MUET My Way 2021

MUET
My Way
MUET NEW
CEFR-ALIGNED
EXAM FORMAT

B QR codes for all
O
N listening tracks
U
S

INFO VIDEO

Mdm. Audrey Koh
Dr. Jane Cheok Mei Lick

CONTENTS

Preface iii Part

About MUET iv 3 READING 109
111
◗ Fix Your Broken English 1 • Introduction 111
• Level 1: Grammar Module 34 • CEFR-aligned Notes 112
• Descriptors for Reading Skills 114
(Self-Assessment) • Reading Test Overview 118
• Level 2: Grammar Module • Reading Strategies
• Model Tasks in Reading
(Coded Marking)

◗ Vocab Building 50 Part
• Wow Factor (Vocab Wordlist) 58
• Wow Factor (Proverbs) 61 4 WRITING
• Wow Factor (Phrases) 67
• Wow Factor (Expressions) • Introduction 129

• Task 1: Emails and Letters 129

• Email Sample Answers 135

Part • Letter Sample Answers 137

1 Listening • Task 1 (Practices 1 – 6) 139

• Introduction 73 • Focussed Writing Practice 147
• Listening Text Overview 74
• CEFR-aligned 76 • How to Write Effective Introductions 148
• Listening Strategies 77
• Helpful Tips 78 • How to Write Effective Body 154
• Example of a Complete Paragraphs
Listening Paper 79
• How to add Critical Thinking 158
Elements

• How to write Effective Conclusions 159

• Task 2 (Practices 1 – 8) 173

Part • MUET Academic Essay Template 192

2 SPEAKING 85 • S ample Outlines for MUET 201
Academic Essays
• Introduction 87
• MUET Speaking Paper 91 • P eer Review Checklist 214
Sample Question 95
• Part 1 100 ◗ Model Test 219
• Part 2
• Practice 1 – Practice 5 ◗ Tapescript 237

◗ Answers 247

◗ Teacher’s Handbook 253

vi

MUET My Way Fix Your Broken English  GRAMMAR

Fix Your Broken English

Level 1 : Grammar Module

A self-diagnostic assessment of your grammar level and a grammar quick fix to solve your broken
English problems.

Written by 

Audrey Koh Sui Ean (B.K.)
Master of Education in Teaching & Learning with Distinction

University of HELP, KL (2019)
Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language

University of Exeter, UK (2001)

Introduction

Welcome to the first step in fixing your broken English! Congratulations for choosing to complete
this grammar self-help module because these notes are guaranteed to help you identify your own
problems in grammar AND provide the solutions or the cure for your errors.

My name is Madam Audrey Koh and I have done endless research and trials to perfect my grammar notes.
Rest assured that I have done all the hard work, and all you have to do is internalise the grammar formula
which have been broken down to very simple codes. Trust me, this module will help you improve your
proficiency in English by leaps and bounds!

Recent studies have shown that a lot of fresh graduates and working adults cannot get good jobs or
promotions simply because of their lack of proficiency in English. With this diagnostic test and the grammar
notes in this section of this book, you will be able to unlock your potential and improve your overall
proficiency in the English language.

This grammar section has been arranged and laid out in a manner which is very simple yet effective in
identifying your grammar problem areas. It also provides clear explanations and useful grammar formula
in addition to exercises to fix your broken structures. All it takes is a little bit of effort and you can complete
Level 1 in record time! Once you have the mechanics of the language ironed out, you can then focus on
writing English effectively as well as speaking English convincingly and confidently using proper grammar.
You may then sit for your MUET examination will better confidence and I would certainly wish you the
best of luck.

1

  MUET My Way Fix Your Broken English

GRAMMAR 4 One of the solution is... s Logically, you can only choose
One of the reason is... r 1 from many, not 1 from 1.

5 ...the person who are in- 1 +s Subject Verb Agreement:
charge... p  who i  –s 1 +s / >1 –s

...the people who is in- 1 * except sentences that start
incharge p  who a  with ‘You' or ‘I’.

6 For examples... For e   ... Do not add ‘s’.
,1 and Must add ‘s’ to show quantity.
...gadgets such as handphone, h 

laptop and tablet. t

7 The lecturer must explain the by g  by + ing
for + ing
answer by give examples for for e 
explain the solution.

8 (modals: should, could, would,
will, can, must etc)

The Ministry of Education should p  to modal + ori
should providing free s  to + ori

broadband for students to
surfing the internet.

9 Heavier fines must be give to must be g  modal + be + P4
to + be + P4
the ones who break the law so to be t 
that they remember that laws P1 give(s) P1 take(s)
are to be take seriously. P2 giving P2 taking
P3 gave P3 took
P4 given P4 taken

10 He have make a difference 1 +s P4 Present tense:
today has + P4 / have + P4
He h  m 
They has make a difference Past tense:
today. 1 –s P4 had + P4
P1 make(s)
We has made a difference They h  m  P2 making
yesterday. P3 made
Past tense P4 P4 made

has/have
h  m 

34

MUET My Way Fix Your Broken English 

Level 2 : Grammar Module

The Process Step 1 Draft GRAMMAR
Step 2 Coded Marking
Step 3 Final Edit

1 Nouns

a/an 1, >1 +s

e.g. a book, books
an egg, eggs
a child, children

Step 1: Draft

1 The student are studying.
2 Mobile phone are a necessity.
3 A stories is usually written in the past tense.
4 The famous chefs just arrived with his crew.
5 There are many type of cutlery such as spoon, fork and knife.
6 The principals advises the pupil to prepare for their examination.
7 Crime like robbery and snatch theft often occur these day.
8 On this days, one of the sister got married to doctor.

Step 2: Coded marking

1 +s
1 The student are studying.

2 Mobile p>h1on+esare a necessity.

1 –s
3 A stories is usually written in the past tense.

1 –s
4 The famous chefs just arrived with his crew.

5 There are m>an1y typ+esof cutlery such as >1 >1 >1
spoon, fork and knife.

6 The princ1ipal–ssadvises the >1 +s prepare for their examination.
pupil to

>1 >1 >1 >1
7 Crime like robbery and snatch theft often occur these day.
1 –s +s –
8 On this days, one of the sister got married to doctor.

35

  MUET My Way Fix Your Broken English

(8 errors)

GRAMMAR 1 +s (P.1) adjective
Self-discipline are is very importance important because each people person must learn to
pronoun
look after themself themselves + ori try pronoun best totoc+arorryi ing carry pronoun
and trying they their out they their

reponsibility.

(9 errors)

To be aa/agnood 1 –s entreprenuer , innovation modal + be + P.4 prioritised because
entreprenuers should be prioritise
+s (P.1) 1 –s modal + ori >1 + s
noun 1 creativity are is aa/vaenry useful skills skill that can increased increase sale sales and customer
creative

noun adjective –s
satisfied  satisfaction as well as products  product branding.

(10 errors) >1 modal + be + P.4 >1 + s

More young person people should be involving involved in volunteer activity activities that
–s (P.1)
is  are good –s building and it is a ag/oaond w1ay–ss  way to teon+gaogrei d  engage
for characters  character

youth in community senrovuicned   service and encouorrai ges  encourage pronoun to be future leaders.
they  them

50

  MUET My Way Vocabulary

VOCABULARY fruitfully logically offensively reasonably supposedly
fully loyally openly regardless sustainably
fundamentally lyrically optimistically remarkably technologically
furiously marginally organically reportedly temporarily
generously mathematically overly respectively terminally
genetically maturely overwhelmingly rigorously terribly
genuinely medically partially roughly thankfully
globally memorably passively satisfactorily thereafter
greatly merely peculiarly seemingly thereby
hardly metaphorically persistently severely thoroughly
hence miraculously philosophically similarly timely
henceforth miserably precisely simultaneously totally
holistically miserly predominantly solely tragically
honestly modestly presently somehow undoubtedly
hopefully monthly prestigiously sometime unjustly
hungrily monumentally presumably specifically usually
hurriedly moreover prevalently statistically utterly
independently mostly primarily steadfastly volatilely
instantly namely productively steadily voluntarily
intellectually necessarily profoundly stereotypically whatsoever
ironically neutrally progressively stoically whereby
lamentably newly protectively strictly wholly
lately nonetheless psychologically strongly

laterally notably purely substantially

literally notoriously readily succinctly

58

H Love & Friendship MUET My Way Vocabulary  VOCABULARY
1 Love is colour blind.
2 The way to a man’s heart is through his 8 Keep your friends close but your enemies
closer.
stomach.
3 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 9 To be without a friend is to be poor indeed.
4 Love understands all languages. 10 Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
5 Don't judge a book by its cover. 11 In love, a beggar and a king are equal.
6 A friend in need is a friend indeed. 12 The best things in life are free.
7 False friends are worse than open enemies. 13 A smile never costs anything.
14 Laughter is the best medicine.

I Health
1 An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
2 Eat to live, not live to eat.
3 A healthy man is a successful man.
4 Health is wealth.
5 Good health is better than wealth.
6 Better to wear out than to rust out.
7 Better be poor and healthy than rich and sick.
8 Prevention is better than cure.
9 The beginning of health is sleep.
10 Good health is the sister of beauty.
11 Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
12 Good health and good sense are two great blessings.
13 A healthy body is a healthy mind.
14 We are what we eat.

