Once in a while, you may have come across a court scene while watching a legal series or movie.
Through a series of exchanged debates, questioning of witnesses and presentation of evidence, the judge will then make the final judgement and announce the ruling of the case.
Well, don't you think that this process is vaguely familiar to a job interview?
You engage in a series of Q and A sessions with the interviewer alongside your resume which showcased your experience and competence in the relevant skills. You might even bring along some certificates as proof of your ability to persuade them that you are the right fit for the job.
That said, one of the most sought-after skills in the Malaysian employment market is good English proficiency.
A piece of concrete evidence to prove that is none other than English proficiency test certification like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
In this article, we will learn more about IELTS in terms of its components, relevance and some practical tips to prepare well for this language proficiency test.
IELTS vs MUET: What Are The Differences?
At first glance, every language proficiency test may look the same. But that's not really the case.
We'll be looking at some of the major differences between IELTS and MUET.
Test purpose
With an IELTS qualification, you can use this certificate for three main reasons.
That's because there are two types of IELTS tests that cater to different targeted groups:
- IELTS Academic (Undergraduates, postgraduates, students, and those who are working in a professional industry)
- IELTS General Training (Working adults who plan to migrate to an English-speaking country)
Firstly, it is a globally recognized language proficiency test during your local and international university application.
Photo by RUT MIIT on Unsplash
Secondly, it also comes in handy during professional job applications in these fields such as accounting, pharmacy, law, medicine and others.
Last but not the least, this certificate is viewed as a solid proof of language proficiency if you intend to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom etc) in the future.
On the other hand, MUET is a language proficiency test that is solely accepted for admission purposes by Malaysian and Singaporean higher learning institutions. If you intend to study at a public university like the University of Malaya, you will need to sit for the MUET during your pre-university studies.
Frequency of assessments and locations
IELTS is held throughout the year. In fact, you can register for this test every month because it is offered on a regular and consistent basis. In Malaysia, you can book your slots via the British Council Malaysia or the IDP Malaysia website after checking the relevant availability and test location for the test that you plan to register.
When it comes to MUET, there are only three intakes for the test in a year which fall in March, July and November. The MUET test centres are usually held at public secondary schools (for Form Six students/private candidates), matriculation colleges and certain private higher learning institutions.
Band score
Next, let's review the latest band score for both IELTS and MUET.
Here's the table that contains the IELTS general descriptors for all the listed bands. Your final band is the average band for all the tested components. Let's say if you score band 7.0 for all the four components, your final IELTS band is 7.0.
| IELTS Band Scores | Skill Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert user | Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
| 8 | Very good user | Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
| 7 | Good user | Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
| 6 | Competent user | Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
| 5 | Modest user | Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. |
| 4 | Limited user | Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. |
| 2 | Intermittent user | No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non user | Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test | No assessable information provided at all. |
Starting from 2021, there have been some changes made for the MUET band scales. Instead of having 6 bands, there will also be nine bands.
You can refer to the table below for more information.
| 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. |
Price
The price of IELTS is RM795 and you can finalise the payment when you register online at the websites (IDP/British Council Malaysia).
For MUET, you'll only need to pay RM100 and you have to purchase a MEC pin number (RM1) from Bank Simpanan National or via Internet banking to register smoothly.
Read this article to have a comprehensive view of taking the IELTS test in Malaysia.
How Will You Be Tested For Your Listening Component In IELTS?
Now let's dive deep into the tested components of your IELTS assessment.
Altogether there are 4 parts to the test:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
First, let's see what is expected of the listening component.
For this paper, there are four sections (passages) and a total of 40 questions. Candidates will listen to four recordings for each section and every recording is played ONCE ONLY. The test duration is 30 minutes.
The scope of questions can be in the form of completing sentences, diagrams, tables, choosing the right options, matching the right answer options and others.
Important tip: The final answers must be written on the Answer Sheet.
What Will Be Covered For Your Reading Component In IELTS?
