PT3 EXAM FORMAT

This is my latest update on the "Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) examination.This information is directly from the "Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (moe.gov.my) website.




Time/Date  For PT3 English Examination 


4-28 August 2015 - Speaking Test

11 August 2015  - Listening Test

12/13 & 15 October 2015 - Written Test

Actual link to View the 'Takwim Peperiksaan 2015'

Latest (PT3) English Exam Format
Section A           - 10 marks [ Error Identification]

Section B       (i) - 10 marks  [ short passage ]
                      (ii) - 10 marks [ short passage ]
                     (iii) - 10 marks [ short message - 50 words]

Section C      (i)   - 15 marks  [ Passage]
                     (ii)   -  5 marks   [Poem ]

Section D      (i)  - 30 marks [ Essay - 120-150 words ]
                     (ii)  - 10 marks [ Novel ]
                        -------------
Total                100 marks
                        -------------

Section A      - 15 minutes - [10marks]
Section B      - 40 minutes - [30marks]
Section C      - 20 minutes - [20marks]
Section D      - 45 minutes - [40marks]


Free sample paper -www.moe.gov.my/cms/upload_files/articlefile/2014/articlefile_file_003461.pdf                                       

82 comments:

  1. English is my favaurite subject but when I do exam I am nervous

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    1. I understand...many students are on the same boat as you, one of the ways to overcome this feeling is to stay calm and relaxed before and during exam.Build up your confidence by doing more grammar exercises and writing exercises to hone your writing skills.

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    2. Having a good vocabulary helps too. Say you want to describe how Siti Nurhaliza was walking in your essay. The word 'walk' is BORING. You can use 'saunter' 'stride', 'march', 'tiptoe', or even 'float', 'hover' and 'drift'.

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    3. Good one Azam. You have demonstrated the usage of ADJECTIVES in writing. Adjectives play a crucial role in giving the much needed 'Umph' in a rather boring and dull essay. I'm currently working on an e-book on how to use 'ADJECTIVES' in your essays.Hopefully, I can finish it before the PT3 examination.....

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    4. i'm looking for pt3 essay format...
      btw is there any possibilities for formal letter to come out?
      @.@ can you give me a few advices?

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    5. Possibilities for a formal letter to come is always there - even charts, like bar chart or a pie chart also can be asked -- so, there's actually no telling what could be asked for it's totally a new modified system more like form 4&5 level.

      My advice would be -- learn how to use adjectives/adverbs/idioms/transitions and simple but strong verbs to write your essay. Read some good novels! All the best.

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  2. u see....i get it but....will examiners come from different states or from my school itself?

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    1. Examiners are from your respective schools.....(your English teacher).

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    2. ouh its our english teacher?

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  3. English is my favaurite subject but when I do exam I am nervous .. thing like this always happen to me ..why? and how i can calm my self?

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    Replies
    1. Being nervous before an exam is quite a normal thing...nothing to worry about, Shasha. There are many ways people try to stay calm before doing something-as in your case, it's about exams. I can list out a number of ways or things which you could try-but,I would rather advise you to find something that usually helps you stay calm and relaxed when you are not so tensed. Try applying it....All the best!

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  4. can you give some tips for speaking test or even a forecast question that will came out in speaking test pt3 im so nervousits tomorrow

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    1. Tips- I surely can but as for forecast,sorry it is beyond me. For speaking test, just follow the tips below:-

      1. Stay calm
      2. Plan your speech
      3. Start with a short introduction
      4. Have at least 3 points / ideas to talk on
      5. Finish with a short conclusion.
      6. Just keep talking until your teacher asks you to stop....
      7. The more your talk/speak the more marks can be given to you...

      * I hope this (TIPS) will suffice....all the best.

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    2. thank you for your kind information about pt3 english oral test

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    3. You're most welcome Anonymous....

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  5. i'm not good in section A..how can I found mistakes if I do many mistakes in essay?