J Environment
1 Go Green. There is no Planet B.
2 The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is today.
3 Do your duty to keep nature a beauty.
4 Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you.
5 He that plants trees, loves others besides himself.
6 A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
7 The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth.
8 The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
9 We do not inherit this earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
10 Ignorance is a form of environmental pollution.

61

MUET My Way Vocabulary 

Other ways to express excitement/disappointment…

Low Band / High I couldn’t believe it! It was uninteresting.
It was so disappointing.
Frequency I had a whale of a time!

I had a blast (of a time)! It was a total let down. VOCABULARY

To see is to believe! It was uninspiring.

It was out-of-this-world! I was expecting so much more.

It was beyond my wildest imagination! It was a disheartening experience.

It was way above my greatest expectation! It left a lot to be desired.

I can’t wrap my head around it! It was cold and unengaging.

It deserved a standing ovation! It was a complete waste of time!

High Band / Low It was literally unfathomable! It was such a time-waster!
It was a so pointless!
Frequency It was mind-blowingly amazing.

Other ways to end your writing…

Low Band / High Write soon!

Frequency Bye for now.

That’s all for now, bye.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Take care, stay safe and write soon.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

I’m looking forward to reading your reply.

Talk to you later, have a splendid day ahead!

Keep safe and update me as soon as possible.

High Band / Low I will catch up with you another time. Bye for now.

Frequency It was a joy to receive news from you, write again soon.

67

PART

  MUET My Way Part 1 - Listening

1

LISTENING Introduction

1 Paper 1 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is
Listening. The aim of the paper is to test candidates’ abilities to
understand spoken discourse at tertiary education level.

2 Therefore, subjects and topics in the test will be of academic and
educational environment. However, it could also include people
and culture, financial awareness and consumerism, science and
technology, and health and environment.

MUET Duration: Overview
800/1 50 minutes
PAPER 1

Structure of The paper 30 Multiple
the paper is made up Choice
of 5 parts
Questions

25% 90 marks Marks
weighting

Quotes 3 There are a few types of knowledge needed in answering the
listening test. First, background knowledge would require candidates
“Everything in writing begins to draw on their understanding of real-world setting and are able to
with language. Language respond to them accordingly.
begins with listening.”
4 In terms of linguistic knowledge, candidates need phonological,
~ Jeanette Winterson ~ syntactic, and lexical ranging from general to discipline-specific
words.

5 In addition, pragmatic knowledge will need candidates to have
mastered functional use of knowledge, knowledge of discourse,
coherence and cohesion, and text types.

74

MUET My Way Part 1 - Listening  LISTENING

6 Sociocultural rules however, would demand candidates to know how
to use and respond to language appropriately. In this paper some
cognitive processes required are to decode input, carry out lexical
search, syntactic parsing, meaning construction and discourse
construction.

7 What these mean are candidates will need to understand what is
being said, to understand specific word or meanings made or used
in context, and breaking down sentences into its elements in order
to understand a sentence.

8 The format of the paper entails five parts; with 30 multiple-choice
questions. Table 1 will give you a clearer picture of the paper’s
structure as provided by the Malaysian Examination Syndicate.

Listening Test Overview

Part Text Type Length Focus of the Test Question Number of Duration
of Text Type Questions of the
and CEFR
Listening
Level Task

• To understand simple

phrases and expressions 7 (A2 – B1)
• To identify general and
1 A Dialogue 600 to 650 Multiple Questions 10 minutes
words specific information choice 1–7
• To understand main ideas questions

made in clear standard

speech on familiar

matters

• To understand simple

phrases and expressions

• To identify general and

specific information

• To understand main ideas

made in clear standard

speech on familiar 7 (B1 – B2)

2 A Monologue 600 to 650 matters Multiple Questions 10 minutes
words • To understand main ideas choice 8 – 14
questions
in linguistically complex

speech

• To understand familiar

and unfamiliar topics

• To follow extended

speech and complex

lines of argument on

reasonably familiar topics

75

MUET My Way Part 1 - Listening 

26 The expression, “I see what you mean”, means ...
A Hisham saw Nasaruddin.
B Hisham disagrees with Nasaruddin.
C Hisham understands Nasaruddin’s explanation.

Dialogue 2   Track 6

Listen to a conversation between Izan and Wong. As you listen, choose the LISTENING
correct answers for questions 27 to 28. Indicate your answers on the answer
sheet.

27 Wong cheated in the exam because ...
A she was good at it.
B she was not prepared.
C she was used to doing it.

28 Izan had to repeat taking the exam because ...
A she had cheated in the exam.
B she didn’t finish answering her paper.
C her nose was bleeding during the exam.

Dialogue 3   Track 7

Listen to a talk by Hamini. As you listen, choose the correct answers for
questions 29 to 30. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet.

29 Extensive reading helps build implicit knowledge of the language by
...
A learning more words.
B letting them know more authors.
C helping them answer reading comprehension questions.

30 Which of the statements below is not the reason why students need
to read books at their level?
A To enable them to enjoy what they read.
B To enable them to understand what they read.
C To enable them to be able to read the text in the books aloud.

85

PART

  MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking

2

SPEAKING MUET Speaking Paper

1 Paper 2 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is
Speaking. This paper is divided into two sections. The first part is
an individual 2 minute presentation and the second part involves an
8 – 12 minute discussion revolving around a mind map.

2 Both questions will be related to a theme but the questions for both
parts will be slightly different. This encourages students to discuss a
wider scope of issues before coming to a conclusion.

3 The objective of the discussion is to decide which of the points
given, or additional points raised by the group members, is the most
important factor, best strategy or similar.

MUET 800/2 Duration: Overview
PAPER 2 30 minutes

Structure of The paper is Part 1:
the paper made up of 2 min Individual

2 parts Presentation
Part 2:

8 – 12 min Group
Discussion

25% weighting 90 marks Marks

Hot Tips
1 Read the question carefully and take note of the issue you should

focus on. Remember that you MUST agree with the point so DO
NOT write notes against the issue.

2 Use the 2 mins to BRAINSTORM your points. Train your brain

to come up with 3 sub-points and for each one, outline multiple
reasons and concrete examples.

86

MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking 

3 Pay attention to language proficiency and body language when Tips

presenting. All you need to do is speak confidently and actively • 3 points are advisable but
for 2 mins straight and make sure you contribute proactively do not fret if you do not
to the discussion as well. Challenge yourself to ask questions, manage to speak on all 3.
give opinions and if possible, offer to do the introduction and
conclusion for your group. • You only need to
speak eloquently and
4 There are usually 2 examiners and 4 candidates per test. Before that convincingly for 2 mins for
Part 1.
you will be quarantined with up to 20 other candidates including
yourself. Use the quarantine time to decide who will lead the
discussion and do the conclusion, it may be the same person.
Do not be too stressed if you run out of time to do a conclusion
because it is not compulsory to have one.

5 Remember to memorise the starter phrases and add pizzaz to SPEAKING

your speech with a variety of proverbs and quotes, idioms and
expressions to show off your linguistic proficiency. (You can refer
to Wow Factor Vocab page 62)

6 Always use synonyms where possible. Here are some examples:

set up pupils

orchestrate organise youngsters peers

PLAN STUDENTS

coordinate carry out youth teens

implement teenagers

7 Always offer to help your fellow candidates who have trouble

finding the right vocabulary or if they get stuck while making a
sentence. You will be assessed for your communicative ability and
how you manage the discussion.

8 Pay attention to the time by wearing a watch. If you still have a

lot of time, discuss why the other points are NOT suitable. Use
phrases like: “Why don’t we consider...?”

87

  MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking

9 Actively listen to your friends while nodding slightly and taking

notes, and always comment on their points before introducing
your own idea. Be careful to not speak about all your points at
once and making it a second presentation. Focus on a sub-point,
present it and ask for opinions.

10 Good luck and just try your best!

SPEAKING Let’s take a look at a sample question for the
MUET Speaking paper.
Quotes
PART 1: Individual Presentation
“If you have an important • You have 2 minutes to prepare.
point to make, don't try to • You have 2 minutes to talk.
be subtle or clever. Use a
pile driver and hit it again. Situation
Then hit it a third time – a As a future leader, there are many qualities one must have in order
tremendous whack.” to be a good leader. Suggest some of the qualities to be taken into
consideration.
~ Winston Churchill ~
CANDIDATE A
You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about being responsible.

Tips Situation
As a future leader, there are many qualities one must have in order
You can jot down important to be a good leader. Suggest some of the qualities to be taken into
points or notes. consideration.
CANDIDATE B
You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about being
hardworking.

Situation
As a future leader, there are many qualities one must have in order
to be a good leader. Suggest some of the qualities to be taken into
consideration.
CANDIDATE C
You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about being honest.

88

MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking  SPEAKING

Situation
As a future leader, there are many qualities one must have in order
to be a good leader. Suggest some of the qualities to be taken into
consideration.

CANDIDATE D
You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about being fair.

