The Malaysian University English Test, commonly known as MUET, is an English exam administered by the Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC). Your MUET result reflects your performance in the four key language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each skill is assessed equally, and the final score is graded into a MUET result band, ranging from Band 1.0 to Band 5+.
Among the language skills, the MUET speaking test, along with the writing test, is considered to be challenging. Understanding how the MUET grade is calculated and what each language skill requires will help you show improvement in your MUET result band.
Getting to know the new MUET format is crucial for test preparation. (Source: Unsplash)
MUET Malaysia Marking Scheme
To score high marks in each paper and achieve a strong MUET result band, it’s important to understand the marking scheme for each component. Let’s take a closer look at how each paper is assessed.
| Paper | Number of Questions | Total Mark | Assessment Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 | 90 | 25% |
| Speaking | 2 | 90 | 25% |
| Reading | 40 | 90 | 25% |
| Writing | 2 | 90 | 25% |
| Total | 360 | 100% | |
Each MUET paper carries a maximum of 90 marks, making up an aggregated score of 360. All of the papers are equally weighted at 25% each. This balanced system provides a great opportunity for students with different strengths to perform well across the four assessed skills.
The MUET result is graded on a nine-band scale, with Band 5+ being the highest and 1.0 being the lowest.
How MUET Grades Are Assessed
Your MUET grades are determined by an aggregate score across all four components of your MUET test: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. These grades are also aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an international standard for describing language ability. It ranges from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient) and is used across the world to measure English and other language skills.
The table below shows the breakdown of the aggregated scores and their respective bands.
| Aggregated Score | Band | CEFR Level | User |
|---|---|---|---|
| 331 – 360 | 5+ | C1+ | |
| 294 – 330 | 5.0 | C1 | |
| 258 –293 | 4.5 | B2 | |
| 211 –257 | 4.0 | ||
| 164 – 210 | 3.5 | B1 | |
| 123 – 163 | 3.0 | ||
| 82 – 122 | 2.5 | A2 | |
| 36 – 81 | 2.0 | ||
| 1 – 35 | 1.0 |
Key Notes on Band Calculation
- Since all language components carry equal weightage, it is important to perform well in all the papers, as neglecting one section can impact your overall band.
- You cannot “pass” or “fail” MUET. Rather, your score is represented by a band that shows how well you speak the language.
- The minimum band required varies depending on the university and course you’re applying for.
How to Calculate Your Band (Example)
Let’s say you scored the following marks:
- Listening: 85/90
- Speaking: 63/90
- Reading: 72/90
- Writing: 69/90
Total Aggregate Score = 85 + 63 + 72 + 69 = 289
Based on the table above, 289 falls under Band 4.5 (CEFR Level B2).
Below is a detailed breakdown of the marks, assessment weightage and the number of questions for each MUET paper.
MUET Listening Paper 1 Marking Scheme
The MUET listening paper consists of five parts. Each part consists of recording audio that you will be listening to.
You will be allowed to read the questions when the test begins, and you can listen to each audio recording twice. You can answer the questions while listening to the recorded audio. Just be sure to mark your answers correctly in the answer sheet.
The paper carries a total of 90 marks and contributes 25% to your overall MUET result.
| Section | Type of Audio | Question Type | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 1 dialogue between 2 people | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs - 3 options) | 7 |
| Part 2 | 1 monologue consisting of a talk, lecture or a briefing | MCQs - 3 options | 7 |
| Part 3 | 3 monologues from three people | Multiple matching - 5 options | 3 |
| Part 4 | 1 dialogue | MCQs - 3 options | 7 |
| Part 5 | 3 short dialogues between 2 people | MCQs - 3 options | 6 |
| Total | 9 audios | 30 questions |
The latest MUET listening paper focuses on assessing your listening skills with all questions in the form of multiple-choice questions.
You will have 50 minutes to complete all five parts of the paper.
To perform well, we recommend you practice MUET listening exercises at least once a week leading up to the examination day. Regular practice will help you become familiar with English accents and conversations, improving your accuracy.
MUET Speaking Paper 2 Marking Scheme
The MUET speaking test comprises of two parts - Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 1 is for individual presentation
Part 2 is for group discussion
While there are not many changes in the MUET speaking questions, a key update in Task 2 is that you will be given points in the group discussion round. Additionally, you will get an extra minute of preparation time for Task 2.
The paper carries a total mark of 90 and contributes 25% to the overall MUET score.
In the speaking test MUET, you will be placed in a group of three to four candidates. (Source: Unsplash)
| Section | Number of Questions | Preparation and Presentation Time |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 1 individual presentation | 2-minute preparation 2-minute presentation |
| Part 2 | 1 group discussion | 3 minutes preparation 8-12 minutes discussion |
| Total | 2 questions | Approximately 30 minutes |
The current speaking test MUET format focuses on the language (grammar and vocabulary), coherence, communicative ability, and delivery of your speech.
The time allocated for the speaking test is 30 minutes.