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    1. Yes, Section A is quite a tricky part even for those who well versed in their grammar. You are tested on your grammar knowledge.Below are the 2 things you need to focus on:-

      1. Brush up on your English Grammar - (do variety of grammar exercises)
      2. Brush up on your spelling - ( increase your reading activity )

      * For grammar exercises---you can check on my slideshare account. I have posted some exercises. Answers are provided. You can click on the link or type 'slideshare' and once you are on the page -- 'type kopitiamenglish in the search column'.

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    2. section A no spelling error right?

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    3. Yes, there will be at least 1 spelling error.....

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  6. The listening and speaking text will plus with the written text or not??

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    1. Marks for Listening - 20%
      Marks for Speaking - 30%
      Marks for Written Test - 100%
      Yes, they will be counted together.But, for how or the division of marks---please check with your school coordinator for PT3....

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  7. what happen when speaking test? how many question we will be ask?what do you think the questions is?

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    1. Speaking Test - Two Parts

      Part 1 - Reading Aloud (10 marks) - you are given a short text to be read aloud.
      Part 2 - Spoken Interaction (20 marks) - you'll be given a topic talk.
      eg :- hobbies, sports, crimes, accidents etc.

      My advice :- just keep on talking until you asked to stop. Don't worry too much about grammar or your pronunciation, just speak up and don't hold back.

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  8. hi.. are there any spot questions/themes you can share? please help me..i'm so nervous.. :(

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    Replies
    1. Sorry Anonymous, I don't have any spot questions which I can share with you. I do not encourage students to rely too much on spot questions. My advice is use English more with your friends. Pick some topics and casually ask questions among yourselves....just stay calm and talk/speak up-don't hold back.

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  9. can you pls give me some ideas about time management and innoractions that effect people's lives?

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    Replies
    1. I guess you mean 'How innovations affects peoples lives and how to manage their time properly'. Below is a link where you can get some ideas from....

      http://ezinearticles.com/?Effect-of-Technology-on-Our-Lives&id=3059433

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  10. i really likes to read books, article and story in english. and i think my pronunciation also good but my grammar was really bad. i dont know how to improve my grammar. so any suggestion ?

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    Replies
    1. You have certain things right-like reading books,articles and stories in English. In order to fine tune your grammar, I would encourage you write back certain portions of sentences or even paragraphs (one/two short paragraphs) on a piece of paper from the articles you read....

      As you copy, read them out slowly and pay attention to the grammar structures used. Don't read in your heart--read out loud (just don't wake up your mom & dad will do). As you read, you will be able to notice the different tenses and styles used.

      It will take time to master your grammar--but as they say 'If you want something then you have to go all the way to get it....there's no short cut in life!

      All the BEST!

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  11. Is easy learn stuff from your sites. I hope you continue make new tips or ways to remember stuff.

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  12. Can you suggest me how can I remember the spelling of the words?

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    Replies
    1. You could try by reading them out loud - memorize and try to write them back on a piece of paper. Try this for a few times until you can spell the word by heart...all the best!

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  13. Well, for your information.. English is also one of my favorite subject but I am struggling!!! Especially when our teacher told us to write an essay... I keep getting nervous and sometimes I can't even think of any ideas that would fit in my essay!!! *sigh* Please help me to overcome my weakness!!!

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    Replies
    1. As far as I know, in essay writing usually some pointers are given to students to use.You just hold your horses- I'll be posting one my notes on how to write a simple PT3 essay using the given points...I hope after going through at this sample you'll be able to write a better essay....Anonymous!

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Hi, I'm quite busy with my work right now.....but, you can send your work and I can check it for you when I have the time....ok! Send it to this email add

      edu888841@yahoo.com

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  15. Good night teacher,haven't teacher marked my essays?I have wrote many essay but no teacher to mark my essays.I know teacher is very busy but I hope teacher can mark my essay as fast as possible.Thank you teacher.

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    1. Please check your mail box or the spam folder. I have sent one of your essays. Later, when time permits I'll send the rest...ok! Be at peace little one!

