Are there specific vocabulary lists my child needs to memorise for PSLE English?

There is no official MOE vocabulary list for PSLE English — and that's actually important to understand, because it means rote memorisation of word lists is not the most effective strategy.

Here's what the exam actually tests, and what works:

The vocabulary questions in Paper 2 test precision, not volume. Your child needs to know the difference between eager and enthusiastic, between commended and praised, and between devised and invented. It's about shades of meaning and collocations (words that naturally go together), not just knowing a definition.

What actually builds vocabulary:

• Wide reading — this is the single most powerful vocabulary builder, bar none.
• Learning words in context, not in isolation. When your child encounters a new word, learn the sentence it appeared in, not just the dictionary definition.
• Active use — encourage your child to try using new words in their own compositions or conversation. Words stick when they're used.

Targeted areas worth focusing on:

• Synonyms for overused words: instead of said, happy, scared, walked — can your child use murmured, elated, apprehensive, strode?
• Precise adjectives for emotions and character descriptions.
• Common word families: decide → decision → decisive → decisively. Word form errors are frequently penalised.

A practical habit: Keep a small vocabulary notebook where your child records one or two new words per day with a sentence example. Review at the end of each week. Over 6 months, that's 180–360 words embedded with real context.