The SPM English examination is a vital milestone for Malaysian students and serves as a key indicator in judging their language proficiency for further studies and future career opportunities. Since the latest update to the SPM English format in 2021, the SPM English exam has been aligned with the CEFR standards, equipping students with globally recognised English skills at the B1 and B2 levels.
For 2026, the SPM English format will comprise four equally weighted papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, each contributing 25% to the total score.1 Understanding the English SPM syllabus, SPM English essay format, and SPM English speaking test format will help students prepare well and approach their exam with confidence. Let's begin!
| Paper | Component | Duration | Format/Tasks | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Reading & Use of English | 1 hour 30 mins | MCQs (grammar,vocab); Short answers; Reading comprehension passages (5 parts) | 40 | 25% |
| Paper 2 | Writing | 1 hour 30 mins | Part 1: Short guided writing (20); Part 2: Extended writing (20); Part 3: Essay (choose 1 of 3) (20) | 60 | 25% |
| Paper 3 | Speaking | 13 mins | Interview questions; Individual long turn; Discussion (pair work) | 24 | 25% |
| Paper 4 | Listening | 40 mins | Multiple choice; Matching/short answers; Audio-based comprehension (4 parts) | 30 | 25% |
🔍Overview of the SPM English Examination Structure
Previously, SPM candidates only sat for two English papers: SPM English Paper 1 and SPM English Paper 2, which primarily focused on writing, grammar, and reading comprehension.
However, following the changes introduced after 2021, candidates are now required to sit for four papers, which provide a more comprehensive evaluation of language skills:
- Paper 1: Reading and Use of English
- Paper 2: Writing
- Paper 3: Speaking
- Paper 4: Listening
Here is how the new syllabus differs from the earlier one.
| Aspect | Old Format (KBSM – before 2021) | New Format (KSSM/CEFR – 2021 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Papers | 2 papers | 4 papers |
| Paper Structure | Paper 1: Writing; Paper 2: Language & Literature | Paper 1: Reading & Use of English; Paper 2: Writing; Paper 3: Listening; Paper 4: Speaking |
| Skills Tested | Mainly reading, grammar, writing | All 4 skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking |
| Listening & Speaking Skills | Less emphasis on formal listening assessment in the main 1119 paper | Listening (Paper 3) and Speaking (Paper 4) are formally assessed, contributing a combined 50% to the total score |
| Writing Tasks | Longer essays (directed writing, continuous writing) | Part 1: Short communicative message; Part 2: Guided writing; Part 3: Extended writing |
| Literature Component | Literature integrated into the main English paper | Literature moved to a separate elective subject: Kesusasteraan Bahasa Inggeris (from 2020) |
| Curriculum | KBSM (local syllabus) | KSSM + CEFR (international standard) |
| Assessment Style | Fully written exams | Written, oral, and listening-based tests |
| Marks Distribution | Heavily dependent on 2 papers | More balanced across multiple papers |
Check out the new syllabus below.
Now let's read about these changes in more detail.
📘Paper 1: Reading and Use of English
Paper 1 English SPM tests your reading and comprehension skills. It is almost the same as the Paper 2 format before 2020. The paper is divided into 5 parts, with each correct answer being awarded 1 mark.
👉Part 1: Short Texts (Multiple-Choice Questions) (8 Marks)
Candidates have to answer 8 questions in this part. The questions are short texts taken from books and magazines, news reports and more. Choose the correct answer out of 3 options for each question.
👉Part 2: Rational Cloze (10 Marks)
This section is pretty easy to score. You will be tested on grammar, like adjectives, verbs, nouns, or adverbs and vocabulary, and you must choose the correct answer from 4 choices for each question.
👉Part 3: Reading Comprehension (8 Marks)
Here you will read a longer essay and answer 8 questions related to the text. You will be tested on your reading comprehension.
👉Part 4: Gapped Text (6 Marks)
You will read a passage from which six sentences have been removed. From the given choice of 8 options, choose the 6 correct sentences to fill in the gap.
👉Part 5: Matching and Information Transfer (8 Marks)
In this last part, you’ll have to match 4 paragraphs to the given statements. Then, you’ll have to find information from the text to construct correct sentences.
Duration: 1 hr 30 mins
Marks: 40
Parts: 5 (1 mark each)
Paper 1 tests your reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary skills in English.
It also checks your ability to understand texts, fill in gaps, and transfer information correctly.
These SPM English past papers and references will help you understand SPM English Paper 1 and other papers.
✍️Paper 2: Writing
👉Part 1: Short Communicative Message (less than 80 words) (20 marks)
Write a short note or email in fewer than 80 words. Keep your responses short and to the point with little elaboration due to the word limit.
