PSLE English Visual Text Comprehension: 2 Golden Questions to Ask Every Time
- Hess Academy
- May 20
- 3 min read
The Visual Text Comprehension section of the PSLE English Paper 2 may seem simple at first glance—it's just a poster, flyer or advertisement after all.
But here’s the truth: this section often trips students up not because of difficult vocabulary, but because they fail to understand the purpose and audience behind the text.
To help your child decode these questions more effectively, teach them this rule of thumb:
Always ask: “What is the purpose of this text?” and “Who is the intended audience?”
These two questions unlock the implied meaning behind the visual elements and written language—and help students avoid careless mistakes.
What Is Visual Text Comprehension in PSLE English?
In PSLE English, the Visual Text Comprehension component tests a student’s ability to read, understand, and infer information from:
Posters
Flyers
Notices
Digital advertisements
Event invitations
Students must identify explicit facts (e.g., date, time, venue), and more importantly, interpret tone, intention, and targeted audience—skills that are vital not just for the exam, but for real-life media literacy. It is important to note the change in PSLE Visual Text Comprehension format in the latest 2025 PSLE Syllabus.
💡 Golden Question 1: “What is the purpose of this text?”
The purpose of the text reveals why the poster or flyer was created.
It could be to:
Persuade (e.g., Join our holiday camp!)
Inform (e.g., New library opening hours)
Promote (e.g., Buy 1 Get 1 Free!)
🚫 Many students fall into the trap of paraphrasing surface details. For example, they may answer, “The purpose is to talk about the book fair,” when the better answer is, “To encourage students to attend the book fair.”
✅ Teach your child to ask:
“What does the creator want the reader to do after reading this?”If there’s a call to action like “Sign up now!” or “Don’t miss out!”—it’s persuasive or promotional.
💡 Golden Question 2: “Who is the intended audience?”
Understanding who the message is meant for helps students pick the most relevant answers, especially in inference questions.
Clues to look for:
Phrases like “Dear parents” or “Attention students”
Activities or events that relate to a specific age group or interest
Visual cues such as cartoon designs (for children) vs. formal layout (for adults)
✅ Guide your child to ask:
“Who would benefit most from this information?”
For example, a flyer that advertises a coding camp with cartoon characters and phrases like “Learn through games!” is clearly aimed at primary school students, not adults.
Common PSLE English Visual Text MCQ Traps to Avoid
🚩 Trap 1: Picking a True-but-irrelevant Answer
Some choices may be factually correct, but not answer the question.
Strategy: Match your answer back to the question's focus—is it asking about purpose, tone, or detail?
🚩 Trap 2: Choosing Based on Design Alone
The colours or layout may seem exciting, but don’t base your answer on visuals alone.
Strategy: Combine what you see with what you read.
✏️ Practice Example
Sample Poster Title:
“Join Our Eco-Warrior Challenge! Open to students aged 10–12.”
Question:
What is the main purpose of this poster?
A. To inform students about recycling B. To encourage students to join the Eco-Warrior Challenge C. To explain how pollution harms the Earth D. To tell parents about climate change
✅ The key purpose is to get students involved in the challenge—so B is the best choice.
📚 Final Tips for PSLE English Visual Text Comprehension!
To support your child:
📌 Review one poster or flyer each week Ask your child the 2 golden questions:
What is the purpose of this text?
Who is the intended audience?
🖊️ Spot persuasive language and calls to action
Guide them to identify how the writer tries to influence the reader.
🎯 Practise identifying tone and audience
Discuss how word choice, images, and layout reflect intent and emotion.
These simple weekly habits can help your child become a sharper, more confident reader.
Review one poster/flyer a week and ask them the 2 golden questions
Highlight persuasive language and calls to action
Practise identifying tone and audience based on both words and design
Our PSLE English programmes equip students with targeted strategies for Visual Text Comprehension—empowering students to:
Read between the lines
Spot tricky distractors
Answer with precision and confidence
🔍Ready to level up your child’s English skills?
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