Are you looking for help decoding SPM Malay Essay Writing? Bahasa Melayu Kertas 1 (1103/1) is often said to be the most challenging paper among the 4 in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.
Even though Bahasa Melayu is the national language and the main medium of instruction in schools, many students in Malaysia still struggle to master it at the SPM level. You're not alone in this! According to a report by The Star, the 2023 SPM results showed that some students struggled with the Malay paper, though there has been a slight improvement compared to the previous year. This shows that while progress is being made, it's absolutely normal to need extra support. That's where the right guidance can make all the difference.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to write more words, you don’t need to memorise pages of sample essays—you need to write smarter. In this article, you’ll learn how to write with clarity, understand what the question truly asks for and approach each section of the essay with strategy.
Let’s decode the secrets to scoring well in Penulisan Bahasa Melayu!
Decoding SPM Malay Essay Writing at a glance:
- Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 1 (Kertas 1): Format, Marks & Common Questions
- SPM Bahasa Melayu Kertas 1 Questions: Complete Answering Techniques for Bahagian A & B
- How to Score an A in BM Paper SPM Malay Karangan
- Common BM Paper 1 Mistakes That Stop You from Scoring in SPM
- How to Brainstorm Effectively Before Writing
- Useful Expressions & Sentence Starters for Bahagian A & B
- Online Study Resources to improve your SPM Kertas 1 Bahasa Melayu
- The Best Online Learning Lessons for SPM Malay Language
1. Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 1 (Kertas 1): Format, Marks & Common Questions
Kertas 1 (1103/1) SPM Bahasa Melayu consists of two sections: Bahagian A, which is in the form of a limited-response subjective question, and Bahagian B, comprising four open-response subjective questions that the students need to answer in 2 hours' time.
It is compulsory for students to answer the question in Bahagian A, which contributes up to 30 marks towards the overall score of the paper. Don't be surprised at how much information goes into this first section, though - students are presented with 2 to 3 related pieces of information that they will have to write about. These pieces of information may be in the form of pictures, posters, excerpts and even newspaper clippings. The required word limit for this section is between 150 to 200 words.
The types of questions for Bahagian A are (but not limited to):
| Unformatted Essay (Karangan Tidak Berformat) | Formatted Essay (Karangan Berformat) |
|---|---|
| Explain your opinion (Huraikan pendapat anda) | Dialogue (Dialog) |
| Give your opinion (Berikan pendapat anda) | Report (Laporan) |
| Write an essay (Tuliskan karangan) | Interview (Wawancara) |
| Email (E-mel) | |
| Formal letter (Surat kiriman) | |
| Resume |
Bahagian B, on the other hand, will only require students to choose 1 out of the 4 questions in the section. The questions represent different domains to write about, including public, personal, education, and career domains. When selecting a domain or question to write your essay, be sure to read both the short paragraph and the question below it. Bahagian B carries a heavier weightage as it carries up to 70 marks in the paper's final score. The required word limit for this section is between 350 to 500 words.
Key themes to master for Bahagian B are (but not limited to):
| Tema DSKP (Dokumen Standard Kurukulum dan Pentaksiran) | Tema DSKP (Dokumen Standard Kurukulum dan Pentaksiran) |
|---|---|
| 1. Pentadbiran dan politik | 10. Pendidikan |
| 2. Kesihatan dan kebersihan | 11. Alam sekitar dan teknologi hijau |
| 3. Perpaduan | 12. Perindustrian |
| 4. Integriti | 13. Pertanian peternakan dan perikanan |
| 5. Kebudayaan, kesenian dan estetika | 14. Sukan dan rekreasi |
| 6. Kerjaya | 15. Ekonomi, keusahawanan, dan pengurusan kewangan |
| 7. Jati diri, patriotisme, dan kewarganegaraan | 16. Sejarah dan warisan |
| 8. Bahasa dan kesusastraan | 17. Keselamatan |
| 9. Sains, teknologi dan inovasi | 18. Pelancongan |
Would you like to know the latest format of the SPM Malay papers for 2025?
2. SPM Bahasa Melayu Kertas 1 Questions: Complete Answering Techniques for Bahagian A & B
Let's break down Bahasa Melayu Kertas 1, and see how we could attempt to answer these questions, shall we? To illustrate, here is an excerpt from an actual example (Contoh 2) of Bahagian A in the Buku Format Pentaksiran Bahasa Melayu SPM 2021:
"Gambar dan maklumat di bawah menunjukkan masalah kutipan sampah yang dihadapi oleh penduduk di kawasan tempat tinggal anda. Sebagai seorang penduduk yang prihatin, tulis sepucuk surat kepada pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mengadukan masalah... cadangkan tindakan yang perlu diambil. Panjangnya surat anda hendakla antara 150 hingga 200 patah perkataan."