👉Part 2: Directed Writing (125 to 150 words) (20 marks)
In this part, candidates are required to write an essay based on a given stimulus within 125 to 150 words. Use all the prompts when writing the essay. Support your answer with opinions, evidence and related subject matter.
👉Part 3: Extended Writing (200 to 250 words) (20 marks)
In this section, you will be given 3 essay topics out of which you have to choose 1. Write a report/ review/ article/ story (depending on your choice) based on the notes given in about 200 to 250 words. Add a clear introduction, a detailed body and an appropriate conclusion for a great English essay.
Try to write vivid, interesting sentences and follow the rules of grammar, like using adjectives, verbs, nouns, adverbs and phrases and clauses properly.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Weightage: 25% (60 marks)
Students learn to apply, analyse, evaluate and create various writing works in English. Writing skills are assessed in SPM English Paper 2, where students must answer both limited and open subjective-response questions.
🗣️Paper 3: Speaking
Duration: About 13 minutes
👉Part 1: Interview
This is the easy part. Here you will answer 4 simple questions within 3 to 4 minutes. You will be asked general questions about yourself, your family members, your hobbies, etc.
👉Part 2: Individual Speaking based on Text/Verbal Prompt
You will receive a booklet that contains a main topic and several prompts, such as “A person you admire.” Candidates will be given 20 seconds to prepare and about 1 minute to speak. Once Candidate A has finished speaking, Candidate B will answer a brief follow-up question on the topic. The same process is then repeated for Candidate A.
✅Oral test, about 13 minutes (24 marks)
✅Done in pairs, assessed by examiners
✅Consists of 3 areas: Interview (personal questions), Individual talk (short topic) and discussion (give opinions with partner)
✅Students are graded on: grammar & vocabulary, fluency, pronunciation, interaction
👉Part 3: Discussion based on Mind Map Stimulus
In the final section, you converse with your partner for 2 to 3 minutes. You will be given a mind map in the form of a booklet with a central question and several ideas around it.
This part is further divided into three stages.
Each candidate begins by selecting two or three ideas from the bubble map and discussing them with supporting examples.
In the next stage, both candidates work together to assess the ideas they have mentioned, decide which one is the most effective, and expand on it with further examples before reaching a shared conclusion.
In the final stage, candidates answer a question connected to the main topic. They are expected to express their personal opinions clearly, while supporting their views with appropriate explanations and examples.
Overall, the pair should engage in a discussion lasting about two minutes. In the last minute, they should collaborate to arrive at a clear decision or present a joint conclusion.
Here is a short video explaining how to approach Part 2 of Paper 3.
👂Listening
Listening is assessed in SPM English Paper 4 through a series of objective questions.
The listening paper tests your listening skills in various situations.
The paper is divided into 4 parts.
Total Marks: 30 marks
Weightage: 25% of the overall English grade
Duration: ~40 minutes
The Listening Paper is divided into four parts. You will listen to audio recordings such as speeches, conversations, or dialogues or talks and then answer the questions that follow.
📌Part 1 - Listen to 7 short recordings and answer 7 questions.
📌Part 2 - Listen to a conversation and answer 8 questions.
📌Part 3 - Listen to 5 short extracts and choose the correct answers.
📌Part 4 - Listen to texts and complete the missing information.
Ensure you clearly understand what the questions are looking for, as this will help you identify the correct responses when the audio is played.
📈Preparation Tips for Excelling in SPM English Paper
1️⃣Reading and Use of English
The Reading and Use of English paper tests how well students understand and interpret texts. It also tests their vocabulary and grammar skills, such as learning to use adjectives, verbs, nouns, adverbs, and using phrases and clauses in the appropriate context.
How to practise for the comprehension section:
📌Tip: Read newspapers daily to expand your English vocabulary.
Example Question:
Amir was anxious on his first day at work and worried about making mistakes. Fortunately, his colleagues were friendly and welcoming, taking the time to guide him and offering help whenever he needed it. Thanks to their support, he quickly settled in his new environment.
Question: What can we infer about Amir’s experience?
A. He disliked his job
B. He felt more comfortable after some time
C. His colleagues ignored him
D. He wanted to quit
✅ Answer: B
👉 Explanation: “He felt more comfortable after some time” shows his feelings improved.
2️⃣Writing
Writing practice helps with memory recall during the exam and also supports better time management.1
When practising for the Guided Writing or Extended Essay section:
- Read the notes carefully and use the suggested ideas to develop your views
- Stay within the suggested word count limit
- Organise your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs covering key points and a strong conclusion
- Use linking words like therefore, moreover, on the other hand, and however to maintain the flow
Example Question
Say the question asks you to write about 'How sports benefit students.'
Your essay plan should look something like this:
Sports play an essential role in students’ lives today.
How sports improve students' physical health and build discipline
👉 Use cohesive devices such as firstly, therefore, moreover, on the other hand, as a result, consequently, etc.
