MUET is t he acronym for Malaysian University English Test, put into place in 1999 by Malaysian Examination Council (MEC), based in Selayang, Selangor. The paper contains four main parts, catering for all much needed communicative skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Since its inception 15 years ago, a number of changes and tweaks had taken place to ensure MUET is kept relevant to the needs of the academia and industries.
In 2008, severa l big changes swept through the constructions of the subject that affects Listening, Reading and Writing. Gone are MCQ-based listening questions, so was summary and also long texts with fewer questions. In their places now are what we all see today which have stayed unchanged since the big sweep in 2008.
In February 2011, another big change took place - prior to that year, MUET exams only took place, in twice, July and November. But since that year, MUET exams can be taken thrice yearly; March, July and November.
It is interesting to note that today, MUET is the only public exam in school which charges RM100 (correct at the time of writing) per sitting in contrast with all the other free public exams.
To a number of universities, MUET band requirements are of utmost importance as the entry requirement for certain courses. For example, a minimum of band 4 is required for Law and Medicine courses, while other universities, exit requirements.
Which means, a student needs to achieve the min mum prof iciency band needed for the course before they can graduate. Hence, MUET exam can be considered as an integral part of any self-respecting Form 6, pre-university or university student.
Today, MUET plays a very important role as a yardstick to gauge the level of English proficiency among students and employers use MUET results to determine their future employee"s ability to communicate effectively in English.
Now let's look at the four papers in MUET that every candidate will sit for. In general, Speaking paper will be held ahead of Listening, Reading and Writing papers by about three weeks.
Listening (800/1)
This paper assess the ability to comprehend various types of oral text of varying length and level of complexity (content and language)
The following areas are tested: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation. Some of the possible genres are lecture, talk, discussion and news.
The format of the question includes MCQ, fill in the blanks and sentence completions.
Speaking (800/2)
This paper assess the ability to make individual presentations (2 minutes) and take part in group discussion (typically 10 minutes) on a wide range of contemporary issues.
The following areas are tested: accuracy,f luency, appropriacy, coherence and cohesion, use of language functions, managing a discussion and task fulfilment. Some of the possible issues are economy, education or health.
The format of the paper includes individual presentations and then group discussion.
Reading (800/3)
This paper assess the ability to comprehend various types of text of varying length and level of complexity (content and language).
The following areas are tested: comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Some possible genres are articles from journals, academic or literature texts.
The format of the questions includes six articles with 7 or 8 questions each (True/False/ Not stated and the standard higher order thinking MCQ questions). Most of the articles are written by native speakers of English with varying content and language complexity.
Writing (800/4)
This paper assess the ability to write various types of text covering a range of rhetorical styles.
The following areas are tested:
- accuracy
- appropriacy
- coherence and cohesion
- use of language functions
- task fulfilment.
The genres are report (question 1) and essay (question 2). The format of question 1 (report) is making analysis and sy nt hesis based on the data given (in the form of table, chart or graphs) all within 200 words and question 2 (essay) is writing an opinion-based essay or argumentative essay.
The Scoring Guide
Here's a quick scoring guide from Band 1 to 6
Aggregated Score Band The User is a.....
260-300 6 highly proficient user
220-259 5 proficient user
180-219 4 satisfactory user
140-179 3 modest user
100-139 2 limited user
below 1 very limited 100 user
Let's take a look how each paper contributes to the aggregated score (in percentage)
Listening - 15%
Speaking - 15%
Reading - 40%
Writing - 30%
In short, Reading paper contributes the biggest percentage towards the 300 score. However, as many candidates who have ta ken t he exam would attest, this paper is probably the most difficult paper to face due to two main factors.
One, the articles are written by native speakers, hence some language expressions, sentence structures and word choices are not very familiar to our candidates. And two, 45 questions with 7 or 8 articles prove a challenge to be completed within 90 minutes since this only give an average of 2 minutes or less for each question to be attempted not including reading the texts. As a result, some candidates give up halfway through the paper.
Well, I think I'll stop here for now. See you in the next pull out. Remember: Practice makes perfect!
KUALA LUMPUR: From this year, Form Three students would be tested via Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3 or Form 3 Assessment) which replaces the Penilaian Menengah Rendah.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said PT3 would be held at the school level.
"This means there is no centralised examination for Form Three students as in previous years," he told reporters when announcing the changes made to the school-based assessment (PBS) after a meeting with teaching unions.
The PMR, which was introduced in 1993 to replace the Sijil Rendah Pelajaran examination, was held for the last time in 2013. The PBS system was introduced in primary schools, starting with Year One pupils in 2011 and in secondary schools with Form One students in 2012.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said students would be assessed via written and oral tests for Bahasa Melayu and English.
