PSLEPrep, a Singapore-built AI oral examiner, has published its first Oral Practice Report based on 12,459 answers given by 1,290 children practicing on the platform over three months. The report provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of students preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) oral exams. The AI tool assesses students' ability to provide personal examples and reasons in response to questions.
The report reveals that when asked for a personal example, four in ten English answers did not provide one. In contrast, 96 percent of English answers gave a reason when asked for an opinion. For Chinese answers, 78 percent provided a personal example, although the questions were different and not directly comparable. These findings suggest that students may struggle with providing specific personal experiences.
The PSLE oral exam assesses communication skills, including expressing personal opinions, ideas, and experiences. The conversation section carries 25 out of 40 marks for the English oral exam. Despite this, many students tend to provide general answers instead of specific personal experiences. For instance, when asked about a time they visited a hawker center, some students may respond with a general statement about enjoying hawker centers.
Paul Whiteway, founder of PSLEPrep, notes that children often learn to provide reasons but struggle to share specific personal experiences. He suggests that parents can ask simple questions like "when did that actually happen?" to encourage children to provide more detailed responses. The AI tool aims to provide students with more opportunities to practice speaking and receive feedback.
The analysis of practice sessions reveals that more than a quarter of all sessions took place in the four days leading up to the oral examinations, which began on August 12. The busiest hour for practice was 8 pm, suggesting that many students and parents utilize the AI tool for last-minute preparation. The tool provides immediate feedback and scores students' sessions.
PSLEPrep was founded by Paul Whiteway, a Singapore-based parent who created the AI tool to help his son practice spoken Mandarin at home. The tool offers a full PSLE oral practice session in either English or Chinese and provides feedback and scores. The company aims to supplement traditional teaching methods and provide students with additional practice opportunities.
The findings of the report are based on de-identified transcripts and aggregated data, ensuring that no individual student is identifiable. The full report is available on the PSLEPrep website, along with a chart that can be used for editorial purposes. The company plans to continue publishing findings and providing free study guides and resources for students.
Key points
- Four in ten English answers did not provide a personal example when asked.
- The PSLE oral exam assesses communication skills, including expressing personal opinions and experiences.
- The AI tool provides immediate feedback and scores students' sessions.