For the Reading paper, candidates will need to read 3 passages and answer 40 questions based on them. The passages are usually of different themes and formats and are divided into paragraphs. The test duration is 1 hour.
The scope of questions can be in the form of completing the table, matching information with paragraphs, selecting the right answer among multiple choice questions and others.
Don't miss this article to find out how you will be graded for your IELTS test.
How To Practice For Your Writing Component In IELTS?
For the Writing paper, candidates will be given two writing tasks.
Task 1 :
- Produce at least a 150-word report based on a graph, diagram, illustration
Task 2:
- Produce at least a 250-word essay about a given topic (opinion, agree/disagree position)
One way to improve your writing tremendously is to let someone who is experienced read and grade your writing. We highly recommend you to connect with a reliable and qualified Supeprof English tutor to guide you on this journey.
Source: Xframe
Here are other benefits that you can gain while you're preparing for your IELTS with a Superprof tutor:
- Clear analysis of your strengths and weaknesses (grammar, idea formation, comprehension)
- Consistent practice to improve your writing skills
- Constant feedback on how to be a better writer and how to score well
- Boost of confidence as you're preparing for your IELTS test
- Flexible learning experience (online/face-to-face)
Quickly head to the Superprof Malaysia homepage and look for an English tutor near you.
You can easily browse the tutors' profiles and look up their teaching experience, teaching qualification, hourly rate, teaching methodology and past students' reviews. We guarantee that your writing skills will improve in no time once you begin your lessons!
Discover these practical tips to ace your IELTS Academic papers.
What Should You Take Note Of When You're Preparing For The Speaking Component In IELTS?
The last component that we will be talking about is the Speaking paper.
In this paper, candidates will go through three speaking sessions. The total test duration is eleven to fourteen minutes.
Source: Xframe
The first session consists of the candidate's self-introduction and a simple interview process. Some of the questions asked could touch on your family, personal interest, current job, your studies, university or programme that you intend to study and so on. [4 to 5 minutes]
The second session is an independent long run where candidates will be given a card containing the topic and relevant prompts. Candidates will be given a minute to prepare and you can then talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes. For example, if the topic is your favourite book, you should talk briefly about the characters of the book. [3 to 4 minutes]
The third session is a two-way discussion and follow-up Q and A session based on the mentioned topic of the second session. In between, the interviewer might ask you more questions based on the answers that you have given earlier. [4 to 5 minutes]
After you have finished what you intend to say within the time limit, the interviewer will then wrap up the session.
Important tip: The Speaking Paper may be conducted on a different day. It will most likely take place on the day after your written test of the Listening, Reading and Writing components. Be sure to double-check this with your registered test location.
Gain some insights on how to score for your IELTS General Training Test if you're planning to migrate to an English- speaking country.
When And Where Can You Register For Your IELTS Test in Malaysia?
You're now one step closer to getting an IELTS certification.
As you prepare and practice for the test, it's also important to decide where and when you want to sit for the test. This helps you to have a clear goal and motivation to score well.
Here are the two most common IELTS test providers in Malaysia.
1. British Council Malaysia
The British Council Malaysia is a globally recognized and prestigious language learning centre. Under this centre, you can choose up to 16 locations in the following states (around 19 dates per month) in Malaysia:
- Kuala Lumpur
- Selangor
- Penang
- Sarawak
- Sabah
- Johor Bahru
- Melaka
- Perak
2. IDP Malaysia
Currently, there are 12 official IDP test locations in Malaysia. If you are looking for a location that offers both the paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS test, you can book your slots at the following locations:
- IDP IELTS Subang Jaya
- IDP IELTS Kuala Lumpur
- IDP IELTS Johor Bahru
- IDP IELTS Penang,
- IDP IELTS Kuching
- IDP IELTS Kota Kinabalu
You can finalise your registration process through their official website.
We hope you have found this article insightful! With a good grasp of the test format and guidance from a Superprof English tutor, the journey of getting an IELTS certificate will certainly be nothing short of rewarding!
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