You may want to review the new MUET format so as to become more familiar with the structure of the paper.
MUET Reading Paper 3 Marking Scheme
The MUET reading paper comprises of 7 parts and includes 10 texts and 40 questions.
The test booklet consists of multiple sections featuring texts of varying lengths with a total word count ranging between 3300 and 4150 for the entire paper.
Here is a look at the MUET reading paper.
| Section | Text | Question Type | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Three short texts of the same text type, thematically linked, amounting to a total of 100 to 150 words | Multiple matching Three texts preceded by 4 multiple matching questions | 4 |
| Part 2 and 3 | Two texts each of 300 to 450 words | MCQs - 3 options | 10 |
| Part 4 | Two independent texts based on the same theme (not necessarily of the same text type) amounting to a total of 700 to 800 words | Two MCQs based on Text 1, two MCQs based on Text 2, and two MCQs comparing the two texts (3 options) | 6 |
| Part 5 | One text of 500 to 600 words | A gapped text with 6 missing sentences (7 options) | 6 |
| Part 6 and 7 | Two texts of 700 to 900 words each | CQs - 4 options | 14 |
| Total | 10 texts | 40 questions |
You’ll be given 75 minutes to complete the MUET Reading paper. The highest mark you can score is 90. This paper contributes 25% towards the overall MUET score.
While the format of this paper might have changed compared to earlier years, to improve your reading skills, you can go through past-year papers and other MUET assessment papers available on our website.
MUET Writing Paper 4 Marking Scheme
The MUET writing paper is divided into two parts - Task 1 and Task 2.
Task 1 carries 30 marks, while Task 2 is worth 60 marks, bringing the total marks of this paper to 90 marks.
The time allocated for this paper is 75 minutes. You are advised to spend 25 minutes on Task 1 and 50 minutes on Task 2.
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | 1 guided writing (A letter or an email) | 30 |
| Task 2 | 1 extended writing (discursive, argumentative, or problem-solution) | 60 |
| Total | 2 questions | 90 marks |
In this paper, you will be evaluated on the task fulfilment, organisation, structure and lexis. There is no exact format to follow. As long as you answer the question accordingly and write your essay using the appropriate writing requirements, you're good to go.
Tips to Master Your MUET Result
Understand the Assessment Criteria:
Each paper in MUET has specific assessment criteria. Knowing the MUET result band and what examiners are looking for, especially in the MUET speaking test and MUET speaking can make a big difference.
Know Your Strengths:
Since all four skills are equally weighted, working on your weakest skill can significantly boost your overall MUET result band. Begin by identifying your weak components through self-assessment and mock tests, all the while continuing to refine your strong areas.
Practice Strategically:
When you are preparing for your MUET grade, don’t just practice randomly. Instead, practice strategically, with a goal in mind. Go through MUET past year papers and other resources to ensure your preparation is aligned with the new MUET format.
Get Feedback:
Finally, while self-study is no doubt important, hiring a qualified MUET tutor from platforms like Superprof can add extra depth to your preparation.
How Superprof Can Help You Improve Your MUET Grade
The Writing paper is usually considered the most difficult paper, along with the MUET Speaking paper. This is where learning from a tutor makes a huge difference. A tutor can offer you personalised guidance, advice and feedback that you can use to improve your MUET result and improve your MUET essay writing.
Wondering where to find a tutor, you ask?
These days, it is easier to find tutors, thanks to online tutoring websites such as Superprof. With more than 16 million tutors available in over 1000 subjects, you are sure to find your ideal tutor on our site. You can also take advantage of online learning, which is increasingly becoming popular among students and parents.
Since many students and parents are opting for online lessons these days, you can take advantage of this too. Going for an online lesson has so many benefits.
- Save your money
- Believe it or not, online learning sessions cost you less than traditional in-person lessons. Why? Because you can avoid transportation expenses such as gas for cars or public transport fares.
- You can avoid other unnecessary expenses when you go out, such as buying snacks and other impulsive expenditures.
- The teacher might charge you less because they do not have to pay for a physical location.
- Bonus tips: Most of Superprof’s tutors offer their first 1-hour lesson for free.
- Less time investment
- Online learning sessions let you be flexible with your timetable. You can schedule your sessions around your routine - before going to school, during lunchtime, after school or late at night.
- With online tutoring sessions, you can save time too. No commuting means no traffic jams, long waits, or delays. You could just set the time, turn on your computer and immediately connect to your tutor.
- Convenience
- You can learn from the comfort of your own bedroom.
- With Superprof, you get access to a global pool of tutors. That means you can choose from a wide range of experienced tutors who can help you achieve a high MUET grade.
However, a tutor alone can’t help you much if you do not put in the effort. To do well in the paper, you should have a strong understanding of what MUET is all about, MUET grade and MUET result band. Once you understand the MUET examination format thoroughly, you can tackle the individual papers well.
Also, note that different universities have different MUET result band requirements. But no matter which course and local university you are planning to apply for, try to aim for the highest band possible to keep all your options open.
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