EXAM PREPARATION WORKSHOP

MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY ENGLISH

TEST

AGENDA1. Greeting 2. Prayers 3. The National Anthem “Negaraku”

& The School Song 4. Motivational Part 15. Preparation Tips for Paper 46. Lucky Draw 7. Motivational 28. Preparation Tips for Paper 39. Lucky Draw 10. Motivational 311. Preparation Tips for Paper 112. Lucky Draw 13. Gentle Reminders for Exam

Etiquettes 14. Q&A15. State Anthem “Ibu Pertiwiku”.

TIPS FOR PAPER 4 (WRITING)

QUESTION 1 REPORT WRITING

General Tips for Report Writing

1.General Tips for Report Writing2.MUET Report Writing Outline3.Trial Exam Paper 4 Questions4.Marking Scheme Trial P4

No.

Criteria Yes (/) No (X)

1 Does it have a title?

2 Does it have the controlling ideas?

3 Are the sentences containing the controlling ideas clear?

4 Can I understand the sentences?

5 Do they reflect accurately what is shown by the stimuli?

6 Does it have an overview?

7 Are all the key features analyzed, compared and contrasted or synthesized?

8 Are the analysis presented in an organized manner?

9 Can I understand the analysis ( the sentences)?

10 Are the subjects of the sentences clear?

11 Are elements of analysis, comparisons and contrasts present in the report?

12 Are all the key features analyzed and integrated?

13 Can I understand all the information I put down in the content paragraphs?

14 Are they are errors in spelling, vocabulary, word order, subject verb agreement, tenses and etc. that I need to correct?

15 Is there a proper conclusion for the report?

# TOPIC

NOV 2013

ANALYSE AND LINK INFORMATION ON PET OWNERSHIP AND THE REASONS FOR KEEPING PETS.

JULY 2013

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE DOMINANT PASTIMES OF YOUTHS IN 2004 AND 2009.

MARCH 2013

ANALYSE AND SYNTHESIS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY AND CAUSE OF DEATHS AMONG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE DIFFERENT REGIONS.

NOV 2012

ANALYSE QUALITIES OF FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THREE COLLEGES AND LINK INFORMATION TO FEES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND NUMBER OF REGISTERED STUDENTS.

JULY 2012

ANALYSE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCOOL ENROLLMENT IN THREE REGIONS AND LINK THIS WITH INCOME LEVEL.

MARCH 2012

COMPARE AND COMMENT ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MALE AND FEMALE MARRIED PROFESSIONALS AND LINK THE INFORMATION WITH THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES.

END 2011

ANALYSE THE FINDING OF A SURVEY CONDUCTED ON CONSUMER’S CHOICE OF VENUES FOR GROCERY SHOPPING AND LINK TO CHARACTERISTICS OF SHOPPING VENUES.

MID 2011

ANALYSE AND SYNTHESIS PROFILES OF PROFESSIONALS TO THEIR RANKINGS OF MAIN GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD ACCORDING TO AGE GROUP.

END 2010

ANALYSE AND SYNTHESIS THE NUMBER OF AIR TRAVELLERS BY AIRLINES AND AIR TRAVELLERS’ RATINGS OF SATISFACTION.

QUESTION 2: EXTENDED WRITING

# TOPICS

Nov 2013

The most important factor which contribute towards a person’s success is himself. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your stand, giving relevant examples where appropriate.

July 2013

Everyone should aim to become a millionaire by the age of 35. Discuss. You should write at least 350 words.

March 2013

Man’s careless attitude is the main cause of destruction of the environment. Discuss

November 2012

Women make better leaders than men. Do you agree? Discuss.

July 2012

Students’ participation in co-curricullar activities has been made one of the criteria for entry into universities. What do you think of this requirement? Give your opinion and support it with reasons.

March2012

Education is the most important factor in the development of a country. Discuss.

End 2011

A person’s career choice should be determined by his or her interest. Discuss.

Mid2011

The most valuable thing in life is friendship. Do you agree? Discuss.

End2010

In an arranged marriage, the choice of a husband or wife is made by parents or elders. What do you think of this practice in today’s society? Discuss.

