Source: O Level 2024 Paper 1 SW [1184-01]
Format: Speech. Remember to underline your headline.
Sample Essay
Celebration Plans for Bishan High School’s 50th Anniversary
Good morning Mdm Tan, Ms Ho, all teachers, and fellow schoolmates.
I am Sophie Lim, president of the student council. As we all know, Bishan High School will be celebrating our big 50th anniversary next year. Previously, we listed on the school website the ideas that we were considering for celebrating this feat. Students were also directed to an online poll to guide our decision-making. Having tabulated the results and considered all the feedback, I would like to announce that we have selected the School Open Day for the 50th anniversary celebration. This was immensely popular, accounting for 90 per cent of all the votes.
Voters expressed that an exhibition of the school’s history throughout the decades was the most suitable way to show how Bishan High School has evolved over the decades since its founding. There were even suggestions on what could be put on display, like old photos of the buildings, school uniforms, and video interviews with the longtime teachers here. Students also commented that the school open day was the best way for visitors to tour the school and engage with the event at their own pace. For instance, voters highlighted that the proposed school-run pop-up café was the best way for past students to catch up with their former teachers.
| In the first paragraph, explain the context behind why the decision was made. In a sense you do just a quick recap. Following that, in the second paragraph, take time to explain what students said in their feedback on this idea. Use the visual text to guide your ideas for this second part. |
To facilitate the smooth running of this event, the Student Council and teachers would like to appeal for your support for this event. We are looking for students to fill a range of roles. First, we need guides to escort visitor groups around the school campus and manage crowd movement, especially in areas like the wall mural and IT fair. We will also need students who are proficient in cooking, and able to handle hectic settings, to help with preparing the special dishes at the school-run café. These students will need to attend a mandatory food safety course as they are responsible for preparing food for consumption by others.
| A common pitfall I saw was students spelling out what each individual level had to do in GREAT detail. Instead, give a very, very condensed overview on what is needed. Very detailed execution details are not required – in a real-life setting, it is not practical to cover this in a mass speech addressed to a couple hundred people. |
Over fifty years, Bishan High School has changed the lives of students that walk through its gates. This is no mean feat, and is truly a testament to the dedication displayed by the school staff, and the responsibility that we students uphold. Let us show the visitors why Bishan High School has gone from strength to strength for the last fifty years to get to where we are today, and show them how we will carry the flame forward for another fifty! Thank you!
| This last paragraph wraps up your speech, explaining why celebrating this anniversary is important for the school. |