How important is memorizing good phrases (好词好句) for the PSLE Chinese exam?

Very important, but the way you use them matters just as much as whether you have them.

好词好句 play a direct role in two parts of the PSLE Chinese exam, and an indirect role in a third.

写作 (Composition, Paper 1) is where 好词好句 have the biggest impact. Examiners assess 语言 explicitly, including your vocabulary range, sentence variety, and precision of expression. A composition that relies on simple, repetitive phrases like 很高兴、很害怕、很美丽 will score in the lower band for language, even if the story is good. On the other hand, a student who uses vivid, varied expressions, such as well-placed 成语, evocative descriptions, and varied sentence structures, signals genuine command of the language. That is what pushes a composition from average to distinction level.

词语运用 (Paper 2) tests vocabulary knowledge directly. 成语, 习用语 (idioms and set phrases), near-synonyms, and 量词 all appear as MCQ questions. Once you have read and memorised enough 好词好句, you will know intuitively what "sounds" right.

口试 (Oral, Paper 3) rewards students who can express ideas fluently and precisely. Students who have internalised a range of phrases and sentence patterns tend to speak more naturally and with greater confidence.

However, memorisation without application is wasted effort. The most common mistake students make is collecting long lists of 好词好句 but then failing to use them naturally in their writing or speech. A phrase inserted awkwardly or in the wrong context can actually work against you.

Here is how to build 好词好句 effectively:

Collect in context, not in isolation. When you encounter a good phrase in a reading passage or model essay, note the full sentence around it. Understanding when and how to use a phrase is more valuable than knowing its definition alone.

Practise using them in writing immediately. After learning a new phrase or 成语, write two or three sentences using it. Better still, work it into your next composition practice.

Group phrases by topic. Organise your 好词好句 by theme (eg. 描写心情、描写景色、描写动作) so that when you are given a composition topic, you can quickly recall relevant vocabulary rather than drawing a blank.

Aim for depth over breadth. You'd rather knowing 50 phrases well, i.e. understanding their meaning, tone, and appropriate context, than having a list of 200 phrases you cannot reliably deploy.

To benefit most from 好词好句, you have to make them part of your active vocabulary, not just something you have seen on a list.