PMR ENGLISH PAPERS

ANSWERING TECHNIQUES

BY

NURULHANA HUSSAIN

2008

You can rise to the challenge

• Step 1: Have a dream worth failing for

• Step 2: View success as something you fail

into, not fall into.

• Step 3: Learn to fail in the right places

• Step 4: Learn to see the good in every

failure

• Step 5: Jump!

LAST MINUTE PREPARATION

BRAIN BODY

BE CALM

REVISE

AVOID JUNK FOOD

AVOID SOFT DRINKS

STAY HEALTHY

SLEEP WELL

EAT HEALTHILY

REST

EXERCISE

PAPER 1 – 60 minutes • Section A: Graphics – 10 MCQs 10 marks - 10 minutes• Section B: Rational Cloze – 8 MCQs 8 marks - 10 minutes• Section C: Idiomatic Expressions – 6

MCQs 6 marks - 10 minutes• Section D: Reading Comprehension –

10 MCQs 10 marks - 10 minutes• Section E: Poem and Short Story – 6

MCQs 6 marks - 10 minutes The remaining 10 minutes - for

checking.

PAPER 2 -- 1 hour 30 minutes

• Section A : Guided Writing 30 marks – 35 minutes• Section B : Summary Writing 10 marks – 25 minutes• Section C : Novel (Literature) 10 marks – 20 minutes

TOTAL MARKS: 50The remaining 10 minutes - check for errors

FORMAT OF ESSAYS IN GUIDED WRITING

1. INFORMAL LETTER

2. FORMAL LETTER

3. REPORT

4. DIALOGUE

5. TALK / SPEECH

6. ARTICLE

7. STORY / PICTURE SERIES

8. OPINION-BASED ESSAY

Analysis of past years questions

• 2000 Informal letter & picture series

• 2001 Giving opinion & newspaper article

• 2002 Newspaper article & report for magazine

• 2003 Giving opinion & description of robbery

• 2004 Speech & Article

• 2005 Report on National Day Celebration

• 2006 Letter to uncle

• 2007 Story (picture series & note expansion)

• 2008 Speech – ‘Safety Measures in School’

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS

1. Understand the rubrics / task given

e. g. a. Study the pictures carefully. Imagine you are one of the people in the picture. Describe what happened.

b. Write a speech / Write an article

2. Use the rubrics in their given form.

e. g. Shopping – many people – curious- crowd – watching – snake charmer – saw – pick pocket – wallet -

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS

3. Use all the notes given in the question.

4. Always write in paragraphs to organize your ideas. (Main point, elaboration, examples)

5. Use linkers to correlate one paragraph to the other.

e.g.

To show difference - On the other hand, In contrast, On the contrary, However, Despite,

To add to point - In addition, Besides, As a result, Similarly,

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS

6. Use the correct format

a. formal / informal letter – know where the address and signature should be.

b. Talk / speech – must have title, greetings to the audience, end with thank you.

c. Report – must have title and the name of the person who wrote the report at the bottom.

d. Article – must have title and appear formal

e. Giving opinion – must make sure to state your opinion at the beginning of the essay.

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS

7. Always put yourself in the place of the reader. * Are you convinced with the writer’s point of view? * Are you interested to read the essay until the end? * Are you satisfied with the information presented in the essay? * Could you predict the ending of the story?

CRITERIA FOR MARKING GUIDED WRITING

IMPRESSION MARKING

Band Marks DescriptorsExcellent 25-30 Task fulfilled. Ideas- well developed and well

organised. Interest is aroused and sustained.

Credit 19-24 Task fulfilled. Ideas and details developed and organised. Interest is aroused but not sustained

Achievement 13-18 Task fulfilled. Ideas developed, adequately organised but lacks details.

Weak

Very Weak

7-12

1-6

Task partially fulfilled. Ideas less developed and lacks organisation.

Task hardly fulfilled. Ideas lack cohesion. High density of errors.

TIPS ON SUMMARIZING A TEXT

1. Understand what the question wants you to summarize.

2. Find 5 main points from top to bottom and lift them from the text.

3. Make sure the points answer what the question wants.

4. Combine the points using sequence / logical connectors (besides, furthermore, therefore..)

5. Write in grids / boxes

6. Remember that you should merely shorten the text. Do not include your own opinion.

Sample Question - SummaryWrite a summary on why Andrew’s visit to Malaysia was a

memorable one.

Your summary must:• not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given

below.• be in continuous writing (not note form)• be written in one paragraph

Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your summary as follows:

Andrew visited Malaysia and he was impressed with Malaysia because…..

Text for Summary Writing- PMR 2007Dear Editor, I am writing this letter to express my appreciation to

all Malaysians who had made my visit to Malaysia a meaningful one.

