2026 HSCS P1 Section A & B

1 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION (2026) SECONDARY FOUR EXPRESS/ NORMAL (ACADEMIC) OOS/ FIVE NORMAL (ACADEMIC) [Turn over Class: Index Number: Name: This question paper consists of 12 printed pages. 9 Pasir Ris Drive 6, Singapore 519421 Tel: 6582 7864 1184/01 13 August 2026 0800 – 0950 1 hour 50 minutes ENGLISH LANGUAGE Paper 1 Writing Candidates answer on the Question Paper. Additional materials: Insert READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your class, index number, and name on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. Answer Section A, Section B and one question from Section C. Write your answers in the spaces provided on the Question Paper. The Insert contains the text for Section B. The total number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the start of each section.

2 Section A [10 marks] Question 1 Carefully read the text below, consisting of 12 lines, about the history of chocolate. The first and last lines are correct. For eight of the lines, there is one grammatical error in each line. There are two more lines with no errors. If there is NO error in a line, put a tick ( ) in the space provided. If the line is incorrect, circle the incorrect word and write the correct word in the space provided. The correct word you provide must not change the original meaning of the sentence. Examples: I travelled to Kuala Lumpur on train. ………………………. My sister loves adventure films. ……….....…………… Chocolate has a long and fascinating history that began thousands of years ago in Central and South America. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs made the bitter 1 ………………… drink from ground cacao beans, water and spices. Cacao beans were so 2 ………………… valuable that they were even used for money. When Spanish explorers brought 3 ………………… cacao to Europe in the 16th century, people add sugar to make the drink 4 ………………… sweet and more enjoyable. It soon became popular among wealthy families 5 ………………… and was believed to have health benefits. At the Industrial Revolution, new 6 ………………… inventions made chocolate easier but cheaper to produce. In 1847, the first 7 ………………… modern chocolate bar was created. Following which, chocolate Easter eggs 8 ………………… became popular in England, with Fry's producing the first chocolate Easter egg 9 ………………… in 1873 and Cadbury followed in 1875. Today, chocolate is enjoyed worldwide in 10 ………………… many different forms and flavours, making it one of the world's favourite treats. by

3 [Turn over Section B [30 marks] You are advised to write between 250 and 350 words for this section. Question 2 You should look at the printout of a webpage in the Insert, read the information carefully and plan your answer before you begin to write. To develop students into confident and compassionate leaders, your school will be organising a 4 -day non-residential Student Leadership Camp during the June holidays. Three leadership pathways were considered and the Student Council has chosen one of the o ptions based on the school’s focus. As President of the Student Council, you will give a speech in a school assembly to persuade your schoolmates to sign up for the camp. Write your speech. In it you should: ● say which of the leadership pathways has been chosen and how it supports the school’s focus ● explain how the camp will help students develop leadership skills and values ● explain how the camp will prepare students to become effective leaders beyond their school years You may add any other details you think will be helpful. Write your speech in clear, accurate English and in a persuasive and enthusiastic tone to encourage your peers to sign up for the leadership camp. You should use your own words as much as possible. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5 [Turn over ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………