MUET my way...: Here's a sample model answer for the lastest ...

Posted: 28 Apr 2010 12:26 AM PDT

MUET WRITING PAPER 800/4 QUESTION 2

The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and Short message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write at least 350 words.

Generally, in answering academic essays, you need to really focus on a higher level of thinking which befits a Band 6, university style response. If you were to just answer that this electronic communication trend is good and that you can chat with your friends and keep in touch, then you really haven't explored the question in a mature and critical way.

How do you train your mind to be more critical and mature in approaching the question? Well, you need to focus not just on the effects of the concept to yourself and the people around you, but focus on how it will affect society not just in your country but globally.

Anyway, have a read of the sample answer below. Take note that I'm sticking to my writing template, but better students can use a more creative style to show their flair in writing effective compositions.

Everywhere we turn today, the world is crowded with people busy typing SMSes on their Nokias or iPhones or someone is staring unblinkingly at a Facebook or Yahoo page on the computer screen. Whether you like it or not, the age of Information Technology is upon us, and we can either learn new skills and adapt to this new technology, or be forever lost and stuck in the older generation. In my opinion, I am fully convinced that this growing trend is the way of the future, and it brings countless benefits to mankind. In this essay, I will discuss three positive effects of electronic communication, namely its efficiency, enhances communication and creates a borderless world community.

First and foremost, more and more people are relying on e-mail, Facebook, Short Message System (SMS) and other types of electronic communication tools because of its high efficiency. This is because in today's age of globalisation, we need information at the tip of our fingers. Moreover, with the use of these tools, we can increase the speed of getting the necessary and relevant information within seconds and this will increase our productivity. For example, gone are the days of using 'snail mail' or regular letters using stamps and envelopes and many more examples of 'old' technology because it is simply too slow and inefficient. Therefore, these e-communication tools increases the access to important information which is why the new generation is fully accepting this growing trend.

Secondly, this form of technology enhances communication among people today. This means that when we use SMS, e-mails and websites like Facebook, we are able to communicate clearly and directly to our target audience. Furthermore, people today find that the message is more important than the form it comes in as an e-mail in short but clear sentences is just as good or even better than a long and formal letter. For instance, an SMS can give clear instructions in just a few words and this communicates what needs to be done quickly and directly. Thus, when the intended message can be spread clearly using short and clear information like in SMSes and emails, communication can be enhanced and there will be less problems of miscommunication.

Last but not least, e-communication creates a borderless community in the world we live in today. This is due to the fact that the boundaries that separate each country becomes less relevant when information is transferred without limitations. In addition, the world would be a better place because there is a sense of 1-World commitment, respect and tolerance for the global community through efficient and clear e-communication. Take for example, we are able to connect with people on an international basis using Facebook, Friendster, Tagged, Hotmail, Yahoo and others. Hence, these tools will enhance global unity and create a more peaceful world.

In a nutshell, this growing trend has many positive effects not just to individuals but the global society in terms of efficiency, enhancing communicative skills and shaping a borderless community. In my opinion, I still firmly believe that this latest trend is the best way forward and if we do not catch up, we will be left behind by the tide of development. Our government can encourage the proper usage of electronic communications by increasing communication amenities and broadband accessibility especially in rural areas so that they can enjoy the same facilities as city-folks therefore balancing the development of our country towards achieving Vision 2020.

So what do you guys think? Please give me some feedback. ;-)

MUET my way...: Sample MUET Report Writing Q1 800/4 - Blog Muet

MUET my way...: Sample MUET Report Writing Q1 800/4

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 09:40 PM PDT

Here are just 2 samples of different bands answers for an actual MUET report writing question. I don't claim to know the perfect answer because English is so diverse, but suffice to say a better command of vocabulary and sentence structures will garner higher marks.

MUET my way...: MUET Speaking question June 2015 - Blog Muet

MUET my way...: MUET Speaking question June 2015

Posted: 15 Jun 2015 07:35 PM PDT

Hi, all. My students are taking this year's MUET, mid year paper. Here is an update of the questions that came out. I am using my own words as I only got feedback from the students so it is not verbatim. Anyway, as long as you get the gist, it will help you prepare better because you can gauge the level of questions and ignore topics below for they seldom repeat questions in the same set.

