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PSLE Key Dates 2026
Explore essential dates and a comprehensive roadmap for Primary 6 students and their parents. Stay informed and prepared for the upcoming PSLE journey with our expert guidance.
PSLE 2026 Full Exam Timetable
Every exam date, time, and paper duration for PSLE 2026 — all Standard and Foundation papers across all three assessment modes.
Oral Examinations — 12 & 13 August 2026
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Students are assessed on Reading Aloud and Stimulus-Based Conversation. All oral sessions run from 08:00 to 13:30. Your child's school will inform you of the specific reporting time.
Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
12 Aug (Wed) | 08:00 – 13:30 | English Language |
12 Aug (Wed) | 08:00 – 13:30 | Foundation English |
12 Aug (Wed) | 08:00 – 13:30 | Chinese / Malay / Tamil |
13 Aug (Thu) | 08:00 – 13:30 | English Language |
13 Aug (Thu) | 08:00 – 13:30 | Chinese / Malay / Tamil |
13 Aug (Thu) | 08:00 – 13:30 | Foundation Mother Tongue |
Listening Comprehension — 15 September 2026
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All LC exams are held on Tuesday 15 September in two sessions. The audio is played only once — students should read all questions before playback begins.
Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
15 Sep (Tue) | 09:00 - 09:40 | Foundation Mother Tongue LC |
15 Sep (Tue) | 09:00 - 09:35 | Chinese / Malay / Tamil LC |
15 Sep (Tue) | 11:15 - 11:50 | English Language LC |
15 Sep (Tue) | 11:15 - 11:50 | Foundation English LC |
Written Papers — 24 to 30 September 2026
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Five days of written exams covering all subjects, with separate Standard and Foundation tracks.
01
Thursday, 24 September — English Language
Exam Format & Weightage
Paper 1 Writing · 50 marks (25% of the total PSLE English score) · 70 min
· Continuous Writing (narrative or recount) + Situational Writing (functional text e.g. email, report)
Paper 2 Language Use & Comprehension · 90 marks (45% of the total PSLE English score)· 110 min
· Includes Grammar MCQ, Vocabulary, Visual Text, Comprehension, and Editing
Paper 3 Listening Comprehension · 20 marks (10% of the total PSLE English score) . 35 min
· 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) includes 7 recordings (advertisements, news reports, announcements, interviews) . Recordings are played twice.
Paper 4 Oral Communication · 40 marks (20% of the total PSLE English score)
· Completed in August — Reading Aloud + Stimulus-Based Conversation. Now worth more than previous years.
PAPER | TIME | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
English Language Paper 1 | 08:15 – 09:25 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
English Language Paper 2 | 10:30 – 12:20 | 1 hour 50 minutes |
Foundation English Paper 1 | 08:15 – 09:25 | 1 hour 10 minutes |
Foundation English Paper 2 | 10:30 – 11:30 | 1 hour |
02
Friday, 25 September — Mathematics
Exam Format & Weightage
Total Marks: Both papers are now worth 50 marks each, making them equally important.
Paper 1 (1 hour 10 mins - 50 Marks):
· Booklet A: 18 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) — an increase from 15.
· Booklet B: 12 Short-Answer Questions — a decrease from 15.
· Crucial Update: No more 1-mark short questions; all short questions are 2 marks each.
Paper 2 (1 hour 20 mins - 50 Marks):
· Questions: Reduced from 17 to 15 questions.
· Bring an MOE-approved calculator for Paper 2.
Syllabus Shift:
· 12-hour and 24-hour clock: Shifted from P4 to P3
· Speed topic moved to Secondary 1.
· Average and Ratio are shifted from Primary 5 to Primary 6.
· Pie Charts and Nets are moved from P5 to P4.
· Simple linear equations are now officially part of the P6 curriculum
· Paper 1 marks increased from 45 to 50.
PAPER | TIME | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
Mathematics Paper 1 | 08:15 – 09:25 | 1 hour 10 min |
Mathematics Paper 2 | 10:30 – 11:50 | 1 hour 20 min |
Foundation Mathematics Paper 1 | 08:15 – 09:15 | 1 hour |
Foundation Mathematics Paper 2 | 10:30 – 11:15 | 45 min |
03
Monday, 28 September — Mother Tongue Language
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Applies to Chinese, Malay, Tamil
Exam Format & Weightage
Paper 1 Composition 40 marks . 50 min
· Writes a short story or essay based on a given picture or topic.
Paper 2 Comprehension & Language 90 marks (1 hour 40 min)
· Covers reading passages, vocabulary, grammar, and editing.
Paper 3 Oral Exam (August) 50 marks. 10 min
· Two parts: reading a passage aloud, then talking with the examiner about a picture.
