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
STAY
HEALTHY

BRAIN BODY
BE CALM SLEEP WELL

REVISE EAT HEALTHILY

AVOID JUNK FOOD REST

AVOID SOFT DRINKS 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: 50
The 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 Descriptors
Excellent 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 7-12 Task partially fulfilled. Ideas less developed and
lacks organisation.

Very Weak 1-6

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 - Summary
Write 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 2007
Dear 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 MARKS
BAND 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.
 TIPS ON ANSWERING NOVEL
QUESTIONS

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.
 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 STRATEGIES
1. 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
 REMEMBER
AN ‘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