# TOPICS

Mid 2010

The world today is turning more to electronic communication s such as e-mail, Facebook and Short Message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss.

End 2009

People commit crime for selfish reasons. Discuss.

Mid 2009

Information and communication technology (ICT) is the cause of today’s many social ills. What is your opinion? Support your answer with examples.

End 2008

People are becoming more materialistic. They are concerned with making more money and what money can buy. What is your opinion on being materialistic?

Golden Rules Indicate a clear stand on the given

statement Total agreement Total disagreement Partial agreementProvide consistent elaborations with the

stand.Provide at least two very well-developed

or three well-developed viewpoints.Support view points with relevant

explanations and examples. Discuss the issues with comparisons of

opinions.Ensure that ideas are convincing and

persuasive.Use varied vocabulary and sentence

constructionsLink the ideas effectively.

Pitfalls to Avoid 1. OFF TANGENT – not answering the

question.Example: Describing places of interest in

Malaysia when the task or topic is “ Tourism is a boon to Malaysia”.

2. Contradicting Thesis StatementExample:Examination is an inappropriate way to

measure students’ performance and should be replaced with continuous assessment. I strongly agree with this statement because examination brings more benefits to students than continuous assessment…….

Touch and Go points with little or no elaboration.

Multiple word errors Frequent spelling errors Inappropriate choice of wordsExample : Tourism gives much money to the

country. Poor language structures.

Essay OrganizationESSAY ORGANIZATION

INTRODUCTORYPARAGRAPH

1. Provide interesting opening statements to:

• Introduce the topic• Provide some background

information• Give some interesting details to

arouse interest in the topic.2. State your stand clearly

(agree/disagree/partial disagreement) to convey the tone of your essay.

3. Write a thesis statement to convey the central idea of the essay. You may preview your ideas by stating the three main points.

BODYPARAGRAPH 2PARAGRAPH 3PARAGRAPH 4

1. Should have at least 3 paragraphs with 3 well-developed points.

2. Each paragraph should have a main idea/topic sentence.

3. Each topic sentence would be elaborated with relevant supporting details such as explanations/reasons or justifications and supported with relevant examples.

4. Ideas must be well-lined and organized , which show a smooth flow of ideas.

5. Must show good organization.

CONCLUSION 1. Start with a concluding phrase ( In conclusion, In short, In Summary, Last but not least, etc.).

2. Summarize the main ideas in different words or restate the thesis.

3. Ask a thought-provoking question.

STEPS#

STEP 1Read and understand the question

•Identify the key words•Provide three viewpoints•Explain each point with examples•Write the thesis statement

Step 2Set the Outline

•Provide a scenario of the issue in the introduction.•Mind map the ideas as a guide•Write a topic sentence for each of the three view points.•Generate relevant ideas•Conclude by restating the main points, giving suggestions and stating the writer’s hope.

Step 3 •Write each point clearly•Provide clear and appropriate examples to illustrate your point.•Use analogy, quotes , proverbs, idioms etc.. to enhance writing effects.•Conclude each paragraph with a strong message.

Step 4Edit the Final Product

•Ensure that the 5 paragraph essay conventions is observed.•Use sequence and transition markers to show coherence and cohesion.•Correct all misspellings•Tie all loose ends for an organized essay.

Memorize this:Smoking in public places is a

sensitive issue. There are just so many smokers in Malaysia. Most

of these smokers do smoke in public. They are indifferent to the effects of their actions on

people around them…..

SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES. DO YOU

AGREE?

AGREE DISAGREE

1.Detrimental to public health-a hazard to non-smokers, children and pregnant women.-an intrusion to non-smokers’ rights for clean air-a discomfort to non-smokers-increases cost of healthcare

2. Negative impact on tourism-filthier /dirtier washrooms and toilets.-dirtier walkways-tarnishes the country’s image-invasion of privacy

3. Environmental hazard-pollutes the air-pollutes waterways-a waste of tax payers money to clean.

1. Upholding human rights

-the right for personal freedom

-individual’s rights to spend and be wherever they want to be

-public places are for all

2. Avoid disputes between operators of food outlets and customers

-the norm and practice-to stay in business-good enough to have

separate sections for smokers and non-smokers.

