Exam Prep Checklist for Secondary Chinese

To prepare for O-Level Chinese: practise composition twice weekly, build vocabulary through themed word lists, do comprehension drills with past papers, and record yourself for oral practice. Start structured revision 10-12 weeks before the exam for best results.

Singapore is transitioning to Full SBB, where Chinese can be taken at G1, G2, or G3 level. Whether preparing for O-Level Chinese now or the SEC examination under Full SBB, this revision checklist applies equally.

Ten weeks to O-Level Chinese. Your vocab notebook is half-empty, your composition skills are shaky, and oral practice feels awkward. Do not panic — I have seen students turn this around. One Sec 4 student came to us eight weeks before O-Levels with a C5. She followed this exact schedule and walked out with a B3. Another student improved his oral from a C to B4 in just six weeks using our video discussion method. This guide breaks it down week by week.

What You are Up Against

The O-Level Chinese exam has four components: Paper 1 (email and composition, 70 marks), Paper 2 (comprehension and language use, 90 marks), Oral (reading passage and video conversation), and Listening Comprehension. Each requires different preparation strategies, so revision should address all components rather than focusing on just one area.

According to SEAB, the O-Level Chinese examination consists of:

• Paper 1 (Email Writing and Composition): 1 hour 50 minutes, 70 marks
• Paper 2 (Comprehension and Language Use): 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks
• Oral Examination: Reading passage and video conversation
• Listening Comprehension: Multiple choice questions

Each component requires different skills, so your revision should address all of them rather than focusing on just one area.

Weekly Revision Schedule

An effective O-Level Chinese revision schedule dedicates Mondays and Wednesdays to composition practice, Tuesdays and Thursdays to comprehension and vocabulary, Fridays to email writing, and weekends to oral practice. This structure ensures all exam components receive regular attention while preventing burnout from cramming sessions.

Consistent practice beats intensive cramming. A suggested weekly structure:

Monday and Wednesday: Composition Practice

Write at least one full composition per week. Do not just write and forget. Instead:

1. Choose a past-year question or a topic from your textbook
2. Plan your essay structure before writing (5-10 minutes)
3. Write the full essay under timed conditions
4. Review and identify areas for improvement
5. Have a teacher or tutor give feedback

Common composition types include narrative essays (记叙文), argumentative essays (议论文), and expository essays (说明文). Make sure you have practised at least a few of each type.

Tuesday and Thursday: Comprehension and Vocabulary

Comprehension requires both reading speed and vocabulary knowledge. Focus on:

• Reading diverse texts: Chinese newspapers, short stories, and essay collections
• Building vocabulary: Keep a vocabulary notebook with new words and example sentences
• Practising comprehension questions: Work through past papers and model answers
• Learning answer techniques: Understand how to structure responses for different question types

Pay special attention to inference questions, where you need to read between the lines. These often carry more marks.

Friday: Email Writing

Email writing (电邮) gets neglected, but it is a reliable way to score marks. Key points:

• Master the format: proper greeting, body paragraphs, and closing
• Address all points in the question, usually marked with bullets
• Use appropriate register (formal or informal) based on who you are writing to
• Keep sentences clear and direct

Practise writing emails to different recipients: teachers, friends, family members, and officials. Each requires a different tone.

Weekend: Oral Practice

The oral examination tests your spoken Chinese and thinking skills. Preparation should include:

• Reading aloud: Practise pronunciation, tone, and fluency with passages
• Video discussion preparation: Watch news clips and practise expressing opinions
• Recording yourself: Listen back to identify pronunciation errors
• Peer practice: Discuss topics with classmates or family members in Chinese

Key Revision Strategies

Build Your Vocabulary Bank

A rich vocabulary is foundational for every component. Effective vocabulary building includes:

• Learn words in context, not just definitions
• Group words by theme (education, environment, technology, etc.)
• Stock up on useful phrases and idioms (成语) for compositions
• Review vocabulary regularly using spaced repetition

Master the Composition Structure

A well-structured essay scores better than a creative but disorganised one. Remember:

• Introduction: Hook them fast, then state your main point clearly
• Body paragraphs: One idea per paragraph. Back it up with examples
• Conclusion: Summarise, then leave them with something to remember

For argumentative essays, always include counter-arguments and rebuttals to show depth of thinking.

Practise Time Management

Running out of time is a common problem. During practice:

• Time yourself strictly, no extensions
• Leave 5-10 minutes at the end of each paper for checking
• If stuck on a question, move on and return later
• For compositions, spend the first 10 minutes planning, not writing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Students lose marks on preventable errors all the time:

• Misreading questions: Read every question twice before answering
• Off-topic compositions: Stick to the question, even if your prepared essay is similar
• Incomplete answers: Always check that you have addressed every part of multi-part questions
• Neglecting oral prep: Speaking skills take time to develop and cannot be crammed
• Skipping the easy marks: Punctuation, formatting, and basic grammar all count

Resources for Secondary Chinese

Beyond your school materials, consider:

• Past-year papers: Available from assessment book publishers
• Chinese newspapers: 联合早报 online for reading practice
• Vocabulary apps: For regular vocabulary revision on the go
• Tuition support: Our Secondary Chinese programme offers targeted exam preparation

Final Weeks Before the Exam

In the last two weeks:

1. Review all marked compositions and note common errors
2. Do at least two full timed papers under exam conditions
3. Focus on weak areas identified during practice
4. Maintain your oral practice routine
5. Get adequate sleep. Tired minds do not perform well

Need More Support?

If you are finding certain areas challenging, structured tuition can help. At Ancourage Academy, our Secondary Chinese classes focus on exam-specific skills with personalised attention in small groups.

We offer trial lessons where you can experience our teaching approach before committing. WhatsApp us if you have questions about O-Level Chinese prep.

Common Questions About O-Level Chinese

How many hours should I study Chinese per week?

For effective O-Level prep, aim for 6-8 hours weekly of focused practice: two compositions, three comprehension passages, and daily 15-minute vocabulary review.

Is Higher Chinese much harder than O-Level Chinese?

Higher Chinese includes classical texts and more advanced vocabulary, but the exam format is similar. Students already scoring A1-A2 in G3 Chinese often manage the transition.

When should I start preparing for O-Level Chinese?

Ideally from Sec 3. Starting in Sec 4 means cramming; starting in Sec 3 means building. The oral component especially needs time to develop.

加油! You have prepared well. Trust the process.

Related: Building Language Foundations | Is Tuition Worth It?