Paper 4 Listening (September) 20 marks . 30 ~ 40 min
· 10 questions (2 marks each)
· Each audio recording questions and options are played played twice.
PAPER | TIME | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
Mother Tongue Paper 1 (Composition) | 08:15 – 09:05 | 50 min |
Mother Tongue Paper 2 (Comprehension) | 10:15 – 11:55 | 1 hour 40 min |
Foundation Mother Tongue Paper 1 | 08:15 – 08:55 | 40 min |
04
Tuesday, 29 September — Science
Exam Format & Weightage
Total 100 marks . 1 hour 45 min
Booklet A . MCQ. 60 marks . 30 questions
· Worth more marks in 2026 than in past years.
Booklet B . Open-Ended. 40 marks
· 10 ~11 questions testing how to analyze data, think like a scientist, and solve unfamiliar problems.
2026 Key changes:
· Fewer Open-Ended Questions: Booklet B now contains 10–11 questions, reduced from 12–13 in previous years.
· Higher Weighting for Multiple Choice: Booklet A is now worth 60 marks (increased from 56) across 30 MCQs.
· Linked MCQ Pairs: Up to two pairs of questions (e.g., Q11 and Q12) may share a common experiment or scenario, requiring deeper analysis.
· Skills Over Recall: The exam now places greater emphasis on inquiry-based learning, designing experiments, and interpreting data rather than memorising facts.
· Topic Removed: The "Cells" topic is no longer included in the syllabus.
PAPER | TIME | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
Science Paper 1 | 08:15 – 10:00 | 1 hour 45 min |
Foundation Science Paper 1 | 08:15 – 09:30 | 1 hour 15 min |
05
Wednesday, 30 September — Higher Mother Tongue
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Higher Chinese, Higher Malay, and Higher Tamil only
Exam Format & Weightage
Paper 1 Composition · 50 min
· Higher-level writing task assessed at greater depth than standard MTL Paper 1
Paper 2 Comprehension
· 80 min · Comprehension passages and language usage at Higher level
PAPER | TIME | DURATION |
|---|---|---|
Higher Mother Tongue Paper 2 (Comprehension) | 10:15 – 11:35 | 1 hour 20 min |
Higher Mother Tongue Paper 1 (Composition) | 08:15 – 09:05 | 50 min |
What's New in PSLE 2026
This cohort is the first to be assessed under all three revised syllabuses simultaneously. Here's what changed — and why it matters for how your child prepares.
ENGLISH | MATHEMATICS | SCIENCE |
|---|---|---|
More complex conversation photo scenarios in Oral | Speed topic fully removed from P6 scope | Greater emphasis on scientific inquiry and application |
Real-world text types in oral reading (speeches, announcements) | Nets and Pie Charts shifted to earlier years | Novel experimental scenarios now central to Booklet B |
Oral (Paper 4) up from 30 → 40 marks | Paper 1 up to 50 marks (was 45) | Booklet A (MCQ) carries more weight than before |
Comprehension (Paper 2) reduced from 95 → 90 marks | No more 1-mark questions — all short answers worth 2 marks | Photosynthesis moved from P5 to P6 scope |
Writing (Paper 1) reduced from 55 → 50 marks | MCQs in Booklet A increased from 5 to 8 | Cells topic removed entirely from PSLE |
Exam Day Checklist
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Everything your child needs to do and bring — from the night before through the exam itself. Click to expand.
PSLE Exam Day Checklist
The Night Before:
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Bring student card (required for entry)
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Confirm your school's reporting time (varies by school)
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Pack bag: student card, few 2B pencils, black/blue pens, eraser, ruler, set square, compass, protractor, and MOE-approved calculator with sticker (Maths Paper 2 only)
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Set two alarms (one main, one backup)
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Sleep by 9pm – aim for 8–9 hours quality sleep
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No late-night cramming. Just a gentle review of formulas or important vocabulary is enough.
Exam Morning:
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Eat a proper breakfast (not too heavy)
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Arrive 30 minutes before start time
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No electronic devices or smartwatches
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Bring water and a light snack for breaks
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Visit the toilet at least 5–10 minutes before your reporting time.
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This prevents unnecessary breaks during the paper, keeping your focus sharp and your time fully available for answering questions.
During the Exam:
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Read all questions first before answering
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Watch your time – don't linger on one question
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Listening Comprehension: read questions during prep time before audio plays
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Show all working and steps (partial marks for correct method)
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Use remaining time to check answers
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Write name and index number on every booklet
After Each Paper:
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Don't dwell on mistakes – focus on the next paper
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Rest well between exam days (sleep is valuable preparation)
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Only light revision between papers – don't overload