Have you ever thought about the importance of being able to write an excellent English essay in your SPM paper?
Since the latest update to the SPM English format in 2021, the SPM English qualification has been lauded as a reliable benchmark for Malaysians who want to reach a global standard of English. Currently, the SPM English 2024/2025 syllabus is targeted to help students achieve CEFR B1 and B2 standards of English.
With that, understanding the SPM English format and the marking schemes can help students answer exam questions confidently. That is because familiarising oneself with exam patterns and knowing how to answer questions accurately can enhance student performance!
Are you stuck figuring out which SPM English papers will teach you the correct exam format and scoring system?
Fear not. This article provides a breakdown of what you need to know about the format and marking schemes of all the SPM English papers. Let's begin with SPM English Paper 1.
What must I know about SPM English Paper 1?
First, look at the table below to understand the SPM English Paper 1 format.
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions/ Parts | Tasks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPM English Paper 1 (1119/1) Reading and Use of English | 1 hour 30 minutes | 40 questions | Multiple-choice questions Multiple-choice cloze Gapped text Matching and information transfer | 25% (40 marks paper) |
Now you know that SPM English Paper 1 is essentially a reading comprehension paper. Since the answers for this paper are fixed, you just need to choose the correct answer from the options provided to you or complete phrases and sentences using the information provided in the texts.
Allow us to break down the marking scheme for SPM English Paper 1:
Part 1 (Multiple-Choice Questions)
Students will read short texts from books, advertisements, magazines and more. Choose the best answer out of 3 choices for each question. (8 marks)
Part 2 (Multiple-Choice Cloze)
Read a passage (testing grammar and vocabulary) and choose the best answer out of 4 choices for each question. (10 marks)
Part 3 (Multiple-Choice Questions)
Read a long passage and choose the best answer out of 3 choices for each question. (6 marks)
Part 4 (Gapped Text)
Read a passage in which six sentences have been removed. Fill in these gaps with the choices provided. (8 marks)
Part 5 (Matching and Information Transfer)
Identify and match paragraphs to the 4 given statements. Then, find 4 words from the texts to complete the given sentences. (8 marks)
For SPM English Paper 1, it is wise to read all the texts and questions carefully before putting down your answers. Make sure you read all the options provided, and for the parts where you have to fill in the blanks, ensure that your answers use accurate grammar and tenses while remaining relevant to the overall text.
You'll understand when you try out SPM English reference and past papers for yourself!
What is the English essay SPM format?
Moving on to SPM English Paper 2, which is the writing paper.
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions/ Parts | Tasks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPM English Paper 2 (1119/2) Writing | 1 hour 30 minutes | 3 questions | Short communicative message Directed writing Extended writing | 25% (60 marks paper) |
You may be worried about what kind of English essay SPM topics you will have to write about. In reality, you don't have to write very lengthy essays in this paper since most writing tasks are in the limited-response format! Let's look at the marking scheme for SPM English Paper 2 and some guidance on how to write each English essay.
Don't forget that you should know your SPM English 2024/2025 syllabus like it's in the back of your hand.
Part 1 (Short Communicative Message)
Write a short note or email in less than 80 words. Students must write their essay based on the short note or email provided in the question. They are also encouraged to provide straight-to-the-point answers with little elaboration due to the word limit. (20 marks)
Part 2 (Guided Writing)
Write an essay in about 125 to 150 words. Based on the notes given, write an essay with a body of three to four points, and elaborate your ideas with opinions, evidence and related subject matter. (20 marks)
Part 3 (Extended Writing)
Choose one out of 3 choices of essay topics to write about. In about 200 to 250 words, write a report/ review/ article/ story (depending on your choice) based on the notes given. Elaborate your main points with sufficient opinions, evidence, examples and related subject matter. Include a good introduction and conclusion for a great English essay. (20 marks)
We also want to emphasise that examiners will use the assessment scales of...
- Content - essay content is relevant to the task
- Communicative achievement - essay communicates tasks effectively and with ease while being able to grab the reader's attention
- Organisation - essay is well-organised and uses coherent language
- Language - essay uses appropriate range of vocabulary and grammatical forms
... when marking your English essay SPM papers.
Here's an article to help you pick up further tips for answering SPM English Papers 1 and 2.
Is the English speaking test format for SPM difficult?
We have made it to SPM English Paper 3! Out of all the SPM English papers, the English speaking test is the only paper that will be carried out internally - with a subject teacher and one of your friends as a speaking partner. You may find yourself enjoying a conversation with your classmate!
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions/ Parts | Tasks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPM English Paper 3 (1119/3) Speaking | About 13 minutes | 3 parts | Interview Individual speaking based on text/ verbal prompt Discussion based on mind map stimulus | 25% (24 marks paper) |
And here is the marking scheme for Paper 3 you need to watch out for:
Part 1 (Interview)
Answer 4 simple questions within 3 to 4 minutes. You will be asked general questions about yourself, such as your name or your family members.
Part 2 (Individual Discussion)
Answer a few questions based on a random topic given. You will be given 20 seconds to prepare your answers. Complete your answer within 1 minute.
Part 3 (Discussion With Partner)
Converse with your partner for 2 minutes based on a given topic, and spend 1 minute making your final stand or conclusion. Speak for a total of 3 minutes in this part.
The three analytical criteria for SPM English Paper 3 are grammar, vocabulary and communicative competence. Ideally, students should demonstrate a high degree of grammatical control, possess a good command of language structures and grammatical forms, and express themselves in English easily.
Tip: You are encouraged to remain calm throughout the English speaking test, and choose words and tenses that you know over flowery or bombastic word choices.
Click here for more tips to score your SPM English papers!
How to respond to SPM English listening test questions?
Despite some controversy surrounding the legitimacy of SPM English listening tests, it is clear that being familiar with spoken English will help you master the SPM English format for Paper 4:
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions/ Parts | Tasks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPM English Paper 4 (1119/4) Listening | About 40 minutes | 30 questions | Multiple-choice questions Matching Note completion | 25% (30 marks paper) |
Based on the current marking scheme, there are four parts you need to answer in this paper. Generally, you will listen to audio recordings of conversations, speeches, dialogues or talks and then answer the questions given.
- Part 1 - Listen to 7 different situations 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.
Before answering the questions, be sure you understand what the questions are asking for, and that will help you look for the correct answers as you listen to the audio being played.
There are fantastic resources to help you master SPM English listening skills and more.
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After all the preparations you've made to follow the SPM English format during the actual SPM exam and memorise the marking schemes... you may still find it challenging to tackle your English speaking test and other parts of the SPM English syllabus.
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Accessibility to learning SPM English with a qualified tutor is just one of the many benefits students can experience on Superprof. We are pleased to let you know students who have signed up on Superprof can easily schedule lessons with their SPM English tutor in their own time! That means you can schedule lessons with your Superprof tutor according to your availability, so you can still take a break from studying on the weekends if you wish.
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Now, you are sure to master the SPM English format and marking schemes to score well in your SPM English papers! We wish you the best of luck.
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