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  16. Good night teacher,I need to pass up my essays tomorrow.Can teacher mark my essays by today?Thank you.

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  17. Good morning teacher.I hope teacher had read my email.I hope teacher will understand my explanations.Can I send my essay to teacher as normal?

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  18. Teacher can I write the short writing task exceed 50 words?My essay reached 180 words.Will my teacher reduce my essay's mark if I my essays reached 180?

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  19. Hello, I just read through the comments and realised that you're an excellent teacher. I have a question in mind. If my essay (Section D) is partially out of the topic, how much will it affect the marks? As I heard, teachers do not mark just according to content but also several other aspects for that 30 marks. So, will it affect much on my marks? Thanks in advance.

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    1. Anonymous, I'm am no different from any other teacher. I teach because I love to teach and I desire that students appreciate and love the English language or any other language for that matter.

      As for your question, it all depends on how much you had deviated from the topic focus. Below are the things which we teachers look into in an essay:-


      1.Task fulfilled with ideas and details well-developed and well-organised.
      2.Language is accurate with first draft slips.
      3.Varied sentence structures are used effectively to convey meaning.
      4.Vocabulary is apt and widely used.
      5.Accurate use of mechanics of writing.
      6.Interest of the reader is aroused and sustained.

      If a student manages to fulfill the above mentioned requirements then he/she stands to score from 16-20 marks. Therefore, on your case it can stand between 6-10 or 1-5 range...but... to be honest I can't really tell because I don't know what you had written.

      Anyway, don't worry too much, check with your teacher once you get back your paper and ask him/her to help you on how to be sure that you are following the topic focus....

      I hope this will suffice...all the best!

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  20. hi,teacher, i am wen quan in email,hope to hear from you soon......

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  21. hi,teacher i am wen quan in email,hope to hear from you soon......

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  22. I start learning english so late,is it possible to scor A in english PT3?

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  23. teacher.....i am thirsting your reply

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    Replies
    1. Hi Wen Quan Ng, I just got home and I've read your email. I'm impressed with the effort your have taken to improve your English and I admire your fighting spirit - that's is to be the first in everything.

      A piece of advice from me, nothing wrong in wanting to be in the lead but it's not the end of the world if you're in the second place. Learning should be a fun and engaging experience not a fight to the death duel.

      That said, to write a good descriptive essay -- you should learn to use adjectives and adverbs plus words(vocabs) related to the topic matter.Read English newspapers or some good English novels to expand your knowledge and vocab base. It takes a lot of effort to write a good essay.

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  24. HI,teacher.Thank you from the bottom of my heart upon your tirelessly contribution of opinion on me.Recently,I received my result on internet.Fit with my expectation,I lose in the difference of7marnks.I can expect the teacher wearing sweet smile when handing him the paper.A great feeling of jeolous drives me to hit my legs strongly and shout in heart“WHY?!”...He is really a quite excellent opponent.This praise which I got three months ago now is moving to other's hand.It is really a bitter experience for me.I am not hating him but his excellence totally defeats me.My essay is quite long and exceed 150 words.This gave my teacher a chance to substract my marks....Can you show me some ways to avoid it?If forced to shorten the essay, it will lose points and tend to be a boring summary.It is not a way to write an ESSAY.

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome, I can see the usage of adjectives in your reply-good. Some teachers follow the PT3 requirements like textbook while others are a bit relaxed. If your teacher says it must not exceed 150 then you have to follow.

      First and foremost an essay has to have 5 paragraphs.
      1 - Intro 25-30 words
      3 - Main Points - 30-35 words
      1 - Conclusion - 10-15 words

      Try practicing writing an essay with the above mentioned scale-if you can then you have overcome one hurdle. Next, you need to focus on your usage of adjectives,adverbs and tenses correctly..All the best!

