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                                       

*Check out my Informal Letter  : - http://kopitiamenglish.blogspot.com/2013/08/pmr-sample-essay-informal-letter.html
*Check out my Descriptive Essay - http://kopitiamenglish.blogspot.com/2015/03/pt3-sample-essay.html

SPM DIRECTED WRITING - TALK / SPEECH

Question : Your school has received a group of exchange students from United Kingdom (UK). As the President of the English Language Society, you have been asked by your teacher advisor to give a talk to welcome the British students to your school and give information about your school and country.

Notes / Points :- 

• School
• background
• facilities 

• Country
• multiracial community
• diverse festivals 

• Attraction in town
• famous tourist places
• shopping malls 

• Souvenirs
• keychains
• handicrafts

When giving the talk, you must remember to:

• greet your audience
• mention the purpose of the talk
• include all the points given
• end your talk appropriately 

 __________________________________________________________________________________________

Pointers :-

1. Format   : Talk
2. Who [you]  - President of the English Language Club
3. Who [they] - exchange students from UK
4. Who [will attend the talk] - teacher advisor, exchange students, members of the English Language Club
5. What [Objective 1]: to welcome the British students to your school
6. What [Objective 2]: give information about your school -[One paragraph]
7. What [Objective 3]: give information about your country -[Two paragraph]
8. What [Hope] : conclusion.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 [Introduction]

When writing your introduction, follow the format of a talk / speech. For this essay you must write an opening talk / speech which is greeting your audience. Not all talk / speeches are the same,so, you need to be careful when writing your intro. For this essay, the audience are:

• the school principal / vice principal
• the teacher advisor
• the exchange students
• the members of the English Language Club

Sample Intro : [ Simple Style ]

              I would like to wish a very good morning to our respected principal, Mr. Shukor Salleh bin Haji Abbas, vice principal Mr. Tan Han Seng,club's teacher advisor, Puan Ramlah and to all the exchange students from the UK and fellow club members.I am honoured to be given this opportunity to welcome our friends from the UK and to share a little about our school and our country with them.Before I begin, let us all put our hands together and give them a warm Malaysian welcome. [ 75 words ]

Sample Body 1 : [ Simple Style ]

           Let me begin by introducing our school. SMK Bukit Jambul was opened  on the 1st of January 2001. From only 14 teachers and 220 students in the beginning, now we have 68 dedicated teachers and 1050 students.We have 30 classes for form 1 to form 5 students. We also have a fully equipped computer lab and a science lab.

         We only had 6 form 1 classes. From 220 students, SMK Bukit Jambul has grown to 1050 students. We have 68 dedicated teachers to teach 30 classes ranging  from form 1 till form 5.Our mission is to bring out the hidden potential of each and every student of SMK Bukit Jambul through creative and innovative ways,thus producing students who are able to compete locally and globally.

Sample Body 2 : [ Simple Style ]

Descriptive Essay - How to write a descriptive essay

Write about a person who has worked hard to succeed in life.
 

This is an actual SPM examination question for the year 2008. Descriptive type essays are easy to write. You must use adjectives,adverbs,phrasal verbs and strong verbs to write an interesting description.

In the above question, we need to find the focus point, which is 'a person' and 'worked hard in life to succeed'. Once you know the focus point - you can start drafting your essay. It is always advisable to write about a person whom you know very well and one who is close to you, for example your father / mother / grandfather / uncle etc. Try not to write about someone you are not familiar with.

There are many ways to start an essay. In order to get a good grade for your essay, try to think and write something which is out of the box ( be different ) - try not to follow the norm.

Always remember, introduction paragraph is very important because it gives the first impression about your essay. A good introduction will get the reader's attention and cause him/her to keep reading your essay with interest.

Introduction Paragraph - Sample

              As I gazed at the photo frame hanging on the wall of my parents home, tears of sorrow filled my eyes; quickly, I took my handkerchief to wipe away my tears; I did not want anyone to notice them, it would only cause them sorrow. I could still hear him telling me - "Success does not come in a silver plate, you must work hard for it, my child".It is a mantra which I hold dear to my heart and which has brought me success which I never imagined I could ever achieve.They were the words of a man who not only preached them but practiced them as well and proved to those who mocked him that only through hard work can a person succeed in life.

          He was born in Kelantan, in a small fishing village near the famous Sabak Beach.He was the eldest son in his family of five. He was a good natured and a hard working man.He became a fisherman very early in his life; to be precise at the age of 15 he was already an expert fisherman. His fishing fraternity called him 'Bob Ikan', because he was an expert in pin-pointing the exact location where fish could be found in abundance.All the praises just made him humbler. He was born into poverty, but never once was he grumpy nor glum.In contrast, he was always cheerful and affable towards others. Everyone in his village loved him and respected him.... 


* If you notice, in this intro I did not mention the person who I am referring to. This is just to build up the suspense for the reader. The reader will be making guesses as to who am I refering to. I will only mention the person in the closing paragraph.