In the question, students have to observe and analyse three pieces of information: a picture of rubbish left uncollected, a schedule indicating garbage collection and community clean-up times, and a newspaper clipping with the headline, "The Rubbish Problem Is Not Over". Therefore, to write a formal letter to the local authorities, it is vital for students to include these bits of information in their writing, aside from suggesting actions that can be taken.
Let’s take a look at how you could attempt to write this essay. We suggest that you refer to Contoh 2 of Bahagian A in the Buku Format Pentaksiran Bahasa Melayu SPM 2021 as you go along.
- Introduction (Pendahuluan) - ~40 words
State the reason for writing the letter, which is to submit a complaint about the uncollected garbage problem in your residential area.
- Main points (Isi-isi utama) - ~120 words
- The problem that’s happening:
- Refer to the image: sampah bertimbun, tidak dikutip, mengekuarkan bau busuk.
- Kesan kepada kesihatan dan imej kawasan.
- Reference to the collection schedule (jadual kutipan):
- Jadual kutipan dan pembersihan awam telah ditetapkan tetapi tidak diikuti.
- No actions taken despite making complaints via the helpline (nyatakan talian aduan yang ada dalam jadual).
- This shows the local authorities’ lack of efficiency
- Suggestion to overcome the problem (Cadangan tindakan yang perlu diambil)
- Penguatkuasaan dan pemantauan yang lebih ketat
- Libatkan komuniti dalam aktiviti pembersihan
- Tetapkan jadual kutipan yang konsisten dan laksanakan sistem pemantauan aduan.
- Closing paragraph (~40 words):
- Express hope that the authorities will take immediate action
- Show confidence that appropriate steps will be taken for the community’s well-being.
Contoh:
Saya berharap pihak tuan dapat mengambil tindakan segera agar masalah ini dapat diselesaikan dengan segera. Persekitaran yang bersih dan sihat adalah penting untuk kesejahteraan dan keselesaan semua penduduk.
- Suggested Peribahasa / Simpulan Bahasa / Ungkapan Menarik
- “Sediakan payung sebelum hujan”
- “Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul”
- “Persekitaran yang bersih mencerminkan tamadun masyarakatnya”
- “Kebersihan mencerminkan keprihatinan dan tanggungjawab bersama”
This is not a full essay, but rather an outline that shares techniques and strategies to help you approach and answer.
Shall we move on to the next karangan in Bahagian B? Make sure you refer to the sample question so you can understand the explanation better.
The example below, again taken from the Buku Format Pentaksiran Bahasa Melayu SPM 2021 (contoh item domain kerjaya), asks students to describe efforts that should be made towards encouraging the younger generation's involvement in agricultural sectors:
"Perkembangan pesat sektor pertanian di Malaysia boleh dikaitkan dengan alam semula jadi... Kini produk pertanian Malaysia tidak terhad kepada hasil ladang seperti sawit, getah dan koko yang menjadi komoditi besar negara. (Sumber: BH Online...)
Petikan akhbar menerangkan bahawa Malaysia merupakan negara yang sesuai untuk aktiviti pertanian. Walaupun sektor ini boleh menjamin masa depan akan tetapi kerjaya dalam sektor pertanian dikatakan kurang diminati oleh generasi muda."
When describing efforts to attract the younger generation to pick up agriculture in your writing, remember to include the news information from the question, which indicates how Malaysia's rich natural resources make the country suitable for agriculture. Accordingly, students must mention in their writing that younger generations are lacking interest in agriculture; only then can they proceed with suggesting ways to motivate young people to take part in the sector.
We’re going to do the same as we did for Bahagian B. Let’s take a look at how you could answer this essay question. Refer to Bahagian B in Buku Format Pentaksiran Bahasa Melayu SPM 2021 (contoh item domain kerjaya) for reference as you go along.
- Introduction (~40-60 words)
- Malaysia kaya dengan alam semula jadi
- Sesuai untuk aktiviti pertanian
- Tapi, sektor ini kurang diminati oleh belia
- Perlu usaha tarik minat generasi muda
- Isi 1 - Kurang pendedahan tentang potensi sektor pertanian (~80-100 words)
Using the IMBAKUP method.
