Why Students Struggle with Chinese Comprehension – and How to Overcome It
Many parents in Singapore find that even if their child speaks Mandarin at home or performs well in Chinese composition writing, they often struggle with Chinese comprehension in school exams. This is especially common in PSLE Chinese and O-Level Chinese tuition.
Why is comprehension such a hurdle? The answer lies in the complexity of the skill—it requires not just language knowledge, but also inference, interpretation, and structured answering techniques.
In this article, we explore the reasons students struggle with comprehension and how effective strategies, practice, and targeted Chinese tuition in Singapore—like what we offer at Xuelin Learning Hub—can turn it into a scoring section.
1. Reason #1: Limited Vocabulary and Character Recognition
✅ The Problem:
Students who cannot recognise enough characters struggle to understand the passage, let alone answer questions.
✅ The Solution:
-
Build vocabulary with daily revision and reading
-
Use flashcards, apps (like Quizlet or Pleco), and phrase books
-
Group words by theme (e.g., school, food, emotions)
At Xuelin, we provide weekly vocabulary lists tailored to each passage type used in class.
2. Reason #2: Poor Understanding of Sentence Structures
✅ The Problem:
Chinese sentence structures are different from English. Students misinterpret meanings when they read word-by-word without grasping the full context.
✅ The Solution:
-
Learn to read in phrases, not isolated characters
-
Practise paraphrasing sentences aloud in your own words
-
Focus on signal words like 因为, 所以, 虽然, 但是
We reinforce this in our Chinese enrichment classes, especially for lower primary and beginner learners.
3. Reason #3: Weak Inference and Interpretation Skills
✅ The Problem:
Many questions don’t ask for direct answers from the text. Students must infer the meaning or emotion behind a sentence.
✅ The Solution:
-
Practise questions that test “作者的用意” (author’s intent) or “你认为…”
-
Teach techniques like highlighting keywords, eliminating wrong options, and looking for clues before/after the line
-
Use the 3-step technique: Find → Understand → Express
We teach this framework consistently in our Chinese comprehension classes at Xuelin Learning Hub.
4. Reason #4: Misreading the Questions
✅ The Problem:
Students lose marks not because they don’t know the answer—but because they misinterpret what the question is asking.
✅ The Solution:
-
Teach students to underline question types: “为什么”, “怎样”, “根据第几段”
-
Practise rewriting the question in their own words
-
Emphasise answering in complete, structured sentences
This skill is trained weekly using past-year school papers in our best Chinese tuition programmes.
5. Reason #5: Copying Answers Directly from the Passage
✅ The Problem:
Students often lift entire lines from the passage, hoping it contains the answer. But examiners want answers expressed in the student’s own words (作答须用自己的话).
✅ The Solution:
-
Teach rephrasing techniques
-
Provide model answers for comparison
-
Use “Before & After” drills: original line → student version → refined version
We include rephrasing practice in our Chinese tuition for beginners all the way through to advanced levels.
6. Reason #6: Weak Time Management During Exams
✅ The Problem:
Students spend too long reading or get stuck on a tough question, leaving the rest incomplete.
✅ The Solution:
-
Teach timed practice: read in 5–6 minutes, answer in 25
-
Use scanning and skimming strategies
-
Practise identifying main ideas quickly
Our timed mock comprehension practices help students develop speed and accuracy.
7. Reason #7: Lack of Exposure to Different Passage Types
✅ The Problem:
Students are thrown off by unfamiliar topics—e.g., science fiction, historical stories, argumentative articles.
✅ The Solution:
-
Expose students to various passage types regularly
-
Teach how to identify the passage’s tone and purpose
-
Build general knowledge to aid understanding
At Xuelin Learning Hub, we rotate passage themes weekly to build adaptability.
8. Reason #8: Fear and Mental Block
✅ The Problem:
Comprehension has a reputation for being “the hardest part,” which causes students to panic and second-guess.
✅ The Solution:
-
Create a checklist of answering steps
-
Build confidence through regular low-stakes practice
-
Celebrate small wins (e.g., “Today I answered 4/5 correctly!”)
Our nurturing approach ensures students feel supported—not pressured—through their comprehension learning.
Conclusion
Chinese comprehension isn’t just about understanding words—it’s about thinking critically in Mandarin. With the right skills, consistent exposure, and expert guidance, students can master it and turn it into a scoring advantage.
At Xuelin Learning Hub, we use proven techniques, targeted materials, and structured lesson plans to help students overcome comprehension challenges—at every level.
Don’t let comprehension remain the weakest link. With proper training, it can become your child’s strength.