PART 2: Group discussion
• You have 3 minutes to prepare.
• In your discussion, you may support or oppose the other test takers’

views.
• Some ideas have been provided in the mind map below. You may use

these ideas or come up with your own ideas.
• At the end of the discussion, try to decide on the best suggestion.
• You have 8 to 12 minutes for the discussion.

Situation
Some businesses are more successful than others. In your group, discuss
some factors that give certain businesses more advantage over others.

The boss

The customer What factors The workers
service affect the success

of a business?

The product The location

At the end of the discussion, try to decide the most important factor
that affects the success of a business.

89

  MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking

Before we begin, let us look at the language and organisation needed to prepare a good answer.

No. Sample phrases/sentences Choose your Remember to:
favourite!

Greetings:

1 Good morning I bid to one and all.

2 Good morning to the examiners and my fellow MEMORISE YOUR
1 candidates. PREFERRED

3 Good morning one and all. PHRASES BEFORE THE TEST

4 Top of the morning to everyone.

5 A wonderful morning I bid to everyone here today.

Opinions:

SPEAKING 1 From my point of view, I think that.. MAINTAIN
2 Based on my point of view, I believe that.. GOOD EYE CONTACT WITH
2 EXAMINERS & CANDIDATES
3 In my humble opinion, I completely agree that..
4 From my perspective, I find that ...

5 Personally speaking, I consider ...

1st Point:

1 Firstly,

2 First and foremost, SMILE FROM YOUR EYES!!
3 MAKE SURE THEY TWINKLE!

3 At the forefront of this issue is...

4 For starters,...

5 To start/begin with,...

Reasons:

4 This is because... Moreover... USE SOME HAND
This can be attributed to... Additionally,... GESTURES FOR EMPHASIS
Examples:

5
For instance.. and so on.

2nd Point:

1 Secondly,... SIT UP STRAIGHT
6

2 Moving on to my next point...

3 Another point to ponder is that...

90

MUET My Way Part 2 - Speaking 

Situation
Frontliners have to face a higher risk during the pandemic. In your group, discuss some ways the
government can give them better recognition for their contributions.

Increase salary

Hire more frontliners What can the government Increase opportunities
do to recognise the for training
contributions of
frontliners? SPEAKING

Free uniforms & Personal Reward high
Protection Equipment (PPE) performing frontliners

At the end of the discussion, try to decide the best way the government can promote unity in today’s
society.

109

PART

  MUET My Way Part 3 - Reading

3

Introduction

1 Paper 3 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is Reading.
2 This test will take you 75 minutes.
3 The aim of the paper is to test candidates’ abilities to understand

reading texts at tertiary education level. These reading texts will
cover both the formal and less formal text types.

MUET Duration: Overview
800/3 75 minutes
PAPER 3

READING Structure of The paper 40 questions
the paper is made up
of 7 parts

25% 90 marks Marks
weighting

4 Topics in the texts are what most students are likely to encounter in
their academic and educational surrounding. There is no reason to
be worried as even a non-specialist will be able to understand topics
in these academic areas.

Education People and Financial
Culture Awareness and
Consumerism
Topics
covered

Environment Science and
and Health Technology

110

MUET My Way Part 3 - Reading  READING

5 In the Reading Test, candidates should have good linguistic knowledge
in terms of grammar, sentence structure and choice of vocabulary.

6 In addition, candidates need to have pragmatic knowledge, related to
discourse, coherence, cohesion and the various text types.

7 Sociocultural rules however, would demand candidates to know how
to use and respond to language appropriately. For example, when we
are addressing an employer or a friend, there will be differences in
how we handle them.

8 Some of the mental processes required when reading include
elements like:
Visual input
Word recognition
Lexical access
Syntactic parsing
Establishing Propositional Meaning (Clause and sentence levels)

Inferencing

Building a mental model

Creating a text level representation

Creating an intertextual representation
9 Reading skills tested include the following:

Identifying specific information
Identifying main ideas and supporting details
Inferencing: This involves thinking skills. You need to observe and
interpret what you have read. Answers will not be available to be
copied directly.
Identifying details and examples from sources to support an
argument
Distinguishing facts from opinions

Interpreting texts for the author’s intention

Attitudes and style

Identifying the purpose of a paragraph or text

Recognising the text structure of the whole text

Categorising similarities and differences across texts

Identifying cause and effect relationships

Predicting outcomes

Summarising

Comparing and evaluating information in different texts

111

MUET My Way Part 3 - Reading 

34 From paragraph 1, we know that the intention of fake news is NOT
to
A upset people.
B keep people informed.
C get people to read other stories
D lead people to their advertisement

35 To know if a story is not fake, one must do the following except ...
A look out for peculiar signs.
B always determine the source.
C validate the story in other sites.
D determine the story’s happiness index.

36 Google Reverse Image is used to
A track a false image.
B reverse an image.
C duplicate an image.
D show you if an image has been used.

37 These are ways you can spot a fake photo except ... Tips READING
A to study the photo closely.
B by staring at it for 5 minutes. As you read, cancel out
C check if it was photoshopped. the options that are clearly
D to use Google Reverse Image search wrong.

38 If the stories are in other websites, chances are they are ... Tips
A real.
B fake. You can refer to subheading 3
C not valid. to get the answer
D need further checking.

39 How do you know that a story may not be true?
A It is well-written.
B It uses all capital letters.
C It follows all the mechanics of writing.
D It does not have too many advertisements.

40 Why do we need to detect fake news?
A To report to the police.
B To share and warn others.
C To correct what was wrong.
D To decide if you want to read.

129

PART

  MUET My Way Part 4 - Writing

4

Introduction

1 Paper 4 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is
Writing. The aim of the paper is to test the ability of students to
write various types of texts in English fluently and in a mature,
logical and organised fashion.

2 Two writing tasks are set to assess the ability of the MUET candidate:
Task 1: Writing letter or email of at least 100 words; and Task 2:
Writing essay (discursive, argumentative, or a problem-solution) of
at least 250 words.

MUET Duration: Overview
800/4 75 minutes
PAPER 4

WRITING Structure of The paper Task 1
the paper is made up Task 2
of 2 parts

25% 90 marks Marks
weighting

Task 1  Emails & Informal Letters

Let’s focus on the first task in the writing paper which involves either
writing emails or informal letters. It should be a simple process but here are
some hot tips to help you score better in this section. Before proceeding,
let’s look at the two sample questions below.

130

MUET My Way Part 4 - Writing 

Email

You are advised to spend about 25 minutes on this task.
Your classmate, Prada, was absent from school because she was sick.
Read the email from her asking about the school Science camp which
she missed.

From: Prada
Subject: Oh I missed the Science camp!

Hi! Notes WRITING
How have you been? I feel very sad that I could not join the camp. Great!
How was it?
I heard that there were lots of fun things to do at the camp! What was Describe.
your favourite activity during the camp?
I also heard campers had to cook their own food. Did you like it? No, because..
I heard too that the school is planning another camp soon and I want Tell Prada.
to join it. Would you like to join me?
Write soon! Tips
Prada
In this sample email, you will
Using all the notes given, write a reply of at least 100 words in an need to respond using the
appropriate style. notes given on the righthand
side. Also, it would seem that
Now let’s take a look at a sample question for an informal letter format. you do not need to write out
the actual email address but
Letter you should have a subject
line. Your responses can be
You are advised to spend about 25 minutes on this task. in informal language but
Your friend, Aina, was not able to attend her friend’s sister’s wedding do avoid slang (e.g. gonna,
because she was busy. Read the letter from her asking about the wedding wanna etc.) and short forms
which she missed. popular in SMS chat (e.g. LOL,
rcvd, gtg etc.) You should keep
Unit 8-8 to the 100 word count as it
Gardens Condo is unclear whether students
89600 Papar will be penalised for going
Sabah over the limit, but even if
2 February 202_ you do exceed, do ensure
Dear Mahani, that you do not overdo it
I hope you’re doing well. I’m so disappointed that I could not attend because the more you write,
your eldest sister’s wedding. How was it? the more likely it is for you to
make grammatical mistakes
that are self-penalising. To
add pizzazz to your response,
do use expressions, sayings,
idioms or proverbs where
appropriate but again, keep
to the word count and do not
be too unnecessarily verbose.

Notes
It was great!

131

Model Test MUET My Way Model Test 

Paper 1: Listening (800/1)

(50 Minutes)

Instructions to candidates:
The test consists of five parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Each part comprises a recording.
You will listen to each recording twice.
Answer the questions as you listen, and indicate your answers on the answer sheet.
You will be given time to read the questions when the test begins.

PART 1  Track 8

Listen to a conversation between a TV Interviewer and a renowned psychologist Dr. Raymond. As you
listen, choose the correct answers for questions 1 to 7. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet.

