PSLE Oral Communication: Technology Power Phrases and SBC Guide

Many pupils have sensible ideas during PSLE Oral Communication but struggle to express them precisely. They may say that technology is “good”, “useful” or “bad” without explaining exactly how it helps, what risks it creates or why their view matters.

This PSLE Oral technology guide gives pupils useful phrases, a clear response structure and a model answer that sounds developed without sounding memorised.

Under the official 2026 PSLE English Language examination format, Paper 4 comprises Reading Aloud and Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC). SBC is based on a photo stimulus and carries 25 of the 40 Oral Communication marks. Candidates are assessed on how clearly and appropriately they express opinions, ideas and experiences, as well as their fluency, pronunciation, grammar and range of vocabulary. These details are set out in the official SEAB PSLE English Language examination format.

A strong response does more than list advantages and disadvantages—it explains them and connects them to real life.

Why Technology Works Well as an Oral Discussion Topic

Technology is closely connected to pupils’ everyday experiences. They may use learning platforms, messaging applications, search engines, videos, games or digital devices at home and in school.

This makes technology suitable for questions that require pupils to:

• give an opinion

• explain benefits and drawbacks

• recount a personal experience

• suggest responsible habits

• consider how an issue affects individuals and society

Pupils do not need technical knowledge. They need to present a clear view, develop it with relevant details and use vocabulary that accurately conveys their meaning.

PSLE Oral Technology Questions Pupils Should Prepare For

The exact question will vary, but pupils should be ready to discuss angles such as:

1. Do you think technology is beneficial for students?

2. How has technology changed the way people communicate?

3. Should children limit the amount of time they spend on digital devices?

4. What are some dangers of using the Internet?

5. How can students use technology responsibly?

Preparation should not involve memorising one fixed speech. Instead, pupils can build a flexible phrase bank and practise applying the phrases to different questions.

Technology Power Phrases: Benefits

Power phrase	Simple meaning	Example in an oral response
advancements in technology	new technological developments	Advancements in technology have made many everyday tasks faster and more convenient.
plays a crucial role in our daily lives	is very important in everyday life	Technology plays a crucial role in our daily lives because we use it to learn, communicate and complete tasks.
provides easy access to information	makes information easy to find	The Internet provides easy access to information, allowing pupils to research unfamiliar topics.
enhances productivity and efficiency	helps people complete work better and faster	Digital tools can enhance productivity and efficiency by helping pupils organise their notes and assignments.
makes learning more engaging and interactive	encourages active participation	Educational videos and quizzes can make learning more engaging and interactive.
enables remote learning and communication	allows people to learn and communicate from different places	Video-conferencing platforms enable remote learning and communication when people cannot meet in person.
allows people to stay connected	helps people maintain relationships	Messaging and video calls allow family members living apart to stay connected.
caters to different learning needs	supports learners in different ways	Audio recordings and subtitles can cater to different learning needs.

Pupils should learn phrases by purpose so they can retrieve the right language for the question.

Technology Power Phrases: Risks

Power phrase	Simple meaning	Example in an oral response
over-reliance on technology	depending too heavily on technology	Over-reliance on technology may prevent pupils from thinking independently.
a major source of distraction	something that repeatedly takes attention away	Notifications can become a major source of distraction during revision.
reduces face-to-face interaction	causes people to communicate less in person	Excessive device use may reduce face-to-face interaction among family members.
exposes users to online risks	puts users in contact with possible dangers	Careless Internet use can expose young users to cyberbullying, scams and inappropriate content.
personal information may be compromised	private information may be exposed or misused	Personal information may be compromised when users click suspicious links or overshare online.
creates an unhealthy dependence	makes someone feel unable to manage without it	Using a device for every small task may create an unhealthy dependence on technology.

Notice that the language is not exaggerated. Saying that technology may reduce interaction is more reasonable than claiming that technology destroys all relationships.

From Basic Vocabulary to Precise Expression

Power phrases are useful because they help pupils explain an idea precisely. They should replace vague language—not simply be added to an already unclear response.

Basic response	Improved response
Technology is good for learning.	Technology makes learning more engaging and interactive through educational videos and online quizzes.
Phones are distracting.	Mobile phones can be a major source of distraction when notifications interrupt pupils during lessons or revision.
The Internet is dangerous.	The Internet may expose young users to online scams and cause their personal information to be compromised.
We must not use devices too much.	We should strike a balance between screen time and real-life activities such as exercise and face-to-face interaction.

Precise language explains the benefit, risk or consequence instead of merely labelling technology as good or bad.

Use the GLA SEPC Structure for SBC Answers

At Grace Learning Academy, pupils can use SEPC to organise a developed response:

S — State

Answer the question directly and make your position clear.

I believe that technology is beneficial for pupils when it is used responsibly.