Science, Mathematics, Islamic Studies, Living Skills, Arabic, Chinese, Tamil, Iban and Kadazanusun would be assessed via a written test while History and Geography would be assessed via assignments, practical tests, projects, field study and case studies. The written tests would be held in October while History and Geography would be assessed throughout the year.
Muhyiddin stressed that schools would administer, assess and score the assessments based on standardised guidelines prepared by the Education Ministry's Examinations Syndicate.
"The Examinations Syndicate will prepare questions with different levels of difficulty from easy, moderate to hard and place them in a question bank. Schools can then choose these questions and use them when they are assessing the students via the written tests," he said.
He said the syndicate would monitor schools to ensure they chose the questions which reflected the levels of difficulty and that no school chose questions that were all considered easy.
Unlike in previous years when the ministry would announce the results of the PMR in November, Muhyiddin said it was up to the individual schools to decide when to release the results of the PT3.
He said the Examinations Syndicate and a team of outside assessors would moderate and verify the results.
"This is to ensure there is consistency among marks given while verification is to ensure students get the marks they deserve," he said.
Muhyiddin said students and their parents could approach the schools to see their performance in the PT3 and to obtain a results slip, which would be used for entry to Form Four as well as for applications into fully residential schools, religious secondary schools, Mara Junior Science College, technical secondary schools and vocational colleges.
Psychometric tests, he added, would also be used for entry into the residential schools to ensure students are placed according to their interests and capability. - The Star Online
STPM 2013: 53,422 pass, eight obtain 5As
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 53,422 or 96.75 per cent of the candidates scored a full pass in at least one subject in last year's Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination, compared to 47,910 or 92.67 per cent in 2012.
Malaysian Examination Council (MEC) chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin said, of the total, 1,898 candidates or 3.44 percent passed all five subjects, 32,763 candidates (59.34 percent) passed four subjects, 9,717 candidates (17.60 percent) passed three subjects, 5,234 candidates (9.48 percent) passed two subjects and 3,810 candidates (6.90 percent) passed only one subject.
"The number of candidates who scored full passes in five and four subjects increased by 10,155 to 34,661 last year from only 24,506 in the previous year," he said when announcing the 2013 STPM results here on Wednesday.
He said, in general, the performance of candidates last year was better compared to the previous year, in which the national Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) rose to 2.55 from 2.24 in 2012.
A total of 492 candidates obtained a CGPA of 4.00 last year compared to 442 candidates in 2012.
Mohd Noh said the number of candidates who obtained A in all subjects had increased to 497 from 450 candidates the year before, but only eight obtained 5As last year compared to 18 in 2012.
From the aspect of school performance, he said the number of candidates in government schools who obtained full passes in five and four subjects had also increased to 34,318 from 23,698 in 2012.
Ten subjects recorded better pass rate, namely Communicative Malay Literature (19.87 percent), Usuluddin (18.53 percent), Sport Sciences (17.45 percent), Business Studies (16.87 percent), Arabic Language (16.89 percent), History (15.69 percent), Mathematics M (15.27 percent), Accounting (13.32 percent), Syariah (12.36 percent) and Bahasa Malaysia (12.04 percent).
Meanwhile, two subjects recorded relatively small changes in their pass rates, namely Literature in English (+1.04 percent) and Physics (-0.59 percent), compared to SPTM 2012.
The performance of candidates in Further Mathematics showed the lowest decline at -28.57 percent as only seven candidates sat for the paper last year, despite the fact that 11 candidates registered.
Mohd Noh said the gap between the performance of urban and rural candidates remained significant as with 1,189 urban candidates obtained 5As, 4As and 3As compared to only 156 rural candidates.
"A total of 473 or 12.23 per cent urban science stream candidates scored 5As, 4As and 3As compared with only 14 (0.51 per cent) for rural candidates, while for the urban art stream, 716 candidates (10.02 per cent) obtained 3As and above compared to 142 (1.99 per cent) rural candidates," he said.
A total of 55,214 candidates sat for the examination last year, compared to 51,697 candidates in 2012.
On the performance of 72,101 students in the November 2013 session of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), Mohd Noh said 33.15 per cent of the candidates had obtained Band 3 or better, as compared to 28.52 per cent recorded in the July session last year.
In SEREMBAN, State Education Director Datuk Kalsom Khalid said 20 students obtained a CGPA of 4.00 in their STPM examination last year.
She said they comprised five science stream candidates and 15 art stream candidates.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, State Education deputy director Hashim Mohd Zin said, overall, the last year's STPM result for candidates in Terengganu was better than the year before.
"The number of candidates who scored full passes in four subjects last year had also increased by 17.07 per cent to 1,757 candidates or 58.53 per cent compared to 1,236 candidates in the previous year," he told reporters.
In MELAKA, 940 or 61.56 per cent of the candidates in the state managed to score full passes in four subjects last year, an increase of 9.5 per cent from the previous year's result.