1 What topic was being discussed? 5 What happens when we are grateful? MODEL TEST
A Health A We will not suffer so much.
B Education B We will attract more of what we feel.
C Psychology C We will prevent bad incidents from
happening.
2 According to Dr. Raymond, gratitude
functions through ... 6 Which of the following describes gratitude
A the mind. and its effects?
B Universal law. A What you seek is seeking you.
C one’s understanding. B What goes around comes around
C Where there’s a will, there’s a way
3 What was the first strategy that was shared
about how to be more grateful? 7 Which diagram summarises the talk?
A To keep saying “thank you” A Universal law
B To be thankful of what one has
C To honour everything around us Gratitude

4 The second strategy shared about being Abundance
more grateful is through ...
A words.
B actions.
C thoughts.

219

  MUET My Way Model Test C Abundance
Gratitude
B Gratitude
Universal law Universal law

Abundance

PART 2  Track 9

Listen to a talk by Mr. Navarro who has recently published his latest book, Kintsugi. As you listen, choose
the correct answers for questions 8 to 14. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet..

MODEL TEST 8 The book, Kintsugi shows ... 12 Why was the book written?
A pain A To help people be independent.
B a scar B To help people overcome challenges in
C broken pieces life
C To help people understand what
9 The book starts with adversity is.
A what adversity is.
B how to repair one’s life. 13 According to Navarro, what is the first step
C stories of others overcoming to overcome adversity?
adversities. A Consult a psychologist
B Think that we are not responsible
10 Why did Navarro compile real cases in his C Realise that what we are experiencing is
book? not unusual
A To explain his methods better
B To further convince the readers 14 Navarro believed that the first step to
C For readers to help themselves and overcome adversity is to ...
others. A share it.
B embrace it.
11 Kintsugi is ... C understand it.
A a how-to book.
B a motivational book
C an autobiography book.

220

MUET My Way Model Test 

PART 3  Track 10

Listen to three people; Shalini, Hamini and Lakshman talking about the three basic writing tips. For
questions 15 to 17, choose the writing tips each author thinks is most effective from the list A to E. Use
the letters ONLY once. There are two extra options which you do not need to use. Indicate your answers
on the answer sheet.

Basic Writing Tips Most Effective Writing Tips:
A Set a deadline for oneself 15 Author 1
B Must write every day 16 Author 2
C Overcome writer’s block 17 Author 3
D Think that we cannot write well
E Make time to write

PART 4  Track 11

Listen to a conversation between Kevin and his good friend, Daniel discussing about Kevin's addiction
to gaming. As you listen, choose the correct answers for questions 18 to 24. Indicate your answers on the
answer sheet.

18 Why does Kevin love playing Football 22 Who was the first person Kevin lost? MODEL TEST
Manager? A Dad
A Offers him a place to escape B Sister
B Offers him a sense of belonging. C Mum
C Offers him the feeling of excitement
23 How did Kevin’s part-time job help him?
19 Which of the following is true about Kevin? A He started playing games.
A He is fat. B He started earning money.
B He is married. C He started meeting people.
C He has a degree.
24 Which of the following is not true about
20 What does gaming do the gamers? gamers?
A Helps gamers to pass time. A Gives gamers a feeling of success.
B Helps gamers to face their worries. B Gamers play only for the thrill it offers.
C Helps gamers to understand their grief. C Gaming offers them a place to be away
from their worries.
21 Which is not one of the challenges Kevin
faced?
A Drinking
B Abusive mum
C Depressed dad

221

  MUET My Way Model Test

PART 5

Dialogue 1   Track 12

Listen to a conversation between Sally and Gemma about spending time on social media. As you listen,
choose the correct answers for questions 25 and 26. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet.

25 Readly is a ... 26 Gemma’s new hobby has helped her ...
A book. A to sleep well.
B magazine. B to have more time for herself.
C reading app. C to make some changes in her house.

Dialogue 2   Track 13

Listen to a conversation between Nurse Alice with an elderly man named Alan about nursing homes. As
you listen, choose the correct answers for questions 27 and 28. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet.

27 Which are the aspects that Mr. Alan feels 28 Which statement is false?
nursing home needs improvement? A People’s view of the old people must be
A Investment, training and salaries improved.
B Training, refurbishment and salaries B Young people are not suitable to work
C Investment, new workers and in nursing homes.
management C Younger people need to be connected
to the seniors in the society.

MODEL TEST Dialogue 3   Track 14

Listen to an interview between a reporter and Miyagi, an earthquake victim. As you listen, choose the
correct answers for questions 29 and 30. Indicate your answers on the answer sheet.

29 Which statement is false about Miyagi’s 30 Why did Miyagi feel that his parents’
parents? situation was far worse than the other
A They accept the situation. disaster-affected residents?
B Even if they had wanted to leave, they A They cannot see who they are dealing
cannot do so. with.
C They are more worried about B They are dealing with radiation and
earthquake than the radiation. earthquake.
C They have to take in those evacuating
from the next town.

222

Tapescript MUET My Way Tapescript 

Malaysian University English Test, Listening. Tony : Nice. Anything else you would have changed?
There are 5 parts to the test. You will listen to each part Sam : I might have made a different decision about someone
twice. As you listen, indicate your answers on the answer
sheet. Please ask any questions now, because you must not I like very much then. Due to some poor attitude on
speak during the test. Now open your question paper and my part, she left me. She was really a nice girl and I feel
look at Part 1. that if I had acted more maturely, we could have saved
our relationship. We used to visit this little stall for
Voice 1: PART 1 Track 1 our meals, the foodcourt which was situated next to a
bank, opposite a school, and overlooking a beautiful
Listen to a conversation between Tony and Sam. As you mountain. I still remember how we looked forward
listen, choose the correct answer for questions 1 to 7. You to spending our time together at the stall. I was filled
now have 30 seconds to look at the questions. with so much pride and ego then. I often wonder
[Pause 15 seconds] where she is now. Yes, that’s something I think about
sometimes. We were too young and naive.
Now listen carefully and indicate your answers on the Tony : Okay. Thanks, Sam. I appreciate your sharing of your
answer sheet. experience with me. Still, despite all that, I feel you
have had an enjoyable time then. Good luck Sam.
Tony : Sam, today we’re talking about turning back the clock. [Pause 5 seconds]
So, what is it that you wish you could do differently?
For example, maybe something in your university life Now you will listen to the recording again.
that you would have done differently now? [Audio is repeated]

Sam : Yes, Tony. There are a few things actually that I That is the end of Part 1. Now turn to Part 2.
would like to change. I might change my course in [pause 5 seconds]
the university. I studied education, and I enjoy being
a teacher now. Actually, I really like acting and be Voice 1: PART 2 Track 2
involved in theatre production. So I believe if I’m
given a chance to go back to university, I’d probably Listen to a talk by a university lecturer on the importance
take up creative arts or an acting course. But I am of extensive reading. As you listen, choose the correct
also aware that I am acting every day in my classes. answer for questions 8 to 14. You now have 30 seconds to
Students enjoy seeing me playing different roles. look at the questions.
[Pause 30 seconds]
Tony : Interesting. Anything else you wish you could have
done? Now listen carefully and indicate your answers on the TAPESCRIPT
answer sheet.
Sam : I also wish I had been more involved in the university’s
co-curricular activities. For example, the debating Dr. Christine : Good afternoon to all of you. Lately there has
team. I was actively involved in debating in my been quite a discussion on the role of implicit
secondary school days but I didn’t seem to have the and explicit knowledge in helping one to
heart to do the same in the university. Maybe besides acquire language and usage. Many language
being busy with my academic work, I was running experts like Chomsky and Krashen agree that
home every weekend. That didn’t give me much time the knowledge that enables us to convey our
to devote time and attention to the team’s activities. thoughts, feelings and needs through language
I think it would have been fun to be a part of that is mostly implicit. In fact, when we speak
culture and environment. and interact with others in everyday settings
without having to think too much about what
Tony : That was such a waste. What about things that you words to use and what sentence structure
had done and wished you hadn’t? to employ, we are in those situations relying
almost solely on our implicit knowledge. In
Sam : I had a tattoo of my girlfriend’s name on my arm. At fact, it is not only them who have stressed
that time, I thought it was a cool thing to do, only to
realise now how ridiculous I was. And yes, looking
back now, that would be something that I wouldn’t do
again.