3. Revenue for the government

-taxes from all parties – cigarette companies, business premises, etc.

-provide crucial support for the development of projects –in spite of the health hazards posed by smoking habits.

Malaysia has a very high rate of road accidents. Road accidents are reported by the mass media almost

every day. These road accidents often happen on highways and also on major town roads. The high rate of road accidents had made a lot of

people worried and people are curious about what really are the root cause of road accidents…..

Road accidents are caused by human errors. What is

your opinion? Discuss.

Sample Topic 2

TRUE NOT TRUE

•Speeding•Drunk driving•Recklessness•Tiredness•Bad driving habits•Impatience•Disobey traffic rules

•Poor road conditions•Bad weather•Road design deficiency•Insufficient road rules/indicators –no warning signs•Slippery roads•Lack of enforcement rules

What is success? Success means different things to

different people. Yet, in the world today, people often

think that a successful person is someone who is very rich. I

agree/disagree with this view…

A successful person is someone who is very rich.

Discuss.

TRUE/AGREE NOT TRUE/DISAGREE

1. Money is essential to happiness

-money gives us the opportunities to travel or study overseas, to have luxurious life, to meet the rich and famous.

2. Money allows us to be a philanthropy .

-do good deeds by donating generously to help the needy and poor, bring happiness to everyone.

3. Contributes to natiion-building

-investments create many jobs for the unemployed, bring revenue to the government in the forms of taxes and fees.

1. Someone who is intelligent and inventive can also be successful.

-able to overcome many obstacles in life and solve problems in studies which leads to better grades, jobs and income.

2. Someone who is powerful.

-a leader who has thee authority to command people and lead the nation to greater heights.

3. Someone who is famous

-able to influence others.

MEMORIZE THIS:People often say “no money, no talk”.

People no longer believe in mere words , promises or praises. Nowadays, people feel more

comfortable with having everything in their life to be given monetary value.

Even in the workplace, people no longer feel happy to be praised or to

be complimented for their good works. They want their good works to be

rewarded with extra money. But, is it effective to reward good work with extra money? I think, it is/it isn’t

effective to reward good work with extra money…

It is effective to reward good work with extra

money. Do you agree?

AGREE DISAGREE

1. Motivate people-people expect to be rewarded

for doing their best.-Rewards are token of

appreciation for an accomplished task.

-those who perform and given monetary rewards will usually perform better in the future.

-rewards make recipients feel important , appreciated and recognised. Motivation is akin to teaching a person to fish and catch the biggest fish for a more fulfilling life.

2. Encourage healthy competition

-life is a competition where the survival of the fittest matters.

-competition based on performance and quality of work is endorsed as healthy and productive.

-encourages employees to give their best at work and be models to other workers.

3. More comitted-sense of esprit de corps when

employees are united based on common interests and responsibilities, enthusiasm and devotion to the organization.

-hence , productivity increases with monetary gains.

-the rewards can be in the form of performance and annual bonuses.

1. Promotion will be more appropriate

-its recognized as the best reward for all the commitments and services rendered.

-promoted to a higher post is an expectation as one performs so that one can showcase his/her skills and experience.

-it guarantees better benefits in the long term.

2. Reward and recognition

-a fully sponsored vacation overseas with the family,

-shares in the company

3. Leads to conflicts at the workplace

-decline in work quality

-less frequent communication between employer and colleagues.

Malaysia is supposed to be such a peaceful country where everyone live in pure harmony and security. Yet, recently, horrific news about

crimes against children have broken that illusion of security and we,

Malaysians have to face the reality that crimes against children are on

the rise in this country. Crimes against children are rooted in various factors and in my opinion the people

responsible for preventing such crimes are the ……, …….and ….

Crimes against children are on the rise. Who are

responsible for preventing such crimes?

Definition

Crime –an offence or illegal act/activity/actions that are against the law.

Responsible parties:

1. The family

-parents’ responsibility in looking after their children’s safety.

-make sure children are always within their sight when outside the house.