State Education director Md Rashid Hussin said 1,505 candidates scored a full pass in at least one subject last year, compared to 1,198 candidates in 2012.
In KUANTAN, the performance of candidates in last year's STPM examination in Pahang also saw an improvement in terms of the pass rate.
State Education director Rosdi Ismail said a total of 2,893 or 97.97 per cent of the candidates obtained full passes in at least one subject.
In PENANG, 61 out of 3,208 candidates in government schools in the state obtained a CGPA of 4.00.
Penang Education director Datuk Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin said the number was an increase of 0.06 per cent from the previous year's result, which saw 42 candidates obtained a CGPA of 4.00.
"Fourteen schools in the state also achieved a 100 per cent pas rate as all of their candidates obtained full passes in all subjects," he told a press conference.
In KOTA BAHARU, 23 schools scored a 100 per cent pass rate, with 15 candidates named as Best Students for STPM 2013, compared to only four candidates in 2012.
Each of the 15 students scored an A in all subjects and obtained a CGPA of 4.00, said the State Education director Hussain Awang.
In IPOH, 69 out of 5,276 candidates in government schools in Perak managed to get full passes in at least one subject in last year's STPM examination.
Acting State Education director Mohd Idris Mohd Ramli said it was an increase of 0.09 per cent from the previous year's result of 51 candidates.
In JOHOR BAHARU, State Education deputy director Hasidin Zaini said 70 candidates in the state obtained a CGPA of 4.00 in last year's STPM examination.
Thirty-eight of them were science stream candidates, while the remaining were art stream candidates.
In KANGAR, Perlis Education director Dun Kasa said the performance of candidates in last year's STPM examination had improved compared to 2012.
He said 618 or 96.71 per cent of the candidates scored full passes in at least one subject, a 0.89 per cent increase from the previous year's percentage of 95.82 per cent.
In ALOR SETAR, 3,983 or 98.22 per cent of candidates in the state scored full passes in at least one subject in the STPM examination last year compared to 3,431 candidates or 93.79 per cent in 2012.
State Education director Datuk Mansor Lat said 33 schools also obtained 100 per cent pass rate, including 17 schools in rural areas.
In KUCHING, 39 out of 6,142 candidates in government schools excelled in last year's STPM examination as they obtained a CGPA of 4.00, compared to only 20 candidates in 2012's examination.
State Education director Datuk Abdillah Adam said a total of 1,360 candidates obtained a CGPA of 3.00 and above compared to 981 candidates in the previous year.
In KOTA KINABALU, 35 schools in Sabah achieved a 100 per cent pass rate with 15 of the candidates obtained a CGPA of 4.00.
Sabah Education director Datuk Jame Alip said 7,213 or 95.98 per cent of last year's candidates also obtained full passes in at least one subject.
Meanwhile, Labuan Education director Mistirine Radin said of the 199 candidates who sat for the examination in Labuan last year, 155 obtained full passes in at least one subject, compared to only 84 candidates in the year before.
In SHAH ALAM, Selangor Education director Datuk Mahmud Karim said 96.53 per cent of the 5,749 candidates in the state scored full passes in at least one subject in last year's STPM.
He said it was an increase of 1.68 per cent from the previous year's result.
Ninety-nine of the candidates obtained full passes in all five subjects.
"For 2013 STPM, there is one candidate who scored 5As, while 59 others scored 4As with a CGPA of 4.00," he told Bernama here.
The said the state CGPA was also increased to 2.52 from 2.35 recorded in the year before.
Mahmud said five schools were also named Best Schools for STPM 2013, namely Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah; Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (SMJK) Katholik, Petaling Jaya; SMJK Yoke Kuan, Sekinchan; SMK Kepong; and SMK Batu 8, Puchong. - Astro Awani
13,970 Students Obtain Grade A In All Subjects In SPM 2013 Exam
PUTRAJAYA, March 20 (Bernama) -- A total of 13,970 candidates obtained grade A (distinction) in all the subjects they sat for in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination last year compared to 13,720 in 2012, an increase of 0.05 per cent.
Education director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said the number of candidates from Education Ministry schools scoring Grade A in all subjects also increased from 11,648 in 2012 to 11,892 last year while that of non-government schools rose from 2,072 to 2,078.
A total of 405 candidates, including 366 from schools under the ministry scored Grade A+ (super distinction) in all the subjects, he told a news conference when announcing the analysis of the SPM results here Thursday.
He said 442,588 candidates for the examination last year.
He said 883 of the candidates were students with special needs, including those having visual or hearing impairments.
Eight of them scored at least Grade A- (distinction) in all subjects, thus proving that all candidates regardless of their background have the opportunity to excel in the SPM, he added.