237

Answers MUET My Way Answers 

Fix Your Broken English 5 Italian 6 songs 7 This 8 the
9 on 10 and
Guided Quiz
1 teachers 2 taking 3 spend 4 bring Guided Quiz 2 2 or 3 disadvantages
5 giving 6 controlled 7 found 8 learning 1 have 5 that 6 interests
9 needed 10 monitored 4 a 8 used 9 chatting
7 However
Practice 1 2 a 3 the 4 the 10 important
1 eyes 6 choices
5 things 10 barcodes 7 products 8 cutlery Guided Quiz 3 6 the
9 An/The 1 managed 7 going
2 was 8 Although/Even though
Practice 2 2 prefers 3 join 4 running 3 play 9 excitedly
1 playing 6 do 7 have 8 were 4 weeks 10 granted
5 gets 10 are 5 say
9 was
Quiz 4
Practice 3 2 took 3 singing 4 were 1 in 2 shower 3 is 4 children
1 were 7 spent 8 hiking 5 riding 6 walk 7 When 8 scheduled
5 arrived 6 would 9 their 10 the
9 discovered 10 was
Quiz 5
Practice 4 6 Furthermore (Nevertheless) 1 gone 2 looking 3 while
1 into 7 although 4 These 5 physically 6 or
2 addition 8 Meanwhile 7 watch 8 information 9 excellent
3 on 9 into/inside 10 expand
4 in 10 conclusion
5 through Quiz 6 3 the 4 is 5 said
1 forget 2 he 8 force 9 who 10 are
Practice 5 6 has 7 really
1 Spending 2 happy 3 excited 4 almost
5 well 6 helpful 7 Chinese 8 interested B Top 12 (Common Errors in English)
9 hardly 10 Luckily 1 Nowadays; Even though; Moreover; Furthermore
2 Students, problems / day, days
Practice 6 2 camp 3 make 4 brought 5 remind 3 reason, is; reasons, are
1 take 7 cook 8 take 9 make 10 taken 4 solutions, reasons
6 listen 5 person, is; people, are
6 example; handphones, laptops, tablets
Self-Assessment Quiz 7 giving, explaining
1 get 2 a 3 attracted 8 provide, surf
4 used 5 are 6 in 9 given; taken
7 However (But) 8 researching 9 was 10 has made, have made, had made
10 refer

Practice 7 2 They 3 his 4 which Part
1 who 6 who/that 7 these 8 that
5 they 1 Listening
9 I
10 yourselves Part 1 2 A 3 C 4 C
1 C 6 C 7 A 11 B
Practice 8 2 reminded 3 were 4 completed 5 B
1 given 6 finished 7 said 8 handed 21 C
5 told 10 chosen Part 2 9 A 10 B 28 B
9 are 8 B 13 C 14 C
12 C
Practice 9 ANSWERS
1 written 2 helped 3 read 4 chosen Part 3
5 have 6 had 7 been 8 practising 15 D (Glittering Generalities)
9 designed 10 given 16 A (Propaganda)
17 C (Transfer)
Practice 10
1 grouping 2 preparing 3 making Part 4 19 B 20 A
4 trying 5 doing 6 coming 18 C 23 C 24 A
7 winning 8 showcasing 9 impressing 22 B
10 selecting
Part 5
Guided Quiz 1 2 listening 3 help 25 A 26 C 27 B
1 you 4 example 29 A 30 C

247

ANSWERS   MUET My Way Answers will be asked to do presentations, pitching or some form of
sales or persuasive speech.
Part • communication skills will not only give them confidence to
speak their mind but will train them on how to present their
2 SPEAKING arguments systematically and with the right body language to
suit their purposes.
Practice 1 (Suggested Answers) • good communication skills will ensure that they will be able
Part 1 to get their points across clearly and this will reduce the
Candidate A probability of miscommunication or conflict arising from
• Managing time well is a useful skill for students to live verbal misunderstandings.

independently in university because they constantly have to Practice 2 (Suggested Answers)
attend classes and submit assignments so they must have a Part 1
proper strategy to arrange their time to meet their goals. Candidate A
• Managing time well will also help students to balance between • While waiting for national exam results, students can gain
studying and spending their leisure time. Otherwise, they may
fall prey to social media or gaming addiction which will result invaluable learning and working experience when they get a
in their inability to perform to their full potential in university. job either full time or part time as it will expose them to the
• Managing time well will be an asset to them because they can real-world responsibilities and make them appreciate the
create short-term and long-term goals and make time to do worth of money more.
things like get a part-time job or start an online business so • Getting a job is also good to hone our communications skills
they can have financial independence in university. because most jobs require people to interact with others to
Candidate B get their messages and intentions across smoothly. It will also
• Managing money well is a useful skill for students to live teach them much needed people skills when dealing with the
independently in university because they will need to budget many different characters they may face at work.
according to what they can afford and make sure they spend • They could also save money for future use especially when they
on things like food, transportation, books and stationery within continue their studies to tertiary level as at university, there will
their spending capacity or they will face many financial woes. be a lot of expenses so it makes sense to save up while they
• Managing money well will also help them to start saving for wait for their official results and placings at university.
a rainy day because if they know how to spend wisely and set Candidate B
aside some for their savings, then they will be better able to • The best time to learn to drive is right after the national
make decisions at university with a healthy bank account to examination when you can focus on learning all the theory
back them up. and testing out the practical driving skills taught by the driving
• Managing money well is also a useful skill because they could instructor. These days, driving skills are a necessity because
invest some of their savings on endeavours that could give most jobs could require you to travel.
them a side income such as investing in an online business or • Learning to drive is also a productive skill because you can then
retail sales amongst their fellow university mates like selling relieve your parents of their driving duties whereby you can
food, computer products and even mobile phone top-ups. drop off your siblings at school or tuition and you could even
Candidate C send your parents to work and reduce their stress of having to
• Cooking well is a good skill to have to live an independent drive themselves around.
lifestyle because as a uni student, you can save more money • Learning to drive is a lifelong skill that will make good use of
if you are able to make your own meals and feed yourself for your time compared to just sitting at home and playing online
cheaper compared to buying every meal at a café or restaurant. games or watching dramas. It could also become a job prospect
• Cooking well will also help you live a more independent life as as these days people can make a lot of money if they become
you are free to choose healthier and better ingredients in your a driving instructor or hold special licenses such as GDL for big
cooking so that you make wise decisions when it comes to your lorry drivers who earn a lot of money a month delivering things.
diet and what you consume. Better health means you will be Candidate C
better able to concentrate on your studies. • After the national examination is over, students can spend their
• Cooking well is also a skill that could potentially increase your time learning a specific skill that interests them such as taking
side income especially if you are keen on pursuing this as a part a short course on computer software, learning a new language
time business. Food is a necessity so many people are willing to or culinary skills and even taking mobile phone or computer
pay others to prepare food for them daily or you could also go repair courses.
into the desserts business and sell cakes and cookies. • Skills based training while waiting for results can also help you
Candidate D to earn some side income either now or in the future because
• Dressing well is a useful skill for university students because you will have the skill to generate money while you continue
as an independent person, everyone needs to find a style that your studies to tertiary level. You could use your baking or
suits their personality and showcases their characters so that it cooking skills to sell things to your college mates or help them
will give people a good impression of themselves as a positive- repair their phones or computers.
thinking and goal-oriented student. • Learning a skill could also be the basis for your future career
• Dressing well will also help students have higher self- because people usually want to learn more about the skill if
confidence in themselves and this will affect their attitude they have high interest in it or are born with a natural talent to
towards life and make them more enthusiastic about being a do it. They can further pursue this to a higher level and create a
committed university student. whole career based on the skills they have picked up.
• Dressing well is a skill that will be useful for their future because Candidate D
good grooming and hygiene will reflect on their personal • Being able to afford to travel after the national examinations is
characters which is the first impression people will make a real blessing because travel is the best teacher. It will give you
especially when they leave school and apply for jobs in the life lessons and irreplaceable experiences while your visit new
future. and exciting places that will be a feast for your senses as well as
Part 2 your stomach.
The group decides that communication skills is the most
important soft skill that should be taught in schools because
• effective communication skills are extremely necessary in
school life as well as in their careers as most of the time they

248

MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

Teacher’s

Introduction

A Teaching Grammar 225

B Teaching Lexis 258

C Teaching Syntax 259

D Teaching Listening 261

E Teaching Speaking 261

F Teaching Reading 267

G Teaching Writing 269

H TPeraocjehcint-gbaUsseindgLPeBarLn :ing 273


I Teaching Using Tech 279

PBL Bonus TEACHER'S HANDBOOK

253

MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

the process of the project itself should provide opportunity for formative learning to occur, formative
assessments to be made and create opportunities for feedback because ultimately, PBL should be a
platform for students to listen to feedback, revise their learning strategy and strive to improve. Only
then is the summative assessment at the end of the PBL truly a reflection of their learning journey. I am
always saddened that some administrators only want to give prizes for top products of PBL but forget
to highlight the process, trials and tribulations and challenges that needed to be overcome in order to
reach the finishing line. I do hope that my simple notes do emphasise the need for formative assessments
along the way, and that the choice and voice of the students ring clear for each and every PBL attempt.
Focus on the journey, not the destination.
Finally, happy teaching and you are more than welcome to contact me personally for guidance and
if you have any queries regarding the lesson suggestions provided here. You can contact me personally
and I assure you that I will try to help as many as I can. I am still practising trial and error, reflecting
every chance I get and I do hope you are a committed subscriber of life-long learning as well. We cannot
pour from an empty cup, or an empty brain for that matter, so do fill up your mind with wild ideas and
challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone in order to test the limits of your own boundaries.
God bless and godspeed!

Mdm Audrey Koh

A Teaching Grammar

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 Grammar Module The module is written in a way There is a myriad of grammar
Students complete the grammar module at the that encourages self-study quizzes available online and
start of this book by first answering the 25 pre- and self-accessed learning. you can either download
test questions. The questions are self-diagnostic Although it has been made existing ones yourselves, create
because students can pinpoint which grammar easier with the formulas them using apps like Quizizz or
items they may have problems with based on the created, it still takes a period Kahoot! or similar. Alternatively,
mistakes they made. The checklist is on pg.__. of serious study and some assign each student or group a
After identifying the mistakes, they can go to time to actually put theory to grammar item and ask them to
the recommended practices to do more exercises practice before they are able to research an online grammar
based on the specific grammar items which master the foundation of basic quiz to be administered to
they need the most help in. They should ideally grammar. Once they are aware their classmates. Prepare prizes
also complete all the practices and quizzes in of the mechanics of grammar, as extrinsic motivation.
the book before attempting the 25 post test they will be better able to self-
questions at the end of the book. edit especially during the exam.