- I - Isi
Kurang pendedahan tentang potensi dan kepentingan sektor pertanian. - M - Mengapa
Generasi muda lebih terdedah kepada kerjaya profesional lain seperti kejuruteraan, perubatan dan teknologi. - Ba - Bagaimana
Contohnya, subjek berkaitan pertanian kurang ditawarkan di peringkat sekolah, dan promosi kerjaya pertanian tidak meluas. - K - Kesan
Menyebabkan kekurangan tenaga kerja mahir dalam bidang ini dan menjejaskan pembangunan pertanian negara. - U - Ungkapan menarik
"Tak kenal maka tak cinta." - P - Penyimpul
Oleh itu, pendedahan awal tentang kepentingan sektor ini perlu dilakukan agar lebih ramai anak muda berminat.
Isi 2 - Persepsi negatif terhadap kerjaya pertanian(~80-100 words)
Isi 3: Kurangnya penggunaan teknologi moden yang menarik minat belia (~80-100 words)
For the isi section, you can apply a technique called the IMBAKUP formula to develop your main points. This method is widely used by both students and teachers when writing essay content. We’ve shown how to use the IMBAKUP method in isi 1, and you can try applying the same technique for isi 2 and isi 3. Give it a try, ok?
Now, let’s take a look at the conclusion.
- Conclusion (~40-60 words)
- Kepentingan sektor pertanian - jamin keselamatan makanan dan bantu ekonomi negara.
- Perlu jerjasama semua pihak - kerajaan, masyarakay, ibu-bapa, dan belia.
- Ubah persepsi terhadap kerjaya pertanian - jadikan pertanian satu kerjaya moden dan berdaya saing.
- Suggested Peribahasa / Simpulan Bahasa / Ungkapan Menarik
- "Rezeki di tanah"
- "Usaha tangga kejayaan"
- "Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya"
- “Sekepal menjadi segantang”
- "Bak cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan"
- “Pertanian tunjang ekonomi, penyambung kelangsungan hidup.”
- “Anak muda perlu melihat tanah sebagai peluang, bukan beban.”
- "Bersusah-susah dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian"
Disclaimer:
This is just one suggested way to attempt these questions. For Bahagian A, as long as you are analysing all the stimulus materials provided, describe each element or word shown, and relate it to the question; you’re good to go.
The same goes for Bahagian B, your essay should address the chosen question directly, be structured with clear points and elaborations using the IMBAKUP method. You may have different writing skills when approaching these essays, so it’s best to verify and cross-check your style and technique with your teacher or tutor to align with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia format.
So, are you feeling pumped and ready to tackle more questions now that you have found the techniques and tips to answer this paper? Here’s where you can find SPM Malay past year question papers to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence in writing! You’ll also find SPM English language past-year papers as well!
3. How to Score an A in BM Paper SPM Malay Karangan
When it comes to essay writing in Bahasa Melayu, one may have ideas - but what is the best way to work on and expand on these ideas? The real challenge could perhaps be that students do not master a basic way or skill in writing Malay essays. Thus, to effectively write an essay, students need to be taught the steps or techniques of writing each paragraph. Do you know how examiners mark your SPM Bahasa Melayu paper?
Of course, let's begin with understanding the requirements of the question. What is its central idea? This refers to the theme or issue that needs to be discussed, ensuring students are writing about the right content and staying on track. With that being said, let's take a look at how to build the paragraphs for the introduction, body and closing of your Bahasa Melayu essay:
Introduction (Perenggan Pengenalan)
Your first paragraph introduces the title of your essay to the reader, making it interesting and keeping your reader looking forward to the next paragraph. The introduction can be built with 3 to 5 sentences. Start with an introductory statement to provide a general understanding of the title, followed by two to three descriptive verses to support your first statement. End your introduction with a focal sentence to give purpose to your essay.
Body (Perenggan Isi)
The number of paragraphs for the body depends on the number of main points for your essay. Keep it at one main point per paragraph to make your essay neat and easy for the reader to identify the main points and other content. Furthermore, arrange the body paragraphs according to the importance of each main point - the most significant point should be placed first, followed by the rest.
Each body paragraph can be described in 4 to 5 sentences. It is best to start with a topic sentence to state your main point, although some students may prefer to place their topic sentence in the middle or end of the paragraph. For a smooth flow, however, it is recommended to put your topic sentence at the start of your body paragraph, followed by two to four side-content sentences and examples to support your topic sentence.