Set 1
Task A:
Discuss ways to ensure the success of a group project.
Candidate A: Choose the right team
Candidate B: Distribute the work equally
Candidate C: Set a realistic plan
Candidate D: Have good teamwork among members.
Task B:
Discuss which of the ways can best ensure the success of a group project.

Set 2
Task A:
Discuss television programmes that are useful in our daily lives.
Candidate A: Television programmes on travelling
Candidate B: Television programmes on cooking
Candidate C: Television programmes on health issues
Candidate D: Television programmes on current issues
Task B:
Discuss which type of television programmes are the most useful in our daily lives.

Set 3
Task A:
Discuss effective resolutions for water shortages.
Candidate A: Water rationing
Candidate B: Other sources
Candidate C: Water bill tariff
Candidate D: Educate people
Task B:
Discuss which of the resolutions for water shortages is the most effective.

Set 4
Task A:
Discuss the best reasons why people should grow their own fruits and vegetables.
Candidate A: Good for the family budget
Candidate B: Good for the environment
Candidate C: Good for health
Candidate D: Good for making use of available land
Task B:
Discuss which is the best reason why people should grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Set 5
Task A:
Discuss characteristics that make people happy.
Candidate A: Be grateful
Candidate B: Have a positive outlook
Candidate C: Have a good relationship with others
Candidate D: Have a goal
Task B:
Discuss which of the characteristics above will most likely make people happy.

Set 6
Task A:
Discuss ways to overcome tiredness.
Candidate A: Have a good sleep and rest
Candidate B: Have a balance between work and play
Candidate C: Have healthy eating habits
Candidate D: Exercise regularly
Task B:
Discuss which is the best way to overcome tiredness.

Set 7
Task A:
Discuss sectors or industries that have the best job scope.
Candidate A: Agriculture sector
Candidate B: Business sector
Candidate C: Manufacturing industry
Candidate D: Entertainment industry
Task B:
Discuss which of the sectors or industries above has the best job scope.

(TO BE UPDATED, WORK IN PROGRESS)

How to Score MUET (Malaysian University English Test) | Malaysia ... - Blog MUET

How to Score MUET (Malaysian University English Test) | Malaysia ...

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 02:16 AM PST

Written by Suzanne Ong

Panduan MUET

Before I get to the point of this article, you should know that Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is basically an English proficiency test which means you have to work on being good at the language altogether to actually get good results. In my own experience, I've come to realize that usually English speakers—as in those who speak English at home or with friends—are the ones who obtain a Band 4 or Band 5. MUET Band 6 is near impossible to obtain and the rest fall under Band 3 or less. Circumstances may vary according to the questions given, but note that having a good hold of the language should be your main focus, the questions come in later.

The first thing you need to know about English is that it's not a memorizing subject, rather it's more of a skill that you acquire through lots of practice. It's like learning Math or taking up a new instrument, you cannot be good at it right away; you need to practice before getting it right, unless if you're naturally gifted which I think most of us aren't.

1. MUET Writing
If you're the type of person who thinks that reading the dictionary could help hone your English, then that's where you've got it wrong. Read these 2 sentences:

I am not mind you nitpicking of my grammar mistakes.
I wouldn't mind if you nitpicked on my grammar mistakes.

See, even if you understand a bombastic word and fairly know how to use it, it still doesn't equate into having a good grasp of English if your grammar is all over the place. Grammar always comes first and once you've mastered that, then you could go ahead and memorize all those fancy schmancy words to make yourself look smarter. Simple grammar rules like tenses and when to put an S after a word and when not to, all those require practice. I suggest you pick up an exercise workbook on grammar and practice on it, but don't stop there. You will also need to start reading more English materials, any English materials really, as long as they're grammatically correct. The main thing is to read how the article is written as opposed to what it is written. The more you take notice on how they write, you'll slowly get used to the grammar being used.