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  25. From a little loser,
    The opponent is working part-time for family while I am always attend tuition class around the clock.He got no time to study but always excel in exam.At that moment ,I feel that I am such a useless people.I know that this is due to my weak basic grammar and vocabs.I am so regret to miss out my primary school english lesson........Sometime I read up my younger brother's english homework I find a lot strange words that never appear in secondary school english........NO.....He comes from Penang and I am a cheap boy in Nibong Tebal.....He is smarter and brilliant....maybe really... really...HE deserves better and I deserve cheaper.........I am so hopeless.....

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    Replies
    1. If you want to succeed then stop comparing yourself with your friend or other students. In addition stop condemning yourself. In my dictionary there are only two type of students-1.hardworking while the other 2.Lazy.

      For me there is no such thing as smart and stupid-it all boils down on how one uses his brains and GOD given talents to excel in life. A smart person in spite of his background will take liberty to use all his senses to good use while the lazy ones do the opposite and blame everybody and everything except themselves.

      So, my advice to you is stop all these self pity and buckle up. Take the advice I had given you and do something about it. I want to see a different reply from you if you decide to reply my message...if not please don't say anything because I have no time to entertain your self pity...

      My words might seem harsh - I am a person who speaks out his mind, for some it is hurtful while for others it is medicine. To my students I speak the same- in my class there are more rebukes than soothing words (very rare).

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  26. hi,teacher.It's me again.thank you and.... sorry for my self pity.I will follow your “encouragement” and try to challange myself to a better way.There are some question I want to ask:
    In the pt3,what advices you can give me on the novel part(section D)?Is it only focus on the form3 novel-the railway children?If I want to excel in this part,I only practise the common topics such as the character,theme,incident ,a lesson learnt,moral values,is it enough?The novel part will exclude the novel we learnt in form1and2 such as flippling fantastic,rumpelstiltskin?What is the maximum words in writing essay?Will the teacher count the words one by one?

    On literature part,the poems we learnt in form123 will all included in the paper?I need to practise a lot in this part?But the questions asked are seen alike...

    Furthermore,when I come to a new word,it takes a lot of time to understand and remember it...Do you have a faster way to improve it?I am also need to take care of other subjects with include the format form 123 such as science.....What is you advice on time management?

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    Replies
    1. A good step you have taken. As for section [D], keep doing what you are doing now - try to figure out HOTS type of questions which are more likely to be asked during examination.

      You just have to focus on your FORM 3 novel only. There is no specific requirement for number of words written for novel. Just make sure you have 3 points plus examples to support your argument, that will suffice.

      As for poems you have to go through all of them - form 1,2 & 3. Remember there are no short cuts to success, work hard and you'll enjoy the fruit of your labour...all the best Wen Quan.

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  27. hello teacher , i am bad in writing essays . how to improve my skill in English ?. What books should I read to improve my English ? I have read English book but I couldn't understand. English make me stress hm

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    Replies
    1. One way which can help you to improve your writing skills is by reading. You can read newspaper articles from 'The Star' newspaper or read some simple worded English novels or story books. If you do not understand what you read-you can always refer in a dictionary.....

      To write a good essay needs a lot of hardwork-it doesn't come by memorizing some essays and trying to emulate them in the exam....I always ask my students to use their mind to think and generate ideas. I encourage them to use the little they have and write the essay... as the saying goes 'A castle is not built in a day'. It will take years for weak students to brush up on their essay writing skills..I always believe, it is better late than never..so, put on your thinking cap and start writing....ALL THE BEST!

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  28. Hello, teacher! I am a mom whose son will be sitting for the PT3 exam. I have 2 questions:
    1. Where are the short stories placed in the new PT3 format? I don't see it.
    2. Is the drama 'Rumplestiltskin' considered a novel and may come out in Section D under Literature Component?
    Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Puan, don't worry as no short story nor drama components will be asked in the PT3 exam.....

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  29. Hello, teacher. I am a mom whose son will be taking the PT3 exam. I have 2 questions on the Literature component :
    1. Do students only need to concentrate on the Form 3 novel and ignore the ones in Form 1 and 2 ?
    2. Will there be any questions on the short stories at all because I don't see any in the PT3 format?
    Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Good Morning Puan Zuraidah, for the first question, my answer is go through all the literature components from form 1-3. Pay more attention on the form 3 ones. The reason I say this is because the tendency to use the recent form 3 components is much higher as it will be much easier for students to remember -thus giving them a better opportunity to answer the questions.