Closing (Perenggan Penutup)
Your closing paragraph should provide an overall summary of the ideas in your preceding paragraphs. In 3 to 5 sentences, write your final paragraph using techniques such as restating your points, making predictions, or suggesting recommendations. Note that your closing statements shouldn't repeat what has already been written in the previous paragraphs.
At this point, are you looking for a complete guide to help you do your Malay language paper better? As usual, we’ve got you covered! Read our article where we break down everything you need to know, from format to tips to help you do your best!
4. Common BM Paper 1 Mistakes That Stop You from Scoring in SPM
There are some common mistakes that students make without them realising. This could cost them those precious marks that would determine their overall grade.
Below are some common mistakes that students make in BM paper 1 and how to avoid them to maximise your marks. Pay close attention!
- Not answering according to the task
One of the biggest mistakes in Bahagian A is going off-topic. You need to analyse all the visual materials given and include them in your writing. A vague response, or writing only one part of the stimulus, can result in a low score.
This is applicable for Bahagian B as well. Avoid going off-topic and read the text & question given carefully before working on the outline. Remember, this section carries more marks.
- Weak or repetitive vocabulary
If you’re writing using the same words over and over again (like penting, masalah, jika, or seterusnya), your writing may appear flat and boring. The examiners look for creativity, critical thinking, and vocabulary variations.
- Poor paragraph structure
Avoid writing in one long paragraph. Break the essay into clearly structured paragraphs:
- Introduction
- Main point 1
- Main point 2
- Main point 3
- Conclusion
Make sure that each paragraph focuses on one idea, supported by examples or elaboration. This enhances clarity, flow and reduces examiners’ headaches when they read your essays!
- Not planning before starting to write
Diving straight into writing without a plan is like running around like a headless chicken—aimless and chaotic. This will lead to disorganised ideas, missing content, and sometimes feeling lost with ideas.
- Neglecting karangan Bahagian B
Many students sometimes pour all their time and energy into Bahagian A and rush through Bahagian B, which is worth 70 marks and requires 350-500 words. You should dedicate time evenly to ensure you are not over- or under-prioritising any sections.
- Ignoring the marking scheme
Some students aren’t even aware of the marking guidelines examiners use to mark their essays. This means they are missing the knowledge of what to avoid and what to include in their essay to achieve their desired marks.
- Not checking their work before submitting
Many students rush to submit their work without reviewing. This can be a costly mistake. Grammatical errors, missing words, awkward phrasing, wrong words — all these small mistakes can add up and lower your grades. So, be careful!
Source: Husniati Salma on Unsplash
5. How to Brainstorm Effectively Before Writing
Do you brainstorm your ideas before writing, or do you jump straight into it? Brainstorming effectively before you write is one of the most effective habits that separates your cukup makan karangan from an excellent one. Some students skip this part and end up writing essays without a clear direction, off-topic content, missing points, and repeating points.
Taking just 5-7 minutes to brainstorm properly can save you from all these troubles. Here’s how to brainstorm effectively for both Bahagian A and Bahagian B:
For Bahagian A:
- Look at the stimulus (bahan) carefully.
- Identify all the elements: pictures, words, phrases, or statistics.
- Ask yourself, “What is the main issue being presented here? What can I comment on? What does each picture tell? How are they connected?”
- Circle or list the keywords
- Jot down any main terms you see and link them to ideas.
- For example: Sampah →kebersihan, kesedaran, masyarakat, kesihatan, tindakan pihak berkuasa.
- Use a mind map or bullet points
- Whichever method you use, quickly draw branches for each point or list down your ideas in bullet form, ensuring all the points are related to the stimulus given.
- Take points from each picture. List down 2-3 main points, stick to the word limit.
- You can use this method for karangan Bahagian B as well.
For Bahagian B:
- Pick a question that you feel confident in
- Spend some time reading through the questions and decide which question you’re more familiar with. Think about which topic allows you to generate strong and clear points.
- List down 3-4 main points
- Make sure each point answers the question.
- Avoid overlapping and similar points.
- Use the IMBAKUP method for each point.
- Organise your essay
- This is applicable for both sections; however, given the word count for this section is higher, students might overlook this when writing.
- Structure your essay as:
- Pendahuluan
- Isi-isi utama (3-4 isi using IMBAKUP)
- Penutup (end with a rumusan, cadangan, amaran, or harapan)
Source: The Straits Times
6. Useful Expressions & Sentence Starters for Bahagian A & B
1. Introduction (Pendahuluan)
- ___ bukanlah sesuatu yang asing dalam kalangan masyarakat kita pada hari ini.