You cannot just read without writing though, because like I said, English is a skill and you need to practice. Therefore, you should always write and have someone with better English to have a look at it and tell you where you went wrong. Only then you could really improve on your Writing. It takes time, so be patient.

2. MUET Speaking
When you converse in English, sometimes it's different from written English, because written form could be a little formal sometimes. To improve on Speaking, you have to watch more English shows, be it dramas or movies, it really doesn't matter as long as it captures your attention. Having subtitles in your preferred language would be good as it gives you a better understanding as to what the show is talking about. Similar to what I've mentioned earlier, you should notice the words people use when they speak, more so than what they're actually saying. After a while, you would notice a similar pattern from the way they talk and it's totally different from the way we speak our "rojak" English here in Malaysia. Obviously you shouldn't use words like lah, mah, wah, ah, etc in your Speaking.

If you don't usually speak English with your friends, pick out one friend that is good at English and ask him to speak the language with you. It would be awkward at first for the both of you, but if you're determined and if your friend is really willing to help, you will get through the awkwardness and after a while you could really see the improvement. My friend did that and at first she couldn't really speak a proper sentence, but she wasn't embarrassed to ask and learn even if she might've embarrassed herself through the process. She worked hard and after a few months, she really did improve compared to the first time she started speaking English.

3. MUET Reading
Even though it is a multiple choice paper, Reading is tough regardless. If you've tried out questions from exercise books and past year MUET papers, then you would have noticed the difference between the two. For Reading, I suggest you try out lots of different exercises—the tougher the better—and try to learn from your mistakes. See where you've analyzed wrongly and learn from that.

For the first ever Reading paper I did, I think I got less than half correct because I was looking at the questions the wrong way. After learning my mistake, I've improved to getting more than half correct almost every time. Of course you need to read more to familiarize yourself with the type of formal writing (from my experience, they mostly give data questions so most of them are written formally) as it is different from informal or narrative writing, which I find easier to understand.

4. MUET Listening
Listening to me, I find to be the easiest among all 4 papers, though I think those who aren't familiar with English would find it to be a challenge. Watching movies or TV shows could help in Listening too (and not just for Speaking), so does listening to the radio or watching videos online that is English. You need to train your ear to differentiate certain words that might sound similar to the other, like soap and soup, hard work and hardwood. You have to pay close attention to the whole sentence rather than just that word that you think might be the answer. I think the only way to differentiate words is to know what the person is talking about and if it makes sense.

The audio can be a jerk sometimes (which happened to me during my actual exams) so you really have to train yourself to listen carefully. They play the audio twice so what I normally do is to write down the answer with a pencil first, sometimes I even write down 2 or 3 answers when I'm not sure, then when they play it the second time, I write it down with my pen.

Another thing I think you should know about MUET is that the questions sometimes test your general knowledge. Not like what is currently happening in the news, more like stuff about One Malaysia, One Sport, the education blueprint, things like that. So getting a high band sometimes depends on luck too.

I guess that's about it. Remember it takes a lot of time, patience and hard work to get it right. People who speak English at home have an advantage because they read, watch and listen to English stuff all the time, so if you're not one of them then you'll have to put in extra work compared to them. Even after your MUET exams are over, don't stop improving your English, it would give you a better chance of getting a job in the future. Oh and if you're interested in reading about my MUET experience, you can check out my blog. There's stuff about my form 6 life there too if you are interested in reading :)

Alright, all the best!

Written by Suzanne Ong, an aspiring writer who had just finished STPM and is in the midst of pursuing her dream of becoming an author. She blogs about random daily things that people don't voice out at http://xsuzannex.wordpress.com and writes fiction at http://www.wattpad.com/user/raind33r.

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3 Steps to jumpstart your MUET preparations | Afterschool.my - Blog Muet

3 Steps to jumpstart your MUET preparations | Afterschool.my

Posted: 17 Oct 2014 12:45 AM PDT

Published: October 17, 2014

With government's new policy on MUET (Malaysian University English Test) requirements for public varsities, it is best to start preparing for your exams this early. Previously, a MUET band 1 is enough however the new policy will be making it difficult for students who want to get into public universities. Here are some simple tips on how to improve your exam preparations.

