As a student, we are often encouraged to have a productive learning session.
Then as we step into the world of securing jobs and careers, we hope to achieve maximum productivity at our work.
Famous entrepreneur, Paul J. Meyer once said, "Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort."
If you have decided to register to take the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) in 2024, this principle applies to you too if you want to achieve your desired MUET band.
That's because whether you are taking the MUET as a public or private candidate, one thing remains the same.
You need to have a clear overview of what to expect in terms of the latest examination syllabus, exam format, marking scheme and also the significance of sitting for all the papers before the actual test.
In this article, we look at what and how you will be tested for your MUET-tested components.
How Does The Latest MUET Grading System Align To The CEFR?
Starting from 2021, there has been a change in the grading system and format of MUET.
One of the major revamps was to align the aggregated score of the MUET with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) global scale.
The former MUET band score was as follows:
- Band 1 [Very limited user]
For aggregated scores below 100. Candidates have a very limited understanding of the language and face huge challenges in using the language.
- Band 2 [Limited user]
For aggregated scores from 100 to 139. Candidates make very frequent grammatical errors and their lack of fluency is very apparent.
- Band 3 [Modest user]
For aggregated scores from 140 to 179. Candidates have a fair understanding of the language and show basic application of the language.
- Band 4 [Satisfactory user]
For aggregated scores from 180 to 219. Candidates show a satisfactory level of understanding of the language. They are generally fluent even though there are some grammatical errors in between.
- Band 5 [Proficient user]
For aggregated scores from 220 to 259. Candidates possess a good understanding of the language and can perform the given tasks smoothly. A fluent English speaker and user.
- Band 6 [Highly proficient user]
For aggregated scores from 260 to 300. Candidates exhibit very good comprehension of the language and context whenever they use the language. They hardly make any grammatical errors. A very fluent English speaker and user.
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When the CEFR came into the picture, there were some slight changes. You can refer to the table below for the clear band descriptions for the latest MUET papers.
| Aggregated Score | Band | Skill Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 331 - 360 | 5+ | Proficient | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
| 294 - 330 | 5.0 | Proficient | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
| 294 - 330 | 4.5 | Independent | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| 211 - 257 | 4.0 | Independent | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
| 164 - 210 | 3.5 | Independent | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar, or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. |
| 123 - 163 | 3.0 | Independent | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar, or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. |
| 82 - 122 | 2.5 | Basic | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
| 36 - 81 | 2.0 | Basic | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
| 1 - 35 | 1.0 | Basic | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
Don't forget to read more about the grading criteria for all your MUET papers.
Listening: Spoken Discourse Comprehension (Monologues & Dialogues)
Essentially, the MUET papers still encompass the same four language components.
The first MUET paper that we will go through is none other than the MUET listening paper.
This paper is relatively easier to score because the structure of this test consists of monologues and dialogues.
Meaning to say, it's something that can be improved and practised through day-to-day conversations and media exposure.
Of course, it requires candidates to have a strong comprehension of the spoken discourse. They need to grasp the context of the conversations and make accurate connections between the texts. From there, they need to match what they have heard through the recording with the provided questions.
Granted that it is a listening test with only 50 minutes of allocation (for 30 questions), every candidate gets to listen to each text twice before they need to include their final answers.
To have both speed and accuracy, candidates need to familiarise themselves with various topics that could arise from the dialogues and also to correctly process the embedded message throughout the listening texts.
For instance, they need to clearly identify the relationship between the speakers, quickly point out the purpose of the conversations, and so forth.
The maximum score for the listening component is 90 points.
Don't miss out on these reliable learning resources to master your MUET components.
Speaking: Oral Presentation Delivery (Individual & Group)
Next, we move on to the MUET speaking component.
It's famously known as one of the most feared MUET components among candidates.
That's because you need to face the examiners and other fellow candidates right in front of you. You also need to prepare for two speaking tasks: individual presentation and group presentation.