- Penulisan ini akan menghuraikan tentang ___ secara mendalam.
- Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa ___ merupakan antara isu yang perlu diberikan perhatian serius.
- Sejak kebelakangan ini, kita sering mendengar tentang ___ dalam media massa.
- Pada era globalisasi ini, isu tentang ___ semakin hangat diperkatakan.
- Saya berpendapat bahawa tajuk ini penting untuk dibincangkan kerana
2. Introducing a main point ( memperkenalkan isi penting)
- Selain itu,
- Salah satu faktor utama ialah,
- Tidak dapat disangkal bahawa
- Antara langkah yang boleh diambil ialah
- Satu contoh yang jelas ialah
- Pertama sekali
3. Stating your opinion (memberi pendapat)
- Walau bagaimanapun, perlu juga difahami bahawa
- Saya berpendapat bahawa
- Saya menyokong kenyataan tersebut kerana
- Pada pandangan saya,
- Ada benarnya jika dikatakan bahawa
4. Explaining further (menghuraikan isi)
- Keadaan ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa
- Hal ini kerana
- Tambahan pula
- Ini dapat dilihat melalui
- Sebagai contoh
5. Showing cause & effect (menunjukkan sebab & akibat)
- Jika keadaan ini berterusan
- Akibatnya
- Kesan jangka panjangnya ialah
- Oleh sebab itu
- Hal ini menyebabkan
6. Transitioning between ideas (menyambung isi)
- Walaupun begitu
- Seterusnya
- Namun begitu
- Di samping itu
- Malah
- Justeru itu
- Oleh itu
- Namun demikian
- Walau bagaimanapun
7. Supporting details (contoh & huraian)
- Sebagai contoh
- Contohnya
- Antaranya ialah
- Ambil contoh
- Misalnya
- Hal ini dapat dilihat melalui
- Sebagai bukti
- Ini terbukti bila
- Ambil contoh situasi ini
- Hal ini demikian kerana
8. Making suggestions (memberi cadangan)
- Kerjasama semua pihak amat penting bagi memastikan
- Oleh itu, semua pihak haruslah
- Masyarakat perlu memainkan peranan dalam
- Langkah yang boleh diambil termasuklah
- Untuk mengatasi masalah ini, pihak ___ perlu
9. Conclusion (penutup karangan)
- Diharapkan semua pihak dapat bekerjasama demi
- Kesimpulannya
- Justeru, marilah kita bersama-sama
- Sebagai penutup bicara
- Tegasnya
- Akhir kata
- Jelasla bahawa
- Berdasarkan huraian di atas
- Oleh itu
7. Online Study Resources to improve your SPM Kertas 1 Bahasa Melayu
Social media isn’t just for entertainment. You can use social media to improve your reading and writing in BM. Here are a few YouTube channels that could help you excel in your Malay Paper 1!
There are plenty of reliable resources on YouTube to help you prepare for your exams. With the rise of educational content on social media, learning has become more accessible than ever. Everything you need is just a few clicks away!
8. The Best Online Learning Lessons for SPM Malay Language
If you’re looking for more than just YouTube videos to support your Malay language journey, fret not, our best online learning experience in SPM Malay might be just a few clicks away! We're not just talking about IGCSE tuition here; there are also dedicated classes for SPM Bahasa Melayu that help you polish your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in Malay!
Superprof is a community of tutors and students - a platform to connect those who want to learn with those who have a passion for teaching. Known for making learning accessible to everyone, Superprof offers lessons in the form of both physical and online classes. Yes - this means you can have Malay lessons in person with your tutor or even from your laptop!
Apart from just providing online tuitions, you can look for a Malay tutor who suits your needs to learn the language. Do you learn better in a group class, or do you need a one-to-one session? Would you like to have your lessons on weekdays or weekends? Are there specific classes tailored to improve your Malay writing skills?
Guarantee the quality of your tutoring experience with all these features and more on Superprof - you can even check all your tutors' job descriptions and reviews, too. What's even more amazing is that the average price for a Form 5 Bahasa Melayu lesson sits at only RM35, with further discounts if you sign up for successive classes. Tailor the tutor to your needs when you sign up with Superprof! Sign up with Superprof now and get your first lesson for FREE!
Find your perfect language lessons for Bahasa Malaysia & English on Superprof’s website!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