E — Explain

Develop one or two strong reasons. Explain how the benefit or problem occurs and why it matters.

It provides easy access to information, so pupils can research unfamiliar topics and clarify doubts more independently.

P — Personal experience

Add a relevant experience or observation. Include only details that help prove the point. Pupils may consider what happened, when it happened, what they did and what they learnt.

When I was revising for a Science test, I watched an animation that helped me understand a process I had found confusing in my textbook.

C — Conclude

Return to the question. A balanced recommendation often works well for technology topics.

Therefore, technology can support learning, but pupils must manage their screen time and avoid becoming overly dependent on it.

SEPC gives the response direction while still allowing the pupil’s own ideas and voice to come through.

Model PSLE Oral SBC Answer: Is Technology Beneficial for Students?

Question: Do you think technology is beneficial for students?

State

I believe that technology is beneficial for students when it is used purposefully and responsibly.

Explain

Firstly, it provides easy access to information. If students encounter an unfamiliar concept, they can use reliable educational websites or videos to clarify their doubts. Technology can also make learning more engaging and interactive through quizzes, animations and immediate feedback. As a result, students may understand difficult ideas more easily and become more involved in their learning.

Personal experience

For example, I once had difficulty understanding how water changes from one state to another. While revising at home, I watched a short animation recommended by my teacher and completed an online quiz afterwards. The visual explanation helped me understand the process, while the quiz showed me which parts I still needed to revise. This made my revision more focused and effective.

Conclusion

However, technology can also be a major source of distraction if students keep checking messages or playing games. Therefore, I believe it is beneficial as long as students set sensible limits and strike a balance between technology use and offline activities.

Why this answer works

• It answers the question immediately.

• It develops two connected benefits rather than listing many unrelated points.

• It includes a specific and believable personal experience.

• It acknowledges a drawback without losing its main position.

• The power phrases fit the meaning naturally.

Do Not Force Every Power Phrase into One Answer

A pupil who memorises all the phrases may be tempted to recite them one after another. This can make the response sound unnatural and may cause the pupil to lose track of the question.

For each question, choose:

• one phrase that states the main benefit or concern

• one phrase that explains the effect

• one personal example

• one balanced concluding idea

Three well-used phrases are more effective than ten disconnected ones.

Three Technology Questions for Oral Practice

Practice 1

Should pupils be allowed to use tablets during lessons?

Possible angles: interactive learning, quick research, distraction and responsible classroom rules.

Practice 2

How can families prevent technology from affecting their relationships?

Possible angles: device-free meals, shared activities, face-to-face interaction and agreed screen-time limits.

Practice 3

What should young people do to stay safe online?

Possible angles: protect personal information, avoid suspicious links, block and report cyberbullies, and seek help from a trusted adult.

Practise changing the angle and example instead of repeating the same memorised response.

Common Mistakes in PSLE Oral Communication

Giving a list without development

Technology helps us learn, communicate, relax and do work.

This contains several ideas but explains none of them. Select one or two and show how they affect students.

Using a personal example that is too general

I always use technology for school.

Explain the situation, action and result so the experience supports the opinion.

Repeating the same words

If a pupil repeats good, useful and helpful, the response lacks precision. Replace them with expressions such as provides easy access to information or makes learning more interactive.

Giving an extreme answer

Technology is neither completely beneficial nor completely harmful. Balanced thinking allows pupils to discuss responsible use, limits and consequences.

Sounding memorised

Pupils should pause naturally, respond to the examiner’s exact question and adjust their examples when the angle changes.

How Parents Can Help with Oral Practice at Home

Parents can select one question and allow the child 30 seconds to think before answering. After the response, ask:

• What is your main point?

• Can you explain why that happens?

• What specific example proves it?

• Which power phrase fits naturally?

• Can you conclude without repeating your opening word for word?

Avoid correcting every sentence while the child is speaking. Let the child complete the response first, then focus on one or two improvements.

PSLE Oral Support at Grace Learning Academy

At Grace Learning Academy, pupils learn how to interpret the question, organise their thoughts using clear structures and apply precise vocabulary naturally. Oral practice includes teacher modelling, guided elaboration and targeted feedback so pupils understand how to improve—not merely what to memorise.

Parents looking for structured PSLE English support can learn more about our Primary English tuition programme in Serangoon.

Explore Grace Learning Academy’s Primary English programme →

Contact Grace Learning Academy about available classes or a trial lesson →

Final Thoughts

Strong PSLE Oral answers do not depend on difficult vocabulary alone. Pupils need a clear position, developed reasoning, a relevant personal experience and language that precisely expresses their meaning.

By learning technology phrases according to their purpose and practising them through the SEPC structure, pupils can respond more confidently while still sounding natural and authentic.