Malaysian University English Test

Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is a test of English language proficiency, largely for university admissions. The test is set and run by the Malaysian Examinations Council (which also runs the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examination) and largely recognized only in Malaysia and Singapore.

Most candidates who sit for MUET do so to apply for admissions in public universities and colleges. MUET is largely optional, if considered at all, in applying for admissions in other universities and colleges in Malaysia as well as National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University. Most of those who do consider MUET in admission applications allocate little weight to it. Most universities, including many who offer "twinning" courses with local private colleges, outside these two countries do not consider MUET as an acceptable test for English language proficiency, preferring instead, the IELTS.However, in recent times, the MUET has lost its prominence as a requirement to be admitted into local universities, be it public or private ones. Many local universities now require students to only have sat for the MUET in order to graduate, without taking into account the band achieved.

Candidates usually have to register via their institution, private candidates with their State Education Department, with a registration fee which used to be RM 61, but has now gone up to RM 101. Although Malaysian government has decided to abolish government examination fees from 2007 onwards,^[1] MUET will remain as a paid test.

Components, Scoring and Grading

There are four components in MUET: Listening(800/1)-(45 scores), Speaking(800/2)-(45 scores) ; Reading(800/3)-(120 scores); Writing(800/4)-(90 scores).

^[2] The maximum scores for each component is 45 for Listening and Speaking, 120 for Reading Comprehension and 90 for Writing, with an aggregate score of 300. The scores are then graded in 6 bands, with Band 6 the highest and Band 1 the lowest.^[3]

Band 6- Very good user (Aggregated score:260-300) Very good command of the language. Highly expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language: hardly any inaccuracies. Very good understanding of language and contexts. Functions extremely well in the language.

Band 5- Good user (Aggregated score:220-259) Good command of the language. Expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language but with minor inaccuracies. Good understanding of language and contexts. Functions well in the language.

Band 4- Competent user (Aggregated score:180-219) Satisfactory command of the language. Satisfactory expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with occasional inaccuracies. Satisfactory understanding of language and contexts. Functions satisfactorily in the language.

Band 3- Modest user (Aggregated score:140-179) Modest command of the language. Modestly expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with noticeable inaccuracies. Modest understanding of language and contexts. Able to function modestly in the language.

Band 2- Limited user (Aggregated score:101-139) Limited command of the language. Lacks expressiveness, fluency and appropriacy: inaccurate use of the language resulting in breakdown in communication. Limited understanding of language and contexts. Limited ability to function in the language.

Band 1- Extremely limited user (Below 100) Poor command of the language. Unable to use language to express ideas: inaccurate use of the language resulting in frequent breakdowns in communication. Little or poor understanding of language and contexts. Hardly able to function in the language.

Locations and test dates

The Malaysia Examination Council test centres are largely in national secondary schools (Malay: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan) that offers Form 6, matriculation colleges, certain universities, as well as certain private and semi-private colleges. The test is run thrice annually, in February, July and November start from 2012 onward.

Three components - Listening, Reading Comprehension and Writing, are usually tested on the same day - always a second or fourth Saturday of the month, all with the same paper nationwide. The Speaking component is tested both in individual task and in groups of up to four, with papers different, most of the time, with other groups - and changes always every examination day. When a test centre uses the same question paper for the Speaking component for more than one group, other groups are sequestered until every group have either finished the test or in the examination room.

See also

• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

External links

• Malaysian Examination Council
• MUET guide written by former test taker.

References

1. ^ National Examination Fees Abolished from 2007 Onwards, Malaysia Students. September 2, 2006.
2. ^ Malaysian University English Test Components, Good English Essays. July 29, 2006.
3. ^ MUET Band Description, Good English Essays. February 22, 2007.