In this style of writing - you must not give out any detail about the person in all your 'BODY' part of your essay. In the 'BODY' part, slowly build up his/her character and how his/her hard work had made him/her to succeed in life.You must know how to write them in a way which will keep the reader guessing -  'ALL THE BEST'

ESSAY WRITING - THE SECRET TO WRITING A GOOD ESSAY

Why I can't write good English Essay for my PMR or SPM or any kind of English Essay writing exams? This is a very famous question asked by many local and foreign students, especially those who take English as their Second Language Studies.Be at peace, nobody is a born writer. You need to put a lot of hard work and time if you want to be a good writer.

Do you want to know how you can improve your English Essay Writing? In this post, I would like to share some of the methods I teach my students on how to improve their essay writing.The methods mentioned below are age old methods which are being used around the world by many teachers.

Pointer 1- Read some good English Novels 
 

Read as many books as you can. Read some good English novels. Observe how the writer uses different techniques and styles to tell the story. Good novel writers usually like to use simple and straightforward language. They also like to use a variety of literary devices to make their novel come to life. 

 

Pointer 2- Read Newspaper Articles

 

Read newspaper articles in your local English Dailies. For students sitting for SPM, read articles or news on family issues, health, accidents, sports, teenagers etc. Reading these articles can help to improve your vocabulary list and your grammar.You can read articles from the 'STAR' newspaper ( for weak students ) or from the 'News Straits Time' ( for those who have a good command of English).

 

 

Pointer 3- Read Articles From Magazines

 

Read good English Magazines like the Newsweek, Times ,Readers Digest etc. This method I would only recommend to those who have a good command of English. Articles from the Readers Digest have been used in SPM examinations before.

 

 

Pointer 4- Copy Back Sample Essays

Find some short essay samples and copy them into a work book. Read slowly as you copy them. This method is very helpful for those who are weak in writing a simple English essay.

 

 

Pointer 5- Group Discussion

 

Form a group and discuss and exchange ideas on how you can write a good essay. It would be helpful if you can find an English teacher or your friend who is good in English to help with your writing. 

 

Pointer 6- Don't Memorize Essays For Exam

This is my secret to being a good writer. Never memorize an essay for your examaminations. Many students like to cram their head memorizing few essays for their PMR or SPM examinations and just simply write without giving thought to what is actually required. This method will not help you in the long run when later you are in the real world. In the real world you'll have problems to write even a simple letter if you keep on with this method.

The best way to write an essay is through the 5 methods which I have mentioned above and a lot of hard work goes with it.

Remember, you can't be a good writer in a day. You need to start from young to be able to write a good English Essay. It is never to late to start even if you are only in Form 4 or Form 5. Perseverance and hardwork will always bear fruit. It is better to get a 'CREDIT' for your own essay rather than getting a 'DISTINCTION' memorizing someone else's essay.

SPM ESSAY - SAMPLE ESSAY CONCLUSIONS

In this post, I have posted some [sample  conclusions ] . Below are the  examples :-

Actual SPM examination question - Descriptive

2008  :  Write about a person who has worked hard to succeed in life.

Sample :

   In a nut shell, Mr.Adam cherished the saying 'No pain,no gain.' He always believed a man must be willing to endure hardship in order to enjoy success in life. Today, after 30 years of hardship he is the owner of a famous shopping comples in Penang. Mr.Adam is none other than my dear loving father.

Actual SPM examination question - Opinion / Arguementative

2009  : School children should nothave long holidays. Do you agree?

Sample :

In conclusion, school children definitely need long holidays. Long holidays will help them to unwind and relax from all the stress of school life.Long holidays will help rejuvenate their stressed out mind and be more receptive to studies when school reopens.

Actual SPM examination question - One Word

2009  : Beauty
Sample :

         Finally,beauty is an abstract matter which can’t be quantified by any measurement. How a person perceives beauty can differ from one person to the other. As the saying goes “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

* Remember, above are only simple sample conclusions to help those who are weak in English to get a rough idea on how to write a simple conclusion for their essay.

IDIOMS IN ESSAY

 

What Is An Idom...?

 

An idiom is an expression consisting of a combination of words that have a figurative meaning. The figurative meaning is comprehended in regard to a common use of the expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.Idioms are numerous and they occur frequently in all languages. There are estimated to be at least 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the English language. (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom) 

 

Can I Use Idioms In My Essay...? 

• Students are encouraged to  use idioms in PT3 and SPM examinations.Using relevant and suitable idioms in an essay will help students to get a better mark for their essay. 
• Don't simply use idioms just for the sake of getting better grades for your essay paper, this will backfire if the idioms you use are irrelevant or out of place. 
• You can use idioms in the beginning paragraph or in the body paragraph or in the closing paragraph. It all depends on the topic and suitability of the idioms used. 
• Be careful not to over do it.You might be impressed but it does not necessarily mean the examiner would be.
• Do not use idioms when writing formal letters or business letters.
• So, for a better grade use at least three idioms.If you can't write three at least write one idiom in the closing paragraph.
  
  

Sample Sentences With Idioms...
 