1. Get familiar with the test structure

You can easily obtain model test papers or past year papers from book stores or from your MUET tutor. Generally, MUET is made of four components – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The duration and weighing of each component are as follows:

One look at it and reading paper is obviously the one that carries the highest weightage of 40%. Therefore, it's important to start reading, and not just any content but read articles and books that are written by respected authors and reliable publications such as TIME Magazine, National Geographic, The Economist, Reader's Digest, The New Yorker, and so forth. Aside from these, you need to keep abreast with local issues and these can be gained by reading newspapers such as The Star, News Straits Times, The Edge, and many more.

For more information on the MUET exam structure, please visit this link.

2. Practice makes perfect

English language proficiency is a skill, and skills do not develop overnight. To master this skill, one must some invest time to practice.

Practice speaking and listening – In order to speak English fluently, you need to practice speaking. Get someone (a teacher, coach, or a friend who practices English) to converse with. Practice speaking out loud until your mouth and brain can do it without any effort. As much as possible, avoid translating your thoughts from your mother tongue, and try to think in English. Talk naturally and try to add some humour in your conversation.
Practice writing – Once you have gained some confidence in expressing yourself in the English language, it's time to put these thoughts on paper. Take time to write down your thoughts, views, opinion, and ideas in an orderly and logical manner. Social media activities such as blogging can help you feel motivated to write.
Practice reading – To help enrich your vocabulary, you will need to read a lot of material. From reading word-by-word, try to learn how to browse and capture keywords. By doing so, you get to expand the number of words you read at a time, which is very important in exams. Another tip is to concentrate and avoid regression or re-reading a material. This will slow you down, and lose the overall meaning of a subject.

3. Engage in play and conversation

Play is a good form of learning because it is motivating and fun! Word games such as scrabble, crossword puzzles, anagrams, and word scramble can challenge you and help you discover new meanings and new words. Furthermore, these games encourage you to check with a thesaurus or dictionary.

Another way to expand your vocabulary is to simply talk with other people. This can help you learn and discover new words. As with reading, once you hear a new word, remember to jot it down so that you can study it later — and then slowly add the new word to your vocabulary.

You hold the key to a better vocabulary. These tips featured in this article, will help you on your way to discovering and learning new words to expand your vocabulary and strengthen your use of the English language. Good luck!

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The Panic-Button: MUET result - Blog Muet

The Panic-Button: MUET result

Posted: 15 Jul 2009 12:07 PM PDT

I could've blogged bout this earlier. Perhaps, right on the dot when I checked the results via SMS.

I was in denial. Totally.

I was hoping, desperately, MAYBE the SMS I had received was wrong.

When I got my slip the next day in school,

*sigh*

A band 4.

konfem.

And I was expecting a 5....

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

WHY!?!?!!!!

Argh.

I'll not retake it again this year. Perhaps on my first year in uni.
Or maybe not.

Oh well.

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) - UTHM - Blog MUET

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) - UTHM
Malaysian University English Test (MUET) - Universiti Tun Hussein ...
Malaysian University English Test (MUET)?
Make English a priority in our schools | Hornbill Unleashed

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) - UTHM

Posted: 05 May 2015 06:52 AM PDT

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Malaysian University English Test (MUET) - Universiti Tun Hussein ...

Posted: 04 Jan 2015 10:35 PM PST

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Malaysian University English Test (MUET)?

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 08:24 AM PDT

Hi Sherly

I forgot to welcome you to English Forums in my last post. Welcome!

sherlyTO MOVE TO TEACH SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS IN ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE MAINTAIN. DO U AGREE OR DISAGREE?

With respect to your question, you'll need to reword it. As I said before, I don't understand what you're trying to say, and I don't think others will understand either.

For example, I assume when you wrote "be maintain" you probably meant "be maintained" -- right? (That would be a grammatically correct passive form of the verb "maintain".)

Do you mean that something should be continued?