-educate children on dangers of approaching strangers.

2. The school

-employ reliable security guards

-talks on crime prevention

-constant monitoring of students’ whereabouts.

3. The community

-be the eyes and the ears of children and parents.

-report lurking strangers in the neighborhood.

-have night patrols

4. The authorities

-conduct on-going crime prevention campaigns

-install CCTV at hotspots

-mobilize and station police personnel at strategic locations during peak hours.

Simple Proofreading to Upgrade Your Essays

1. Paragraph Layout-5 paragraphs essay-Paragraph starts with:-Capital Letter –the first word-Clear opening sentence -Clear subjects-Topic sentences-elaboration-examples-Further /additional elaboration

2. Spelling of words3. Grammar -tenses = (is/are) (was/were) (has/have/had) (go, going,

went, had gone)-SVA = They are/is not happy with the situation.=The government is/was/ taking proactive measures to

solve the problems.4. Transition /logical markers=The first, the second, the third= One of the,,,, Apart from that,….In addition= First of all, besides, not only that, =Even though…but= Also…etc.

PAPER 3 READING

COMPREHENSION

Types of Passages1. Non-linear texts /Combo Text-skimming and scanning1. Medium Length General Passage-literal/direct

comprehension+vocabulary1. Long General Passage-inference level-drawing conclusion-understanding passage

development-understanding analogies/new

concepts-understanding language functions1. Fiction Excerpt-understanding writer’s tone, attitude

and intention.-understanding language functions

The types of difficult questions and what they require…

TIPS FOR PAPER 1

PAPER 1:l LISTENING

1. General tips

TIPS FOR MUET LISTENING

MUET PAPER 1 ANSWERING TIPSLISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTION

CAREFULLY Instructions to candidates:  DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET

UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SOThe test consists of three parts: Part

I, Part II and Part III. Each part comprises a recording. You will listen to each recording twice.

Answer the questions as you listen. Circle or write your answers on the question paper. →You are given one minute to read all the questions when the test begins.

 Read ALL the questions

For questions 1 and 2, write your answer in NOT MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Example:Miss Chan’s talk can be described

as interesting and _____________________________

Harun was surprised how much money

_____________________________by the hospitality industry.

For questions 3 to 6, write your answer in NOT MORE THAN FIVE WORDS.

Example:

Regular customer

Chance customer

______________

How to answer in not more than 3 to 5 words..1. Recall the exact sentence ..If not2. Recall the key words…(the most

important sounding word in the sentence)..

3. Write the words down in not more than 3 or 5 …

4. Check for grammatical or semantic sense…

5. If it is grammatically awkward..move the words around (arrangement) or change the tense form .

Example:Original sentence: The hospitality industry

is a lucrative industry that could generate millions of money ( 12 words).

Paraphrased to fit in Q2: how much money is generated ….CONTINUES NEXT PAGE

PART 2

For questions 9 and 10 choose one letter A to F from the box below to complete each sentence.

A reduce stressB relax musclesC increase happinessDimprove the immune systemE relieves pain and aid digestionF reduce the need for health

supplements 9 In the past, scientists knew that

laughter was able to _____A_____.

10 Recent research has shown that laughter protects us against infections because it could

_______D____.

PART 3

For questions 15 to 20, write your answer in NOT MORE THAN FIVE WORDS.

 15 The competition requires

teams to recognize ________________________________

 16 The main purpose of the

Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race is not to win but to encourage ________________________

GENERAL EXAMS ETIQUETTES

PLEASE GET ENOUGH SLEEP AND REST FEW

DAYS BEFORE THE EXAMS

PREPARE WELL…

BRING YOUR ID….

WATER BOTTLES….

WAKE UP EARLY/SAHUR ON TIME AND BE EARLY

AT THE CENTRE…

Line your ducks…

TRUST YOURSELF...

FOCUS….

DON’T DISTRACT OR BE DISTRACTED …DON’T CHEAT…

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF…

SHADE YOUR ANSWERS NEATLY…..

WRITE YOUR ANSWERS CLEARLY…

JUST GIVE IT ALL THE BEST…

AFTER THAT…YOU MAY ..