2 Coded Marking When the teacher is confident You can code mark anything
1 Teacher uses the grammar codes to mark and consistent in using the including journal entries,
all written work by the students. Make sure grammar codes to mark the dialogue journals, reviews
that you mark in a different colour (like red written products, and students of books, songs and movies,
or purple) and the students need to edit have been well trained to essays and any other written
in another colour so that they can see the provide corrections for all product that the students
progression from written work ➞ grammar the circled errors, this process produce. Once they are familiar
codes ➞ student’s correction. will polish their grammar. with the codes and the self-
2 Refer to the Coded Marking section on page Ultimately, students will be editing, they will be able to
__. Students can complete the exercise to able to self-edit their essays spot their friends’ errors, so TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
get familiar with the coded marking process. in the actual exams which will do pair up the weaker ones
The key rule is NEVER to provide answers, increase their grammatical with those more proficient in
but always CIRCLE the section where accuracy. grammar especially for the
students should do the correction. dialogue journal activity as
3 If there are too many errors to be corrected explained in the suggested
in the students’ work, you may choose to lesson plans for teaching
be selective and only code mark the more writing.
problematic errors.

255

  MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook

2 Using the vocab booster tables for Writing phrases either to describe and ‘solution’ then ask them
Task 1 (pg __ - __), students write about problems and let downs, and to share the audio files in
their ‘problems’. They MUST use at least later to use various positive the class WhatsApp group or
3 of the phrases provided in the list and expressions to give advice and to be played aloud in class.
do encourage them to use better quality hope. When they are recording, they
phrases instead of ‘I’m sick.’, ‘I’m sad.’, ‘I had are practicing speaking with
a bad time.’. an authentic reason and do
remind them to look up the
3 Get students to describe their problem pronunciation of unfamiliar
according to one of these categories – words in Google or similar
love, money, friendship, health, career (you which will help them master
may want to assign the genres to get a fair the new lexis. Alternatively,
distribution of topics or they will all write they can make a TikTok video
about love and/or friendship!) to showcase their unique
‘problem’ and ‘solution’ for their
4 After students ‘post’ their letters, give out the agony column then share in
letters to students and get them to reply to their class WhatsApp.
the letters using ‘positive phrases’ from the
vocab list. They must use at least 3 phrases
they have never used (to avoid using phrases
they already know) in their responses.

5 Reader’s Digest Word Power Students will be motivated to Students design their own quiz
1 Students attempt the vocab quiz section of learn new and better quality using the same format as in
the popular magazine. words when they try out the Reader’s Digest. They may
2 Students select 3 new words and the word power quiz in this photocopy for friends or post
demonstrate their understanding by using popular magazine. to their blogs and students
them in a single sentence. can try to answer their friend’s
3 They then volunteer to read the sentence quizzes.
aloud and the other classmates try to write
down (dictation) the 3 new words. It can be
turned into a game where the student who
gets the most correctly spelt words wins a
prize.

C Teaching Syntax

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 Simple vs Compound vs Complex Sentences Students need to learn that Rather than the teacher
1 Using the notes in Writing Task 1 (pg. ), discuss they only warrant higher marks explains the concepts, assign
the example sentences with the students. for language fluency when each group one of the types
2 Explain that simple sentences have one main they are able to use the various of sentences and ask them
verb, a subject and sometimes a predicate. syntax types with ease. to do research using posters
3 Compound sentences usually use found on Google images
conjunctions (teach them the acronym or Pinterest. They can then
FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) present in front of class in
4 Teach them how to rearrange sentences by the traditional way, 1 stay
moving the object to the front, starting the and 3 stray method, prepare
sentence with a linker in front and a comma a PowerPoint presentation or
in the middle (inverted sentence). Teach do a poster exhibition etc.
them how to add relative clauses – ‘yang’
TEACHER'S HANDBOOK in BM = that/which/who/whom /whose/
where/when
5 Students present their sentences and
teacher gives feedback.

2 Sentence Type Identification Students are more likely to be This lesson can be repeated
1 Students select an article of their own topic motivated when they have multiple times, or at least once
choice. They may print from the internet or a say in the topics that they a month. The art block paper
photocopy from books or newspapers, etc. research. This activity uses a can be filed and made into

258

MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

2 Students paste onto a piece of art block bottom up discovery method ‘books’ to keep all the work
paper and label the sentence types by where they find example done by the students. They
drawing lines and rewriting the sentences sentences, analyse them and can be kept in the classroom
on the paper. then conclude the sentence ‘library’ for easy referencing
types based on their syntax. when needed. Encourage
3 Students use highlighters to focus on the This awareness will help them students to read other friend’s
language aspects that determine their write better sentences in the work and leave positive
sentence type (e.g. conjunctions, linkers, future. comments and a star rating
inverted sentences, relative clauses etc) which maximises the use of
the materials and encourages
4 Students present their work using the a reading culture.
Snowball Technique: Get students to work
in pairs and take turns explaining their work
to one another. Choose the best person of
the two. Form a bigger group of 4 people
with one representative presenting for
each pair. Select the best one to represent
the 4. Repeat this step by snowballing the
numbers from 4 to 8, depending on how
many students you have in class. When the
class is divided into two and have found a
representative, get the top two to go to the
front of class to present and let the students
vote on the best presenter.

3 Quizzes From time to time, it is good Again, it is always beneficial to
1 Teacher researches quizzes related to to do lessons that focus on allow students to take charge
conjunctions, sequence connectors, logical only syntax. This is to heighten of their own learning. Allow
connectors and linkers, inverted sentences, awareness of sentence them to step into the shoes of
relative clauses, if conditionals etc. (Refer to structures and how students a teacher and teach the specific
the list of online content finder/resources on can master the variety of syntax item to their classmates.
pg. _) sentence types. It is important They can use the quizzes online
2 Teacher administers the quizzes from time to not to overload the students or make their own quiz to test
time or according to teaching and learning during any one lesson, so try their friends after introducing
objectives. not to be too ambitious and the items to their classmates.
teach too many structures in This type of peer teaching
one hit as it may overwhelm is very useful and increases
students and make them students’ motivation to learn
perceive learning English as more about the mechanics
burdensome. of the language in a fun and
authentic environment.

D Teaching Listening

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 Songs Using songs have always been Students work individually to
1 Teacher selects a song and creates a exciting for students because it identify a song they would
worksheet for it. Alternatively, use a different engages both sides of the brain like to share with their peers.
medium to create the worksheet such a and makes learning more fun. They start a Google doc in
Google Forms (watch a YouTube tutorial if While it is good for the teacher their Google folder and add
you do not know how to create a G form) or to kick of the teaching and the link to the song. They TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
you can use other similar form making apps. learning activity with her own may then create a myriad
2 Students listen to the song and answer the selection of song(s), it is much of activities linked to the
questions. The questions can be content better for subsequent lessons song like answer open MCQ
based or focussed on vocabulary or to be centred around music questions (like the listening
grammar. that the students’ themselves paper), fill in the blanks, match
like and prefer. This makes phrases/sentences, paraphrase
learning more interactive, stanzas or write their personal

259

MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

4 Answer & Highlight Students can hone their Test Retest Method: After a few
1 Teacher assigns a listening model test for the listening skills when they do the days or weeks, administer the
students to complete. model test. Getting students to same listening test again and
2 When students have finished the test, take charge of explaining their see if there is an improvement
students select 1 – 2 questions that they assigned question(s) will make in their test scores. By right,
would need to share their answers with them more aware of how to if they have listened to their
the class by highlighting the answer in the justify their answers and the friend’s presentation and can
listening scripts. thought process involved in comprehend the thought
3 Students take pictures of the questions selecting the right answers. processes involved in selecting
assigned to them and then another picture Using the Test Retest method the right answer, then the
of the listening script where they highlighted as enrichment is also highly results of the same test done
the answer. encouraged because it helps again will surely show a
4 Students upload their pictures in the Google to maximise the learning drastic improvement in marks
Doc folder and the teacher will share screen materials. obtained.
for everyone to see either in class or on a
Google Meet platform. Students will explain
how they arrived at their answer by referring
to the highlighted section of the listening
scripts.