Give examples of different types of sports like badminton, football, cricket, athletics, and swimming)
👉 Use cohesive devices
Write how it benefits students—reduces stress, encourages teamwork, builds confidence
📌Practice writing vivid and interesting sentences to score more in your writing paper.
3️⃣Speaking
Although the Speaking section is the shortest, it can be nerve-racking for a lot of students, especially if they are not used to communicating in English. The good thing is it lasts for just 12 minutes, so you don’t have to worry much.
To perform well in the Interview round, learn to speak in complete sentences. Also, prepare common topics like talking about yourself, your family or hobbies, etc.
Worried about your English speaking test? Know that there are some helpful tips to ace your SPM English papers.
💡Here are some quick tips to score well in the speaking paper.
- For the Discussion round, don’t use over-flowery language.
- Use proper English and avoid using slang words or colloquial English like meh, la, etc.
- Conduct mock tests with friends or family to simulate exam conditions.
- Read newspapers daily to improve your vocabulary.
- Communicate your ideas clearly and try to speak in complete sentences with correct use of grammar.
4️⃣Listening
In the Listening Test, you will have to listen to a recording and answer questions based on it. It is therefore important that you stay focused throughout and pay close attention to what you're hearing.
Learn to manage your time as the test lasts for 40 minutes. Each recording is played twice, allowing you to check your responses.
- Read the questions during the preparation time so you know what information to listen for.
- Focus on keywords and context.
- Make brief notes while the audio plays to capture key facts, events, and opinions, especially in Parts 3 and 4.
- Use the second listening to confirm your answers and fill in any missing details.
- And finally, don’t forget to follow all instructions carefully.
💯Strategies to Excel in the SPM English Examination
Familiarise Yourself with the Exam Format
Familiarising yourself with past SPM English papers helps you get a clear idea of the exam format. These resources help you understand the exam structure, question types, and assessment criteria.
To improve your preparation:
✨Review past papers to recognise patterns and differences across Paper 1 to Paper 4.
✨ Completing past papers at home under timed conditions helps you practice time management.
✨Use the marking schemes to review how much to write for each answer.
✨ Practising past papers also strengthens your vocabulary and helps develop your grammatical knowledge of verbs, adjectives, phrases, nouns, adverbs, and learning to use interesting sentences.
Find more amazing resources to boost your SPM English success here.
What is your main challenge in preparing for the SPM English exam?
Enhance Vocabulary and Grammar
If you want to learn English effectively, you need to focus on both grammar and vocabulary. Regular reading and doing practice exercises will strengthen your language proficiency. To score well in the reading apper, you need to have a solid arsenal of vocabulary items. And one of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is by reading a lot of English textbooks and newspapers.
Similarly, grammar is another area that many students, both native and non native, struggle with. To improve in grammar, read about grammatical structures and observe how various elements like nouns, pronouns, adverbs and adjectives are used in sentences.
Another useful habit is to read a page or two from the dictionary every day. While you won't see improvements in a single day, over time, it really improves your vocabulary.
✅Once you come across a new word, you can write it down in a notebook.
✅You can even maintain a vocabulary journal if you want.
Practise Writing Regularly
To score well on the writing paper, you need to practice writing a lot. After all, writing practice is not optional; it is a must if you want to score well in your exams. Examiners tend to give more marks to students who present their answers in a clear, structured manner with a logical flow of thoughts.
Regular writing practice is essential for building strong writing skills and helps students identify mistakes and improve gradually.
One of the common mistakes students make when attempting their writing paper is not structuring their thoughts clearly. Therefore, before writing, take some time to:
✅Understand the question properly and
✅Identify the key points for that question
👩🏫How Superprof Helps You Conquer SPM English
Do you know that a Superprof tutor can help you with your SPM English paper preparation? They can teach you to write vivid, interesting sentences, help with directed and descriptive writing, and help you understand the fundamentals of grammar like adjectives, verbs, nouns, adverbs and also phrases and clauses.
Superprof is a leading global platform that connects students to teachers of diverse subjects, including English! When you head over to Superprof, you can immediately find over 100,000 English tutors who are ready to help you master the latest SPM English syllabus.
Learning the SPM English curriculum with a Superprof tutor provides you with benefits such as:
- Flexible English lessons that you can schedule according to your availability
- The choice of in-person and online English lessons
- Access to thousands of trained and qualified SPM English tutors
Now that you are familiar with the SPM English syllabus and have equipped yourself with helpful learning strategies (AND an amazing Superprof English tutor who can guide you throughout your SPM English curriculum), you are ready to conquer this SPM subject!
All the best with your studies!
References
- KPM | Utama. (n.d.). https://www.moe.gov.my/
- Pitt, J., & Huebner, B. (2024). Retrieval practice improves exam performance as a function of review question number and format. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 39(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/jte.0000000000000352
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