Upon reaching Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I took a taxi to Kuala Lumpur city. The taxi driver greeted me with a warm smile and showed me to his taxi. He was also kind enough to recommend places of interest that I should visit in your country.

Over the next few weeks, I travelled around the country. I visited Melaka, Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Redang and Genting Highlands, just to name a few. In Langkawi, I had the opportunity to be with the locals and also enjoy home-cooked dishes. I was truly touched by their friendliness and

hospitality. It was a wonderful experience!What I found unique about Malaysia is the way

people of different races and religions live peacefully as one. I noticed this from the way Malaysians celebrated their National Day. Clearly, the way everyone came together is an excellent example of tolerance and understanding. This is what Malaysia should highlight to the rest of the world.

Let me say ‘terima kasih’ to all those who have made my stay a memorable one. I will definitely come again and I would also promote Malaysia to all my friends back in England.

Andrew Jacob

Andrew visited Malaysia and he was

impressed with Malaysia because

MARKING SCHEME FOR SUMMARY

• CONTENT - 5 MARKS

• LANGUAGE - 5 MARKS

TOTAL = 10 MARKSBAND MARKS DESCRIPTORS

Excellent 5 Marked ability to use own words. No lifting.

Credit 4 Able to use own words. Almost no lifting.

Achievement 3 Attempt to use own words. Intelligent lifting

Weak 2 No attempt to use own words. Wholesale lifting.

Very weak 1 Total lifting. Irrelevant details.

ANALYSIS OF PAST YEARS QUESTIONS

YEAR QUESTION_________________ 2002 Write about a character that you think is brave.

2003 Write about an interesting incident from the novel

you have learnt. 2004 Write about one of the themes you learned in the novel.

2005 Write on one of the moral values –

honesty/ responsibility.

2006 Explain why you like/dislike the ending of the story.

2007 Write about two characters who work together to

obtain success. 2008 Write about an incident that you think important.

USE THIS FORMULA - I. E. J.

I - IDENTIFY WHAT THE QUESTION WANTS.

E - ELABORATE ON THE ANSWERS.

J - JUSTIFY THE ELABORATION BY

GIVING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

FROM THE NOVEL.

TIPS ON ANSWERING NOVEL QUESTIONS

Sample Questions– Write about an incident that changes the

life of a character in the story. Give evidence to support your answer.

Identify -

Elaborate –

Justify -

MARKING CRITERIA FOR NOVEL

BAND MARKS DESCRIPTORS

Excellent 9 - 10 Task fulfilled. Ideas and details well developed, well organised with evidence from text.

Credit 7 - 8 Task fulfilled. Ideas and details developed, organised and supported with evidence from text.

Minor errors.

Achievement 5 - 6 Task fulfilled. Ideas and details sufficiently developed with some evidence from the text. Major and minor errors.

Weak 3 - 4 Task partially fulfilled. Ideas less developed. Minimal textual support. Mere narration.

Errors hamper reading.

Very Weak 1 - 2 Task not fulfilled. Numerous errors.

LAST MINUTE STRATEGIES1. Do exercises – sample tests – a lot!

2. Focus on your weak areas.

3. Revise all the necessary formats.

4. Utilize your teachers and friends.

5. Pray!

6. Apologize to your parents & teachers

7. Do your best!

REMEMBER!There is no easy way to learn a

language.

• PRACTICE is the key word.

• PRACTICE speaking

• PRACTICE listening

• PRACTICE reading

• PRACTICE writing

• PRACTICE thinking

• PRACTICE dreaming

USEFUL STUDY TIPS

SQ3R

• SURVEY

• QUESTION

• READ

• RECITE

• REVIEW

SQ3R• SURVEY

How do I feel about the topic?• QUESTION

Predict- what would I learn from this topic?• READ

Confirm the prediction• RECITE

If you can’t paraphrase it, you don’t understand it.• REVIEW

Recall and summarize

EXAM DAY

• BE CALM / RECITE YOUR PRAYER• READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY• UNDERSTAND YOUR TASK• HIGHLIGHT / UNDERLINE KEYWORDS• BE ALERT WITH THE TIME• UTILIZE ALL THE TIME GIVEN UNTIL THE

LAST MINUTE• FOR MCQ, TRUST YOUR FIRST ANSWER IF

YOU ARE UNSURE• CHECK FOR ERRORS

REMEMBERAN ‘A’ STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL THE TIME GIVEN TO ANSWER

THE QUESTIONS FROM THE FIRST SECOND UNTIL

THE LAST SECOND.

LET’S BREAK THE RECORD

100% PASSES FOR PMR THIS YEAR

ALL THE BEST!

‘A’ FOR ENGLISH

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL