Most pre-university students would be familiar with the exact months that the usual MUET is held: March, July and September.
Do you know that now you can sit for MUET more frequently (almost every month) through the MUET on Demand (MoD) that was introduced by the Malaysian Examinations Council in 2018?
This means a huge number of MUET candidates per year.
With so many candidates sitting for the test, have you ever wondered how to truly stand out and ace all the language components equally?
Regardless of which month you plan to sit for the MUET, you will be in good hands if you have a clear direction ahead in terms of reviewing the right MUET learning resources and mastering the right answering techniques.
In this article, we will look at some effective ways to score well on your MUET papers and go through the necessary steps to take if you intend to resit/request a remark for the test.
Identify Learning Outcomes & Structure For Each Paper
First, let's take a look at each tested component of the MUET papers.
Listening
For the listening component, candidates will be tested on their ability to draw from various subjects, topics, cultures, and backgrounds as well as their linguistic ability.
For instance, they should be able to discern if they are listening to a recording that unveils a conversation between a doctor and a patient or a conversation between a teacher and a student based on the keywords, tones and sentence structures.
After they have gathered the relevant information from the recording, they now need to process that into simplified and concise words and sentences. In other words, they need to pair the right answers to the right questions as they are listening.
The test duration for the listening component is 50 minutes and divided into 5 parts, which cover a total of 30 questions.
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Reading
Under the reading component, candidates will be tested on their comprehension and skimming ability.
For example, they have to pick up the keywords, identify the underlining meaning between the texts, distinguish between direct facts and opinions from the given text as they are reading.
After that, they need to provide the most accurate answers based on the given passage/ text either in the form of a series of multiple-choice answers or short structured sentences.
Candidates need to answer 40 questions for this test and be given 75 minutes to complete the paper.
Discover these tips to ace the tested components of your MUET papers to have a good headstart.
Writing
When it comes to the writing component, candidates are required to demonstrate three main skills through their writing:
- Macro planning: Correctly gathering the right ideas that match the question and targeted audience
- Organisation: Listing down what goes where from the introduction, body to conclusion befitting the essay format
- Micro planning: Making sure the written texts are aligned with a clear flow within the paragraphs and between the paragraphs.
The combined test duration for this component (Task 1 and Task 2 ) is 75 minutes.
Speaking
The speaking component evaluates candidates' ability to express themselves according to a given context and role.
Their speech content should not only reflect real-world settings and examples but also fulfil the following elements:
- Fluency: Able to conduct conversations confidently without pausing or hesitating. There is a smooth flow during the session.
- Accuracy: Able to utilise the right pronunciation, apt grammar and intonation.
- Range: Able to communicate effectively using varied sentences (short, long).
In terms of the examination structure of the speaking component, candidates will give an individual presentation based on a prompt/scenario for the first task. For the second task, candidates will participate in a group discussion based on a written question and each candidate will need to talk on their given prompt.
For the first task, candidates will be given 2 minutes to prepare and another 2 minutes to present. On the other hand, candidates will be given 3 minutes to prepare and another 8 to 12 minutes to discuss together.
Don't forget to explore the latest grading criteria for every MUET component as you are preparing to sit for the test.
Set A Feasible Learning Plan Based On Your Targeted Band
Once you have reviewed the latest MUET syllabus and examination format, it's time to put your knowledge into practical action.
Depending on your desired MUET band, you should come out with a solid learning plan to have a comprehensive revision journey.
Before you proceed to apply for any university programmes, it's best to check the MUET bands that you need to achieve based on the entry requirements.
What we usually suggest is to sit for a mock test to see your current level and band, and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses before determining if you need extra guidance to hit your target.
Having said that, it's important to make sure you go through a complete mock test to see where you truly stand in each language component.
You can seek the guidance of a private MUET tutor to come out with a comprehensive revision plan in terms of using the right MUET learning materials and learning the right answering techniques for each component.
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Not sure where to find one?
Head to Superprof to find the best MUET tutors near your city or opt for flexible online lessons!
With just a few clicks on the homepage, you can find a reliable MUET tutor that matches your preference in terms of hourly rates, teaching methodology, teaching experience, qualification and teaching mode.
Practice With Topical Exercises Before Doing The Complete Format
Whether it is through your Superprof tutoring or through your self-revision, it is super important to practice, practice and practice.
The more you practice with topical questions, the more familiar you will be with the question patterns but also the varied topics that could be asked in the actual examination.
Go through each question carefully with your tutor and seek immediate feedback from your tutor on how to improve the next round.
You can slowly build your confidence by exploring various MUET studying resources.
Once you have created momentum, you can continue the streak of completing all the sample modules repeatedly. First, go through the listening, reading and writing components. Next, go for the complete speaking component exercises.
Review Past MUET Reports And Examine The Answering Style Of Candidates
One important MUET studying resource that is often missed out by students is the MUET report that is released by the MEC annually.
In the report, you can read through the correct answers for each question in the components and also review the examiners' comments on what constitutes a good answer and a bad answer.
That way, you can avoid making the same mistakes as the previous candidates.
As compared to some of your peers who are sitting for the International English Language Training System (IELTS) assessment, having first-hand experience with how the examiners grade the MUET papers will give you the upper hand to score a higher band.
Steps To Take If You Want To Resit/Request Remark For Your MUET Papers
Now that you have gone through the necessary ways to prepare for the test and eventually sit for the test, all that's waiting for you is the official results announcement.
Important note: Candidates from public schools and institutions will receive their results from their respective institutions whereas private candidates will receive their results by post.
If you have achieved your desired band for the first time, a big congratulations to you!
If you did not, that's nothing to worry about as we have two solutions for you.
First solution: Resit
To resit for MUET, you just need to follow a similar registration process to your first MUET experience. You can select to sit for the test in either one of the three months or opt for MUET on Demand for a faster result.
The payment remains the same for normal MUET (RM150) but remember that MUET on Demand for Malaysian candidates is RM350. Remember to check the test location, test date and your particulars when you are registering online.
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Second solution: Remark (appeal)
If you are certain that you are deserving a higher band, for your MUET papers, you can absolutely request a remark within a week after the official result is released.
To facilitate the request, you need to pay RM70 and address the money to the Ketua Eksekutif Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia (recipient),
For online banking, an additional RM2.00 will be charged whereas payment through debit and credit cards will be charged an additional RM2.50.
The entire application process can be done at the Malaysian Examinations Council portal and the final results of the remarking will be announced after 18 working days.
If there is a change of band score after remarking, you will be awarded a new result slip.
When it comes to your MUET results, it is important to note that the result is valid for 5 years. You can check out other benefits of sitting for MUET in Malaysia.
There you have it. A step-by-step plan to tackle your MUET exams from scratch and even guidelines to resit and remark the papers.
We wish you all the best!
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