If you have just completed your SPM papers, your parents and teachers would have started bombarding you with all sorts of pre-university options.
They might start asking you questions about what you intend to study or where you intend to pursue your tertiary education (local or overseas).
Based on these two questions, most of us are able to narrow down our choices. Let's say you intend to pursue an undergraduate degree in Malaysia. One of the most popular pre-university options is none other than Form Six studies where you sit for the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM).
As you review the subjects offered, you'll notice two compulsory subjects that are slotted into your weekly schedule regardless of whether you are taking the Science stream or the Art stream.
One subject is of course the Pengajian Am (General Studies) paper. Another subject is known as the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
Although your MUET band/grade is not listed together with your STPM result slip, it does play an important role when you are applying for a local university in Malaysia.
In this article, we will briefly discuss the importance of MUET and explore the options of hiring a MUET tutor.
The Significance of MUET and Why Should You Take It?
While English is not offered as a graded subject under the STPM syllabus, English lessons are compulsory among pre-university students to equip them for MUET.
One of the main reasons MUET is highly emphasised is that it was first introduced by the government as a compulsory language requirement for public university admission in 2001.
Later, this policy is expanded further to include both groups: prospective public university and private university students. This time, the students not only need to achieve a minimum MUET band grade in order to enter and also to graduate from their chosen programmes.
Granted that most undergraduate programmes in Malaysia use English as the medium of instruction, it's extremely important for you to have high English proficiency to have consistent progress throughout your studies.
Now, this leads us smoothly to talk about the main purpose of MUET, which is to measure one's English language skills comprehensively through the four components:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Based on the cumulative scores of each of these components, you will be given a specific band score, where Band 5+ is the highest band.
Having said that, each programme may have different MUET band requirements according to the area of specialisation and also the university. So be sure to check them beforehand.
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For instance, you need to have at least a Band 4 for your MUET when you apply for the Bachelor of Laws at the University of Malaya. On the other hand, when it comes to applying for a Pharmacy degree at the same university, you need to have at least a Band 3 MUET score.
In other words, if you plan to further your tertiary education in Malaysia, MUET is a must-take test. If you plan to study overseas, you should take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) instead.
Learn more about the differences between MUET and IELTS.
Is It Very Easy/Difficult To Score Well For MUET As Compared To The SPM English Paper?
We probably know what you are thinking right now.
Is MUET such a big deal if you have just passed your SPM English with flying colours? Are both of these tests so different from one another?
In actual fact, the latest SPM English syllabus and MUET syllabus share some similarities.
Firstly, they include specific assessments for the listening, reading, writing and speaking components.
Secondly, the marking criteria are aligned according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
What sets these two tests apart is the level of intensity for each component.
For example, when it comes to the listening component of MUET, the test consists of 5 parts and the test duration is 50 minutes whereas the SPM English (listening) paper consists of 4 sections and the test duration is 40 minutes.
The passages and text that are included in the reading component of MUET are also significantly longer and have more complex sentence structures as compared to the SPM English (reading) paper.
Another reason why it seems easier to score for the SPM English paper is because of a national grading scale (as it is a public examination). MUET, on the other hand, is only taken by pre-university students and graded according to batches (usually March, July and November).
That's why there are candidates who really struggle when they attempted the model MUET exercises for the first time in terms of the difficulty level as well as the actual score (band) that is given.
You can start exploring the marking scheme of each MUET component to have a better idea of what to expect during the actual test.
How To Determine If You Need To Take Additional MUET Lessons?
Once you have reviewed the overall exam structure of MUET and done a couple of practices at your respective educational institutions, you should be able to gauge your current English level according to the MUET band scales.
What you can do is compare the given MUET band (based on your practice at school/self-study) with your targeted MUET band for your desired university programmes.
If there is a significant distance between those two bands, it's a sign that you should seek personalised guidance to strengthen your foundation in order to score better for each MUET tested component. And that's totally fine!
That's because it's sometimes challenging to practice several tested components on your own like the speaking and writing component.
Both of these components greatly require someone to directly provide you with the right feedback so that you can improve consistently. For instance, an experienced MUET tutor will be able to give you the right learning resources, correct your pronunciation and teach you the right grammar when you are speaking.
And truth be told, isn't it more motivating and more engaging to have someone reliable to guide us according to our learning pace and needs?
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Where Can You Access Private MUET Lessons Outside School/ Work?
Of course, most pre-university students would already have a MUET teacher, be it at their Form Six lessons or matriculation classes.
But then, let's also not forget there are also private candidates and also working adults that do not have official MUET lessons. Hence, the demand for MUET private lessons has always been present.
There's no need to worry if you need to look for one.
Some common ways you can find a MUET tutor around you include:
Word of Recommendation
The classic old fashion way can work wonders! Try asking your friends or acquaintances that have sat for MUET to introduce their MUET tutors. You can even get the tutors' details from them easily.
Social Media Advertisements
If you prefer to do your search online, you can also post a social media post on your respective accounts to look for a MUET tutor.
It is free of charge and can easily reach a large audience within a short period of time. You just need to keep up with the impending comments and direct messages.
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
Tutoring Platforms
Do not underestimate the effectiveness of a tutoring platform these days. With a tutoring platform like Superprof, you can easily find a MUET tutor in a few simple steps.
All you need to do is start keying in your desired subject and preferred location (if you prefer home tutoring).
From there, the system will direct you to a pool of MUET tutors where you can continue to filter them according to your preferences in terms of hourly rates, learning level and qualification. For example, if you have indicated that the maximum budget of your hourly rates is only RM50 an hour, you will only be directed to the profiles of MUET tutors that offer their lessons within the specified range.
Once you have reviewed all the tutors' information via their profiles, you can proceed to contact them and discuss more about your future lessons.
Don't forget to check out the benefits of taking the MUET to gain a better insight into this language proficiency test.
What Should You Look For In A MUET Tutor At Superprof?
Granted that there are so many MUET tutors offering their services, you might wonder what should you prioritise during your selection process at Superprof.
The number one thing that you should look into is certainly the expertise of the tutor. That way, he or she can guide you accordingly to the latest MUET syllabus and grading criteria.
The second thing that you should look into is the experience of the tutor. An experienced MUET tutor can immediately point out the common mistakes made by new students and provide suitable feedback for improvement in the next round.
The third thing is the credibility of the tutor. You can learn more about the tutors' teaching style and character through the reviews and recommendations of their past students.
The final thing is the flexibility of the tutor. If you prefer to take online MUET lessons due to your other commitments, there are many Superprof tutors that can offer flexible online lessons according to your schedule.
You can learn MUET anywhere and anytime with Superprof!
We hope this article has helped you to discover the significance of MUET and provide you with some insights on how to find a good MUET tutor. Mastering MUET has never been so easy!
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