E Teaching Speaking

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 My Favourite Students will feel more I sometimes repeat this
1 Students are given 5 minutes to scribble comfortable and confident to technique by calling the
a mindmap about their favourite thing/ share about things or people activity ‘Lucky Unlucky Box’
person/hobby/activity in life. they like and will have less meaning to say, the person
2 Students put their names on little pieces problems brainstorming the whose name is called to
of folded paper and place it in a cup. The content for their impromptu present is the ‘luckiest unlucky
teacher draws out the first name from it and speech. Putting their names person’ and when he or she
calls upon the student to talk about their into the cup and making it a finishes and responds to the
‘Favourite Something’for 2 minutes non-stop. random choice will also keep Q&A as well as the feedback
3 Students ask at least 2 – 3 questions and the the adrenaline pumping and from the teacher, the next
presenter answers accordingly. Ensure you increase stress, preferable good person can be selected. The
teach the students the right way to ask and stress also knows as eustress. topics can change and evolve
answer questions, i.e. The Q&A session will help build from easy concepts to more
i. raise your hand and wait to be called their confidence and teach complex and mature issues
ii. mention your name (Hi, my name is ..) them the norms of asking and such as discussing social ills
iii. ask the question (do not be too wordy) responding to questions in a and its implication to society
iv. presenter thanks the person by his name polite and formal occasion. and the country at large.
before he responds to the question (e.g.
Thank you Mr.X for that interesting
question.)
4 Once this student is done, he or she gets to
pick the name of the next presenter.
5 Repeat the presentations and Q&A session.

2 Show & Tell This technique has been
1 Students work individually or in pairs to around since the beginning of
come up with a product for a show and tell time or at least since modern
session. They can download pictographs or teaching has evolved to be TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
posters from Google Images or Pinterest or more student centred. With
similar, or use the resources to make their proper preparation, students
own posters like Canva etc. They can also will be able to improve in a
do the traditional way of using art blocks or variety of skills including
manila cards. Ideally students should make researching, public speaking,
a prototype of the item to show if they are critical thinking skills, people
making something new or bring the realia skills and self-reflection.
which is the real item itself.

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4 Teacher selects the best poems and/or can be found in every one of Petronas etc. patriotic videos
videos. us. The video will give them released during festivals or
ample opportunity to work on national day.
their digital skills.

15 Hyperlapse Kolam Making Students who are given the You can easily expand this lesson
1 Students are divided into groups and opportunity to explore beyond to go beyond the Indian culture.
take on one aspect of the Indian culture: their own comfort zones will Assign a different nationality
history, geography, traditional food, clothes, be better equip to face this to each of the groups and let
superstitions, festivals, fasting periods, era of globalisation. As a them find out what they kind
‘kolam’ design and meanings etc. global citizen they will need of hyper-lapse video they can
2 Students present the information by to communicate with others so make of a handicraft/cultural
ensuring that each member of the group the sooner they are acquainted item that best represents the
has a speaking part. with the world’s peoples, the people they are presenting. You
3 Other group members must prepare at least better they will be able to can also do an online exhibition
1 question for the Q&A session. perform in social and academic or a live exhibition with the
4 Once the presentations are done, they do situations. products of this lesson.
a hyperlapse video of the ‘Kolam’ design
making (using coloured rice) and attach
it to their personal blogs with a 100-200
word commentary about their learning
experience.

15 WhatsApp/Telegram Speaking Group It is good to use digital tech Blended learning is when you
1 All speaking groups of 4 start a new speaking for teaching as it is a norm for give them time to do research
group in WhatsApp/Telegram/ Signal or students now and they even and preparation before
even Discord. There are many choices these outperform the teacher most expecting them to perform
days. days in using it. The teacher so these chatting apps are a
2 Assign them different speaking topics where just needs to be a facilitator good place for them to do the
they can either type out their responses or in this case and not be too legwork before they present
make short videos of their responses. strict with grammar, it is more their topics in front of class. You
3 They can also do recordings of their Google important to get students can either give them the exact
Meet session to do the full exam format to be comfortable in giving same topic to present or tweak
and upload for discussion in these small opinions and volunteering to it a little so that the content
speaking groups because the feedback will speak up before we highlight is parallel and the research
be directly for them and more focused on things that could be improved. done can easily be exploited
how they can improve. for a similar topic under the
4 Can proceed by giving them different topics same theme. For example:
as time progresses. if they have researched and
presented about the benefits
of volunteering, they could talk
about the types of volunteer
work that is available to youths
today.

F Teaching Reading

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 Famous People Students can be trained to Students are placed into
1 Students are assigned to read up and read more when they feel that random groups. Each group
research about a famous person. (Better for the task is meaningful and will creates a poster collage of TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
the teacher to set the characters because if benefit their learning. Reading the famous people and try to
they are to select, you will only hear about also helps them with learning draw a conclusion about what
Korean actors and Western singers. Chances new vocabulary and shows they all have in common. They
are they do not even know who Malala or them new sentence structures. would need to discuss in depth
Aung Sang Suu Kyi or even Ghandi is.) They will also upgrade their about each character in order to
2 Students write a 100 – 200 word biography critical thinking skills when ascertain what is the common
based on the research. they are able to discuss about trait that all of the group
famous people in a learned member’s characters have in
way.

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3 Students take pictures of the questions thought process involved in comprehend the thought
assigned to them and then another picture selecting the right answers. processes involved in selecting
of the reading texts where they highlighted Using the Test Retest method the right answer, then the
the answer. as enrichment is also highly results of the same test done
encouraged because it helps again will surely show a
4 Students upload their pictures in the Google to maximise the learning drastic improvement in marks
Doc folder and the teacher will share screen materials. obtained.
for everyone to see either in class or on a
Google Meet platform. Students will explain
how they arrived at their answer by referring
to the highlighted section of the reading
texts.

5 Petition Creating social awareness is I always enjoy doing the
1 Teacher allows each group to select a topic a very important skill they petition project as an exhibition
they would like to champion and create should learn now that they either in the hall or in the
awareness of or the teacher can assign are in tertiary education. corridors so that the students
a broad theme such as environment, The concepts of reading and teachers can visit the
endangered species or social ills, Cuti2 widely, differentiating facts booths during recess or after
Malaysia, buy Malaysian made products, from opinions and forming school. Sometimes, I arrange for
support local businesses and then the their own critical ideas and class by class visits to the hall
groups can select a different sub-topic each. conclusions is a good way to for visitation slots according to
2 Students create an exhibition booth by promote holistic learning. They a prepared schedule if I want
displaying a variety of articles related to the will also be able to form their the whole school involved. If
topic of which they have written a 100 – 200 own ideas and persuade others you are more ambitious, you
word synopsis of the articles. to agree with their opinions can even ask for permission
3 Students can also create a Powerpoint or via petitioning and garnering so students can go collect
Canva presentation and set up a laptop for signatures for their chosen signatures in public places such
their booths. cause. as in front of supermarkets or
4 During the exhibition, students can prepare at the markets etc. They then
a petition form for the visitors to read and do a report about what they
sign to show their support. The petition can have experienced and the
include an oath they will promise to adhere overall conclusion of the data
to such as never eat turtle’s eggs again, don’t they have collected and what it
be a litterbug, promise to visit 7 countries means to them and their group
before they die, etc (be creative). members.

G Teaching Writing

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment

1 Journal Writing @ Blogging Journal writing is a very I give journal topics from time
In a traditional classroom, students prepare important tool for self- to time and tell them that if
a notebook which they can decorate as they reflection. It is also very they get a perfect journal with
please with a nice cover, stickers, ribbons, personal and allows the zero grammar errors, they
pictures etc. This gives them a sense of pride students to express themselves will win a cash prize. Even if
and ownership of their personal journals and without being too formal or there are multiple errors, I try
the teacher writes a personalised comment at too pressured thinking that to highlight only the most
the end of each journal, perhaps a question or they will be assessed for errors using coded marking
two to lead the next journal. It will draw out even every single word they write where they edit their own
the most introverted student because they can or if their thoughts are critical work rather than I provide the
express themselves freely through their journals. enough. They can write freely answers because I feel that
In modern times, my students watch YouTube and practice care in choosing ‘over-marking’ or the ‘red pen TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
on how to start a blog and they each have a their topics because it is syndrome’will deter them from
personal blog to record their personal learning advisable to allow them the writing freely. Most importantly
journeys. A blog is also the perfect place to freedom to write about what about journal writing is that
store their homework in a more interactive and they like and what they want. the teacher takes the time
exciting way. Only then will the writing be and effort to annotate each
genuine and free-flowing. journal with a personalised
message and she herself shares

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MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

11 Peer Review Checklist I developed this checklist to
1 Teacher introduces students to the peer make it easier for my mentor-
review checklist found in the Writing section mentee program because I
of this book. found that the mentors, while
2 Students are given an essay written by good in English, do not know
another student and told to go through the how to teach the mentees
checklist and amending where necessary. how to write good academic
3 Students write notes and suggested essays. With the checklist, both
sentences and grade them according to mentors and mentees have a
the 20 point system. better idea of what is expected
4 Students receive back their essays with the and they have a chance to
checklist and fix their essays one last time help the other improve in
before a final submission. their writing by suggesting
5 Once the essays have been marked by sentences. Whilst they could
the teacher, students can exchange essays have easily made red markings
and start copying the essays in their essay on the original piece, the
collection books. checklist is separate and will
require the mentee to rewrite
and reassess their written work
to improve it in the final draft
before submission.