      As for your second question-no questions will be asked on the short stories.My advice is ask your son to brush-up on his essay writing and the novel component.

      I hope this will suffice....All The Best!

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    2. Thank you so much for your prompt reply.

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  30. Hi teacher. can you provide me a right way of answering a literature question if it ask for a character that shows patience in the Railway Children . Can you provide me with a sample answer.tq

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    1. Sample answer.....


      Based on the novel 'The Railway Children' by Edith Nesbit, the character that shows patience is Roberta. There many instances in the novel which shows how patient Roberta was.

      For example, in chapter 3, Roberta patiently got the necessary things for her mother's recovery when her mother was ill. Her patience paid off when the old gentleman gave the things needed for her mother's recovery.

      Roberta patiently and persistently reasoned with Perks about the good intentions of the village people giving him the presents until he relented and accepted the gifts.Finally, Perks celebrated his birthday with a happy note.

      Lastly, in chapter 7, she did not give up in finding a way to help secure her father's release from prison. She was patient even when her mother had given up. She secretly wrote a letter to her friend the old gentleman asking for his help to clear her father's name.In the end her patience was rewarded when her father was released from prison.

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  31. Can you give me tips how i can elaborate the essay? I am so weak in essay

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    Replies
    1. You can use the 6W 1H method to expand your points - watch my video on youtube -follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDtpKfxaHW0

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  32. Will it effect the whole essay if the format is wrong ???

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    Replies
    1. Not so....if you used the wrong format---you'll most probably loose 3 marks.

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  33. Will it effect my marks if my story isn't based on the picture but still involves the people in it?

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  34. Hmm for essay writing,if the picture given is a schoolboy beside a car accident,is it acceptable if I write about an accident completely unrelated with school? Are the use of the picture and words given compulsory? Ty

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    Replies
    1. Rule number one when writing an essay:-
      1)Read the question and answer accordingly. If in the question it is stated about school then you should follow it. If not,then you are not bound to do so....all the best!

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  35. Kopitiam English can you teach me how to write some article for school newsletter the example title is (ways to conserve water

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  36. The essay ask to write a report but i write a story.It is take effect if the format is wrong.How many marks that ia can lose??

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    Replies
    1. Yes, if you did not follow the requirements of the question then it will be considered as 'KELUAR TAJUK' and you'll loose a lot of marks.

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    2. How many marks can we lose by it? Is it possible to lose all 30 marks? Or just 3 marks?

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  37. How many marks that i can lose for essay part if my essay is very good but only wrong format??For example ,the essay ask to write a report but i write a story

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    Replies
    1. Format is only 3 marks but it depends on your whole essay. If you say that your essay is good then you need not worry much because you still have 27 marks left.....

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  38. Hi. I just wanna ask about pt3 marking, so today on pt3 English subject they ask for report but I accidentally thought wrong and did formal letter instead of report. Because I thought article and report are two different thing. I heard from my friends that I only gonna lose about 3-5 marks. But since I get the whole format wrong, do I lose all 30 marks or do I only lose 3-5 marks? Please answer me, I'm so scared. Thank you in advance.

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  39. Hi,teacher,so if the format is informal letter but l wrote in a story,will l loose 3 marks or more,l am very scared.Thank you.

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  40. Hi,teacher,so if the format is informal letter but l wrote in a story,will l loose 3 marks or more,l am very scared.Thank you.

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  41. Thanks for the insightful post.
    I wish to know if students write for Notes Expansion exceeding 120 words, what will happen to them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since PT3 marking is now school based, so it is up to the respective teacher's discretion. If the teacher follows the provided marking scheme then marks maybe be deducted (but not much) depending on the number of words written. Some teachers don't really follow the marking scheme, therefore, it does not matter much.

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