Also, when you used the word "move", did you mean something similar to "relocate"? Or were you trying to use it with a meaning similar to "propose"? Whatever meaning you intended for that word, you'll still need to explain your sentence further before people might be able to offer an opinion about it.

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult here. It's just that your sentence doesn't make much sense the way it is written. :-(

Make English a priority in our schools | Hornbill Unleashed

Posted: 08 Aug 2015 05:00 PM PDT

The poor command of English is hampering the ability of our university graduates to find jobs.<

With the July 28 Cabinet reshuffle, it is hoped that higher education in Malaysia will move in the right direction and see an improvement in the standards of our public universities.

The first matter that should be tackled is the poor command of the English language among our undergraduates.

Despite having the largest allocation of RM38.7 billion in Budget 2013 and RM54 billion in Budget 2014, the quality of higher education in the country is not encouraging.

A 2013 JobStreet.com survey reveals that the bulk of Malaysian graduates who failed to secure employment suffered as a result of their inability to communicate in English.

This was backed up by a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report which highlighted poor English language skills among Malaysian graduates.

Quoting a Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) survey of senior managers that was conducted in 2011, it says 60% of companies had rejected applicants from local universities due to their poor command of English.

The WSJ also cites results of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) for March and July 2014, where only two out of some 100,000 candidates were placed in band 6 or "very good".

Another 10,000 candidates were placed in band 5 (good) or band 4 (competent), while the remaining 90,000 candidates were placed in bands ranging from 1 to 3, representing modest, limited and extremely limited.

Despite this alarming situation, the Education Ministry, which was then under former deputy prime minister and education minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, rejected any plan to return the medium of instruction in national schools to English from Bahasa Malaysia.

He justified his rejection on grounds that such a move would require amending the Education Act 1996.

However, many believe his rejection was due to the fact that even secondary school students had a poor command of English, and any move to change the medium of instruction would further compound the problem.

Others went further to say that even school teachers could hardly express themselves in English, and would not be able to teach in the language.

In the meantime, the slide continued with local universities failing to gain entry into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings list for five consecutive years.

This indicates their inability to compete with even those universities in Southeast Asia, let alone top learning institutions in the rest of the world.

The fact that Malaysia had never been featured on the list will, in the long term, hamper Putrajaya's goal to make the nation a regional education hub and attract some 200,000 students to local universities by 2020.

However, not everyone believed the negative reports on the state of our tertiary institutions. For instance, Muhyiddin responded with claims that Malaysia offered one of the best education systems in the world – better than the United States, Britain and Germany.

The Education Ministry further claimed that our command of the English language was better than neighbouring Singapore's, and that we ranked number one in Asia.

The ministry also came out with its much heralded blueprint (pix) in 2013 that would, it claimed, propel the education sector upwards and forwards to 2025.

But it has yet to make a difference.

Malaysia failed to be listed in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2015. The National University of Singapore, however, is listed as No. 2 in Asia, next only to the University of Tokyo.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed a return to the teaching of science and mathematics in English, which he pioneered during his tenure.

Mahathir had warned that Malaysia would be a nation of non-creators should its people fail to master science and mathematics – subjects that required a strong command of English.

Even the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, weighed in on the issue and called for English to be brought back as the medium of instruction in schools, citing Singapore as an example.

"Singapore's system has proven to be successful… (it has) helped to unite the races (there). What we can emulate from Singapore is the unity which has been fostered by its single-stream education system which uses English as the medium of instruction," Sultan Ibrahim had reportedly said.

The Sultan's call may have gained support from educationists, education groups and individuals, but the Education Ministry remained steadfast in its belief that its ad-hoc measures were best.

Now, with the return of the Higher Education Ministry with the latest Cabinet reshuffle, and with a new Education Minister (Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid) at the helm, it is hoped that the pressing issues of poor English language command in schools and deteriorating tertiary education standards will be addressed.

Failing this, Malaysia will firm up its position as a third world country competing with the likes of Myanmar, North Korea and Bangladesh. —- Jeswan Kaur

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