12 Script Writing The workshop materials If you have the time and
1 Teacher uses the various writing workshop provided are just my energy, you can replicate
materials found in the Writing Task 2 section interpretations of the the workshop content with a
of this book to teach students the general questions. They are non- fresher topic whilst sticking to
template for academic writing and how to exhaustive which means that the general format of how I
organise their essays. they can be reassessed and conduct my writing workshops.
2 Some of the materials involve simple reinterpreted according to their This includes first identifying
information transfer from the completed personal takes and views on 3 agree and 3 disagree points
sets to the worksheets especially if you are the matter. However, it is good and some recommendations
dealing with low proficiency. to show them the thought to lead in to a more detailed
3 For higher proficiency, they can just take the processes involved in coming outline. You can base your
content as a guide before coming up with out with the essay outlines workshops on various themes
their own perspectives and points of view and how they can either agree, and this will make the
in which to respond to the academic essay disagree or partially agree with content more up-to-date and
topic given. a 5 or even 6 paragraph format. relevant in preparation for the
Kindly emphasise that there upcoming MUET examinations.
the answers are never set in
stone so they are allowed to
make a case for or against or
even stand on the fence as
long as they can justify their
opinions preferably with sound
logic and hard facts.

H Teaching Using PBL: Project-based Learning TEACHER'S HANDBOOK

*Note: PBL is NOT intended to focus solely on the product, rather the journey is more important than the destination. A good PBL must have
3 elements as summated here:

1 Start of PBL process: Although the teacher can suggest a theme or idea, the specific topic is to be
decided via students’ Choice and Voice.

– I t is crucial that students have ownership of their PBL by deciding what they want to do and how
they will do it. With ownership, comes responsibility to see it through and pride for the final
product that will showcase their effort and dedication.

2 Throughout the PBL process: Prepare formative assessment rubrics for each sub-task and provide
feedback to students.

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  MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook

– T he PBL process should involve a number of sub-tasks that should give students an opportunity
to be evaluated and the evaluation should be presented to them via a feedback session either in
writing or verbally one-to-one. For example, when making a 1) Promo Video, one of the formative
assessments was to create a storyboardthat.com story board to plan out their promo video and
the teacher would assess their presentations (having first shown the students the criteria for
assessment BEFORE the presentation so that they know what the teacher is looking into). This is
immediately followed by a feedback session because the aim is to help students better themselves
and improve along the way. It is not uncommon to have more than 1 formative assessments
during the PBL process to maximise opportunity for learning to occur.

3 At the end of the PBL process: The students will be given a summative assessment to determine
their level of progress having completed the PBL.
– T he teacher or adjudicating panel will select the winning PBL based
on a Viva-like presentation where the students are to showcase WEB Link

their projects and the challenges they have faced to overcome it https://queendrey.
and complete the project. Prior to this, they will also be shown the wordpress.com
assessment rubrics so that they may best prepare for the formative /2018/10/09/1st-
assessment as it is unfair to evaluate them if they do not know how lesson-on-
pbl-8-10-18/

they will be assessed.

No Suggested Lessons Rationale

1 Promo Video Students will enjoy this project because it is
Note: Teacher always shows and briefs students on all formative and something they most probably have never
summative assessments rubrics and assessment criteria BEFORE they thought of embarking on before. They need
start the PBL. to plan ahead to visit the site, research and
1 Choice & Voice: collect relevant information and do some
Students decide on a local destination/business they would like interviews with the business owners and
to promote with their video. customers in order to make a promotional
2 Formative Assessments: video. Since they do not have much info
i. Create and present a storyboard using apps like storyboardthat. on what a promo video is, I got them to
com to outline how they conceptualise their video from start research the internet for examples. Then,
to end and the teacher assesses their oral presentation on this they also need to brush up on their tech
before providing feedback for their 1st formative assessment. skills and the scriptwriting will help them to
ii. Write out the scripts and pay attention to lexis, syntax and plan out their videos and interviews better.
punctuation before submitting for the 2nd formative assessment All in all, this is a very challenging but
and changing the content according to the feedback given. fruitful project as there are so many skills
3 Summative Assessment: involved in the making of this successful
Students showcase their videos and participate in the Q&A session PBL endeavour.
by the panellists.

2 Movie Showcase I found that students could really get
Note: Teacher always shows and briefs students on all formative and enthusiastic about conceptualising
summative assessments rubrics and assessment criteria BEFORE they and coming up with the storyline of
start the PBL. their movies. Some of my best groups
1 Choice & Voice: were those that did horror movies,
Students create a short movie and they can choose to do social ills community service sketches
fiction or non-fiction on various genres including commercial and adaptation of motivational videos
TEACHER'S HANDBOOK advertisements, community service advertisements (CSA), by noted figures on the internet such
newscasting, role-plays and dramas, motivational videos etc. as Prince Ea. They spent a lot of time
2 Formative Assessments: doing their research and planning their
i. Create and present a storyboard to show the flow of the storyboards, writing and practising the
video and change the content based on the 1st formative scripts and filming and re-filming, as well
assessment feedback. as all the effort that went into editing.
ii. Write out the script according to the storyboard and do a final At the end of the day, it taught them
edit based on the 2nd formative assessment feedback. invaluable skills that money cannot

274

MUET My Way Teacher's Handbook 

2 Formative Assessments: with a matching grant where people who
i. Create and present a business plan for the social enterprise buy 1 pair of shoes, another pair would
automatically be donated to a needy child.
that can make a profit while giving back to society, to be Actually, there is a ton of information and
revised based on the 1st formative assessment feedback. inspiration of social enterprises on the
ii. Write the script needed to persuade the panel of judges to internet if only students were given a
approve the funding for this social enterprise, to be revised platform to research, ideate and formalise
based on the 2nd formative assessment feedback. into a proper business model that will be
3 Summative Assessment: profitable while helping the needy.
Submit a project feasibility report after the Q&A with the panellists
to ascertain their collective journey from ideation to pitching of
their social enterprise start-up concept.

15 e-Book Publishing This project will help students to come
Note: Teacher always shows and briefs students on all formative and up with a new way to generate income
summative assessments rubrics and assessment criteria BEFORE they for their future purposes. It teaches
start the PBL. them to be biz savvy and to have the
1 Choice & Voice: salesmanship needed to convince buyers
Students can decide what kind of book they would like to publish to purchase their e-book for a certain
and for what audience, ie. amount. It will prove to them that they can
i. How to’ guidebook vi. Cookbook make anything out of nothing if only they
ii. Fiction/storybooks vii. Word search/Crossword have the right idea, the right attitude and
iii. Documentary/History puzzles the right team to work with to carry this
iv. Collection of articles/interviews ix. Comics/jokes project from ideation to fruition.
v. Poetry x. Travel guide etc.
2 Formative Assessments:
i. Content ideation for that particular genre and how the content is
to be arranged, selling price etc., to be revised after 1st formative
assessment feedback.
ii. Cover & back page design to suit the genre and content
of e-book, to be revised after the 2nd formative assessment
feedback.
iii. Script needed to sell the e-book to potential customers, to be
revised after the 3rd formative assessment feedback.
3 Summative Assessment:
Present a report on the success of their e-book sales and their
experience throughout the project.

I Teaching Using Tech

No Suggested Lessons Rationale Enrichment
1 Learning Management Systems
These LMS are very good Create a separate classroom for
1 Edmodo 7 Open Learning platforms for effective digital each of your class according to
2 Google Classroom 8 MOOC teaching and learning. I am a subject and maintain the virtual
3 Schoology 9 Class Dojo serious advocate of Edmodo classroom throughout the year.
4 Moodle 10 Nearpod as an excellent place to gather Get students to respond to your
5 Blendspace 11 Classcraft the students and give them instruction posts such as write
6 Elearning tasks. Has similar functions to 50 words on your favourite song
Facebook where they can post and upload the video link, add
things on the wall with added a link for a country you would
functions like setting quizzes, like to visit and write a 100 word
assignments with auto marking commentary on it. In fact, you can TEACHER'S HANDBOOK
a shared library to upload files. instruct your students to upload
Classcraft is awesome if you like their work products to the wall
to gamify your LMS. and teachers and other students
can easily provide feedback.

2 Communication: Using communications apps WhatsApp is perhaps the
1 WhatsApp 4 Edmodo like these increases efficacy in most popular and useful
2 Telegram 5 Skype teaching and learning because communications apps, I
3 Facebook 6 Slido the response is instantaneous. do almost all of my class

279

MUET GC079021

My Way The MUE T My Way is a comprehensive
revision book for students that contains
CEFR-ALIGNED effective notes and practices for self-
assessment. This book provides a variety
of notes, tips, exercises and intensive
practices in MUET-style questions to
improve students’ performance in
examination.

Questions based on the latest MUET Teacher’s Handbook MUE T My Way
exam format Teaching Grammar
Coded Marking
Complete and comprehensive notes Teaching the 4 skills
Teaching using PBL
Grammar practices specially designed Teaching using Digital Tech
for MUET level

Model Test for easy assessment

Listening texts in QR code

Complete answers

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I have written for this CEFR-aligned new MUET format. working to excel in the
I hope you find it as useful and effective as do all my students and exam. Stay focussed and
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