bush – Avoid topic.
16. Cry over spilt milk – Regret uselessly.
17. Every cloud has a silver lining – Positive in bad.
18. Go the extra mile – Do more.
19. In the same boat – Shared situation.
20. Pull someone’s leg – Joke.

Practice Exercises to Reinforce Vocabulary

To make learning stick, try these exercises:

1. Sentence Creation: Pick 5 words from the list and write PSLE-style composition sentences.Example: In the face of adversity, the resilient boy trudged through the barren desert.
2. Synonyms/Antonyms Matching: Match “ecstatic” with synonyms like “thrilled” and antonyms like “dejected.”
3. Oral Practice: Discuss a topic like “Environmental Conservation” using 10 new words.
4. Quiz Yourself: Use online tools for self-testing.

For more exercises, visit Quizlet and search for “PSLE Vocabulary Singapore.”

Additional Resources and Tips for Parents

• Books: Recommend “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis or PSLE-specific workbooks.
• Apps: Duolingo, Memrise for daily practice.
• Tuition Centers: Consider centers like EduKate Singapore for personalized guidance.
• Stay Updated: Follow SEAB (Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board) for exam updates.

Extended Resource:

6. Learn Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Understanding word parts like “tele-” (far) or “-phobia” (fear) unlocks hundreds of words. By breaking down words into their building blocks—prefixes (added to the beginning), roots (the core meaning), and suffixes (added to the end)—students can decode unfamiliar vocabulary and even create new words. This etymological approach is especially useful for PSLE, where questions often test word formation and synonyms/antonyms.

For example:

• Prefix “un-” (not) + root “happy” = unhappy (not happy).
• Root “chron” (time) + suffix “-ology” (study of) = chronology (study of time).

To help you get started, here’s a comprehensive table of common roots, prefixes, and suffixes relevant to PSLE-level English. We’ve included over 100 entries, grouped by type for easy reference. Study them in sets of 10-15 per week, and practice forming words or sentences with them.

Common Prefixes

Prefix	Meaning	Examples
anti-	against, opposite	antibiotic (against bacteria), antisocial (against society)
bi-	two	bicycle (two wheels), bilingual (two languages)
co-	together, with	cooperate (work together), coexist (exist together)
de-	down, remove	deflate (remove air), degrade (break down)
dis-	not, opposite	disappear (not appear), disobey (not obey)
ex-	out, former	exhale (breathe out), ex-president (former president)
hyper-	over, excessive	hyperactive (overly active), hypersensitive (overly sensitive)
il-/im-/in-/ir-	not	illegal (not legal), impossible (not possible), invisible (not visible), irregular (not regular)
inter-	between	international (between nations), interact (act between)
mis-	wrong	misunderstand (wrong understanding), misplace (wrong place)
non-	not	nonfiction (not fiction), nonstop (not stopping)
over-	too much	overeat (eat too much), overestimate (estimate too much)
post-	after	postpone (after the time), postwar (after war)
pre-	before	preheat (heat before), preview (view before)
re-	again	rewrite (write again), recycle (cycle again)
sub-	under	submarine (under the sea), subtract (take under)
super-	above, beyond	supernatural (beyond natural), supervise (watch above)
tele-	far, distant	telescope (view far), telephone (sound far)
trans-	across	transport (carry across), translate (change across languages)
un-	not, reverse	unhappy (not happy), unlock (reverse lock)
uni-	one	uniform (one form), unique (one of a kind)

Common Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
aqua	water	aquarium (water container), aquatic (related to water)
aud	hear	audience (hearers), audible (can be heard)
bene	good	benefit (good thing), benevolent (good-willed)
bio	life	biology (study of life), biography (life writing)
chron	time	chronological (in time order), synchronize (same time)
cred	believe	credible (believable), incredible (not believable)
dict	say, speak	dictionary (word sayings), predict (say before)
duc/duct	lead	conduct (lead together), educate (lead out)
fac/fact	make, do	factory (place to make), manufacture (make by hand)
geo	earth	geography (earth writing), geology (earth study)
graph	write	autograph (self write), paragraph (write beside)
log/logo	word, study	logic (study of reasoning), dialogue (words between)
mal	bad	malfunction (bad function), malice (bad intent)
man/manu	hand	manual (by hand), manufacture (make by hand)
meter/metr	measure	thermometer (heat measure), diameter (across measure)
path	feel, suffer	sympathy (feel with), pathology (study of suffering)
phon	sound	telephone (far sound), symphony (sound together)
photo	light	photograph (light writing), photosynthesis (light synthesis)
port	carry	portable (can be carried), transport (carry across)
rupt	break	interrupt (break between), erupt (break out)
scrib/script	write	describe (write down), manuscript (hand written)
spec	look	spectator (looker), inspect (look in)
struct	build	construct (build together), structure (build)
terr	land	territory (land area), terrestrial (of the land)
therm	heat	thermal (of heat), thermometer (heat measure)
vid/vis	see	visible (can be seen), video (see thing)
vit/viv	life	vital (necessary for life), revive (live again)
voc	call, voice	vocal (of voice), invoke (call in)

Common Suffixes

Suffix	Meaning	Examples
-able/-ible	able to be	readable (able to be read), flexible (able to bend)
-al	related to	natural (related to nature), musical (related to music)
-er/-or	one who	teacher (one who teaches), actor (one who acts)
-ful	full of	joyful (full of joy), helpful (full of help)
-ic/-ical	related to	historic (related to history), magical (related to magic)
-ify	make, cause	simplify (make simple), classify (make classes)
-ion/-tion/-sion	act, state of	action (act of doing), celebration (state of celebrating)
-ism	belief, practice	optimism (belief in good), tourism (practice of touring)
-ist	one who practices	artist (one who practices art), scientist (one who practices science)
-ity/-ty	state of	quality (state of being good), safety (state of being safe)
-ive	tending to	active (tending to act), creative (tending to create)
-ize	make, become	modernize (make modern), realize (become real)
-less	without	fearless (without fear), endless (without end)
-logy	study of	biology (study of life), psychology (study of mind)
-ly	in a manner	quickly (in a quick manner), happily (in a happy manner)
-ment	state of	excitement (state of being excited), government (state of governing)
-ness	state of	kindness (state of being kind), darkness (state of being dark)
-ous/-ious	full of	dangerous (full of danger), curious (full of curiosity)
-phobia	fear of	claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), hydrophobia (fear of water)
-scope	instrument to view	microscope (instrument to view small), telescope (instrument to view far)
-ship	state, skill	friendship (state of being friends), leadership (skill of leading)

Tip: Use online tools like Etymonline for deeper origins or Merriam-Webster to check word usages. Practice by combining parts: Prefix “tele-” + root “vis” + suffix “-ion” = television (far seeing device). This method can expand your vocabulary exponentially!

By implementing these strategies consistently, your child can build a robust vocabulary that not only aces PSLE but also prepares them for secondary school. Remember, consistency is key—start small and build momentum. For more educational tips, explore our other vocabulary articles on EduKateSingapore.com.

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