Khair said the overall performance of the candidates in 2013 was better that that of the previous year based on the National Average Grade (GPN).
"SPM 2013 candidates scored GPN of 4.93 points compared with 5.08 in 2012, an improvement of 0.15 points. A smaller GPN indicates better results," he said.
"He said urban candidates also fared better by scoring GPN of 4.68 points in 2013 compared with 4.83 in 2013, an improvement of 0.15 points.
Khair said better results were registered in six of the seven core subjects, namely Bahasa Melayu, English Language, Islamic Studies, Moral Education, History and Science.
However, the Mathematics results declined by 0.08 point from GPN of 4.91 in 2012 to 4.99 points in 2013, he added.
For elective subjects, he said a better performance was recorded in 55 out of 101 subjects, including Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Additional Science, and Applied Science.
He said starting last year, History was made a compulsory subject to pass in the SPM, apart from Bahasa Melayu.
"A total of 378,490 candidates from Education Ministry and non-ministry schools qualified for SPM 2013 certificates compared to 402,859 candidates in 2012," he said.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur education director Abdullah Mad Yunus said 994 candidates in the capital scored distinction in all subjects.
"A total of 12,823 (64.48 per cent) of the candidates passed all subjects while 126 (0.63%) failed in all subjects," he said.
In SEREMBAN, State education director Datuk Kalsom Khalid said 27 government school candidates in Negeri Sembilan obtained Grade A+ (super distinction) in all subjects.
"A total of 693 candidates (3.93 per cent) scored Grades A+, A and A- in all subjects," she said.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, State education director Zakaria Hussin said the SPM 2013 results were Terengganu's best ever results in 10 years based on the Average Grade.
"The State Average Grade improved by 0.11 to 4.90 compared to 5.01 the previous year, surpassing the National Average Grade at 4.93. Five out of 22,480 candidates scored Grade A+," he said.
In IPOH, Perak acting education director Mohd Idris Mohd Ramli said the State Average Grade's achievement in SPM 2013 was the best in five years and 43,288 candidates sat for the examination.
"Based on the GPN, the gap between rural and urban candidates had been narrowed by 0.41 points with rural candidates scoring 5.34 against urban candidates at 4.93," he said.
In KUANTAN, 401 candidates in Pahang obtained Grade A in all subjects last year compared to 413 the previous year, a reduction of 0.32 per cent.
Pahang education deputy director Rashidah Mat Aris said 18,596 of 24,753 were qualified to get certificates last year, a drop of 7.22 per cent from the previous year.
In MELAKA, State education director Md Rashid Hussin said six students scored Grade A+ (super distinction) for all subjects last year, a drop of 15 from 2012.
"The percentage of students qualified to obtain certificates were 11,913 out of 13,650 candidates, decreased by 5.9 per cent compared to the previous year," he said.
In GEORGE TOWN, Penang education director Datuk Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin said the state's GPN rose to 4.73 last year from 4.87 in 2012.
In KOTA BHARU, 24 schools, including four government-aided religious schools recorded 100 per cent passes last year compared to 21 school in 2012.
Kelantan education director Hussain Awang said the number of outstanding schools in 2013 remained at six.
In KANGAR, Perlis education director Dun Kasa said the state's average grade improved to 5.26 points last year from 5.46 the previous year.
In JOHOR BAHRU, State deputy education director Hasidin Zaini said the state average grade also improved by registering 4.87 points last year from 4.99 the previous year.
"A total of 1,582 government school candidates obtained Grade A in all subjects last year compared to 1,391 the previous year, an increase of 0.30 per cent," he said.
In SHAH ALAM, Selangor education Datuk Mahmud Karim said 2,606 of 71,801 candidates scored distinction in all subjects last year compared with 2,616 in 2012.
He said 78 of them obtained Grade A+ (super distinction) in all subjects compared to 99 the previous year.
In ALOR SETAR, Kedah education director Datuk Mansor Lat said the state's GPN improved by 0.19 points to 5.04 while 662 of 32,881 government school students scored Grade A in all subjects last year compared to 690 in 2012, a drop of 0.10 per cent.
In KUCHING, Sarawak's GPN at 5.31 last year was the best in 10 years.
State education director Datuk Abdillah Adam said 41 candidates obtained Grade A+ (super distinction) in all subjects last year.
In KOTA KINABALU, state education director Datuk Jame Alip said the state's SPM results last year at GPN of 5.30 was the best in five years.
He said Sekolah Menengah Agama Kota Kinabalu registered stunning results with 376 candidates getting Grade A in all subjects last year compared to 199 in 2012.
In LABUAN, 44 candidates in Labuan scored Grade A in all subjects last year compared with 19 in 2012.
Labuan education director Mistirine Radin said the number of candidates qualified to receive certificates decreased by 9.75 per cent. - Bernama