1. The suffering Adam went through in life was actually a blessing in disguise,for it has taught him to be prudent and thrifty with his finances. 
2. Many obese Malaysians are actually couch potatoes.They just like to sit and eat on a couch all day long watching movies without moving an inch.
3. Students who like to drag their feet will not be able to finish their school project on time.
4. Students need to widen their horizons in order to face the challenges of globalisation.
5. People who like to be mules for drug traffickers must learn to face the music if caught by the authorities.
6. Sam has a gut feeling that something bad is going to happen today.
7. Parents need to have a heart to heart talk with their teenage children often.This will help them to  understand the emotional turmoil their teenage children are going through better.
8. Reading helps a person to be knowledgeable about his surroundings and not be in the dark.
9. Parents need to keep an eye on their children's after school activities.
10. We packed our things and headed to the remote village in Manjala. The journey was quite challenging and dangerous but we managed to steer clear of danger and reached the village safe and sound. 

1. My father and mother are always at loggerheads, they never once agreed on anything, always pointing fingers at one another over silly matters.
2. Sandy was on cloud nine as she got through her SPM examination with flying colours.
3. After waiting for six long years, Pat and Mandy finally tied the knot. Their parents gave them an out of this world wedding reception as a wedding gift.
4. Henry is quite wrapped up with his construction work. He just can't afford to take a break or put up his feet even for a second.
5. Miranda has put on weight after giving birth to her baby girl. She plans to work out more to shed the extra pounds.
6. Starting from 2013, every student must pass their History paper. Students are worried that they might not be able to sail through it because History is all Greek to them. 
7. The old house opposite my house has a ghostly presence, it gives me goose bumps just looking at it.
8. The bank was robbed in broad daylight.The police are not leaving any stones unturned, they are working out a game plan to catch the mastermind.
9. People around the world must have an attitude of give and take in order to enjoy continuous peace.Insensitive words or religious undertones will only create ripples which can turn into a vicious cycle of unnecessary violence.
10. The two opposing political parties are hoping for a landslide victory this coming election. Working committes from both parties have rolled up their sleeves for some serious campaining.

SPM ENGLISH ESSAY FORMAT - CONTINUOUS WRITING

SPM Essay Writing Paper is divided into two, which are Section A and Section B.

 

Section A is called Directed Writing and it is mainly format type essays.

Section B is called Continuous Writing and you are given 5 choices to choose from.

Students are required to answer only one question from this section.Okay, today I will give some simple pointers on how to write the Continuous Writing type essay.

Section B

Time    : 1 hour (advised time)

Marks : 50 marks

Format : Non-Format Essays

* No details will be provided as a guide for students to write their essay. Students are required to use their knowledge or their own points to write the essay.

How To Write

1. Use the 7P technique (7 Paragraph)
2. 1 Paragraph for Introduction
3. 5 Paragraphs for Body
4. 1 Paragraph for Closing

How To Break The Paragraphs

• Introduction Paragraph

1. Use only general information to write your Introduction
2. Construct at least 5-7 sentences.
3. At least 40-50 words.
4. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

• Body Paragraph

1. Must have at least one Main Idea.
2. 2-4 supporting details.
3. One concluding sentence.
4. At least 40-50 words.
5. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

• Closing Paragraph

1. Restate all your main ideas in a nut shell.
2. Use synonyms to restate your ideas.
3. State a suggestion and a hope.  
4. At least 40-50 words.
5. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

 

* Use the 7P technique to write your Continuous Writing Essay. It is easy to remember and saves a lot of time. Make sure it is at least 350-400 words.I hope my two posts on SPM Essay Formats were able to help you to better understand how to write a proper essay.

SPM ESSAY - DIRECTED WRITING

SPM Essay Writing Paper is divided into two, which are Section A and Section B.


Section A is called Directed Writing and it is mainly format type essays.


Section B is called Continuous Writing and you are given 5 choices to choose from.


Students are required to answer only one question from this section.Okay, today I will give some simple pointers on how to write the Directed type essay.


Section A


Time    : 45 minutes (advised time)

Marks : 35 marks

Format : Mainly Format Type Essays - (report,letter,article,speech,talk etc)


* Details will be provided as a guide for students to write their essay. Students are required to use all the points or details given in the paper.

How To Write

1. Use the 5P technique (5 Paragraph)
2. 1 Paragraph for Introduction
3. 3 Paragraphs for Body
4. 1 Paragraph for Closing

How To Break The Paragraphs

• Introduction Paragraph

1. Construct the paragraph using the points or details given in the exam paper.
2. Construct at least 5 sentences.
3. At least 40-50 words.
4. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

• Body Paragraph

1. Construct the paragraph using the points or details given in the exam paper.
2. Break the points into 3 main ideas and supporting ideas
3. Construct at least 5 sentences for each paragraph.
4. At least 40-50 words.
5. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

• Closing Paragraph

1. Closing must follow the type of format used.
2. Construct the paragraph using the points or details given in the exam paper.
3. Construct at least 5 sentences.
4. At least 40-50 words.
5. Use proper grammar,punctuation and spelling.

* Use the 5P technique to write your Directed Writing Essay. It is easy to remember and saves a lot of time. Make sure it is at least 200-250 words.In the next post, I will give some pointers on how to write the Continuous type essay.