The maximum score for the speaking component is 90 points.
For both of these speaking tasks, examiners will look at these three main criteria during their grading:
- Language fluency
How the candidates carry themselves with confidence. Candidates should be able to express themselves well without too much hesitation during their presentation.
Having said that, this also includes how well the candidates can talk about the subject matter comfortably by giving relevant elaboration and examples from their personal experiences.
- Language accuracy
Candidates can apply the right pronunciation, intonation and grammatical rules during their presentations.
Some examples include the uses of tenses, and also how they break down or pause at different parts of a sentence in a natural manner.
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- Range of language
Candidates show a versatile and wide usage of vocabulary (idioms, expressions) and sentence structure that is appropriate to the given contexts.
In other words, there must be variety during your delivery!
Explore these amazing tips to produce good essays for your MUET writing paper.
Reading: Passages & Questions (Formal & Less Formal)
Now, let's take a look at the MUET reading component.
For this paper, candidates are given 75 minutes to answer 40 questions.
The maximum score for the reading component is 90 points.
This paper is divided into seven parts, in which candidates will read a series of texts with different word ranges and topics (formal and less formal).
For instance, some short texts are between 100 to 150 words whereas some longer texts can go up to 900 words.
To excel in this paper, we highly recommend candidates to diversify their reading materials, ranging from newspapers, advertisements, blogs, emails and so on.
This will help them to not only be familiar with the overall structure of the given texts but also enable them to pick up the writing style of each reading text.
Another way to up your game is to do lots of sample questions and past year papers under the guidance of an experienced MUET tutor.
At Superprof, you can experience flexible and personalised MUET lessons regardless of your current level and geographical location in Malaysia.
This is great news to both general and private MUET candidates as we understand that some private MUET candidates could be working adults who prefer to learn at their preferred time.
Now that's the beauty of private tutoring! You are free to choose your own tutor based on your pre-set criteria such as qualifications, years of experience, teaching mode, teaching methodology and even the maximum budget for your hourly rate.
Your MUET tutor will not only guide you to ace your reading paper but also provide you with the right feedback to improve your overall English language competency. Who knows, you might even get some insider tips or practical answering techniques from them too.
Head to the Superprof Malaysia homepage to start browsing the tutors' profiles who offer MUET lessons near you, be it through home tutoring or online tutoring.
Remember to dive deep into the latest syllabus for your MUET papers before you register as a public/private candidate.
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Writing: Organising Ideas On Paper (Guided & Extended Writing)
Last but not least, we will talk about the MUET writing component.
Similar to the reading component, candidates are given 75 minutes to complete this paper. There are two writing tasks for this test.
Task 1 requires candidates to write an email or letter (100 to 135 words) whereas Task 2 requires candidates to produce a discursive, argumentative or problem-solving essay (of at least 250 words).
It's important to note that Task 1 is a guided writing task, which means that relevant notes and information will be given. Candidates need to construct their final answer according to the guidelines given.
For instance, if the question is about a reply email to reject a job offer, then candidates will be given a series of information such as the recipient's name, the recipient's position, the name of the company, the job title that the candidate previously applied for and so forth.
On the other hand, Task 2 is an extended writing task, which means it's an independent form of writing. Candidates will only be provided with a statement setting revolving around an idea or a problem.
An example of a question for Task 2 can look like this:
"Experience is more important than academic qualification during job application" Do you agree with this statement? Justify your stand and give relevant examples when appropriate.
From there, candidates need to come out with at least 3 points to support their stand (agree/ disagree) alongside their introduction and conclusion.
Important tip: The stand that you choose from the beginning must be consistent throughout the essay and it must be reflected in your conclusion too! The maximum score for the writing component is 90 points.
There you have it. A clear and comprehensive view of the latest MUET format and what it takes to do well for all these four papers.
We hope this knowledge will equip you to have a better preparation for your MUET 2024 papers soon.
All the best!
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