SPM English 1119 Past Year Papers

Paper 1
Section B : Continuous Writing
[50 marks]
[Time suggested : One hour]
Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the
following topics.
2014
1 Describe an important family celebration and how you
felt about it.
2 There is a lack of freedom given to teenagers today. Do
you agree?
3 Why are animals important to human beings?
4 Write a story about a fisherman beginning with: "The
wind blew strongly. Out at sea, ..."
5 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.' Describe how a friend
helped you in difficult time.
2013
1 'Truly Malaysian.' Describe what this means to you.
2 Is tuition necessary? Discuss.
3 Write a story about being alone.
4 Write a story that ends with: "... and so I became a better
person."
5 Reality shows
2012
1 Describe an outing with your friends.
2 Should parents give children more freedom? Discuss.
3 Saving money for the future.
4 Write a story beginning with: "The teacher walked into
the classroom. It was the first period ..." 5 Cleanliness

2011
1 A famous person you admire.
2 Should school students have part-time jobs?
3 The best things in life are free.
4 Write a story that ends with: "... They looked at each
other and smiled meaningfully."
5 Peace
2010
1 Describe the most popular student in your school.
2 "The Internet is mostly a good thing." Do you agree?
Support your opinion.
3 What can we do to save the environment?
4 Write a story beginning with "It had been raining all
day..."
5 Home
2009
1 Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your
way home from school.
2 School children should not have long holidays. Do you
agree?
3 My favourite day of the week.
4 Write a story that ends with: "... We said our goodbyes
and went our separate ways."
5 Beauty
2008
1 Write about a person who has succeeded in life.
2 Examinations - good or bad?
3 My perfect future husband or wife
4 Write a story ending with: "... Now I realise the value of a
true friend."
5 Stars

3 How to keep oneself healthy.

2007
1 Describe an embarrassing experience in your life.

4 If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would you

want to be and why?

2 'Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment.'

Do you agree?

5 Music
2004

3 My early years

1 Describe a festival celebrated in your area.

4 Write a story beginning with: "Kim was nervous when the

door opened...".(For another model answer, click
here: Model Answer 2)

2 Write a story ending with: "... We had never laughed so

much in our lives."
3 My ideal school

5 Tomorrow
2006
1 Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced.

4 How can we help promote tourism in Malaysia?

5 Clothes
2003

2 Write a story ending with: "If only I had been more

careful, that wouldn't have happened." (For another model
answer, click here: Model Answer 2)

1 A day I wished had never happened. (For another model

answer, click here: Model Answer 2)

3 What changes would you like to see in your life in the

next ten years?

2 You have been given a chance to visit a country of your

choice. Which country would you choose and why?

4 How can television help students in their studies?

3 An invention you cannot live without

5 Food
2005

4 Write a story that ends with: "... If only I had listened to

his/her advice."

1 Describe the biggest challenge in your life.

5 Friends
2002

2 Write a story with the title: "An Unexpected Visitor".

1 Describe a favourite teacher who had a great influence

on you.

4 Things that I like about my life.

2 Write a story beginning with: "Is it really you? Where

have you been all these years?"

5 "More land should be used for agriculture than for

industry." Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons to
support your opinion.
1999

3 Good results in school do not guarantee success in the

future. What is your opinion?

1 My Dream Car
4 How I can help to make the world a better place to live in.
2 Education - what it means to me.
5 Colours
2001
1 How do you think the media has influenced you and your
family?
2 Some people think the legal age for driving should be
increased from 17 to 19. What do you think?
3 Describe how you spend a free day when the weather
was very bad.

3 The computer - is it really an advantage?

4 The day I lost my temper.
5 Memories (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)
(Although this essay with the same title is a bit long, you
can get some ideas too.)
1998
1 Describe a day at school when you were very unhappy.

4 Large families make happy families.

5 Write a story of an old man returning to his home he left
many years ago.
2000

2 Parents do not spend enough time with children

nowadays. What is your opinion?
3 Write a letter to a penfriend describing some interesting
places in your village, town or home state.

1 My Hero
2 If you were able to choose a time in history that you
could visit, which time would it be and why?
3 Life in Malaysia in the new millennium.

4 Write a story beginning with: "I could tell by his face that
he was angry...
5 Being young.
1997

1 Imagine your were moving to a new house. Describe the

last day in your old house.
2 Describe the scene at a crowded bus or railway station.

2007 - Describe an embarrassing experience in your life.

2006 - Describe an enjoyable weekend you have
experienced.

3 Write a story with the following title: A Narrow

Escape. (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)

2005 - Describe the biggest challenge in your life.

4 Do you think games are an important part of school life?

2002 - Describe a favourite teacher who had a great

influence on you.

2004 - Describe a festival celebrated in your area.

5 Water
2001 - Describe how you spend a free day when the
weather was very bad.
SPM English 1119 Past Year Paper Essay Topics Categorised
DESCRIPTIVE
2014 - (1) Describe an important family celebration and
how you felt about it. (2) 'A friend in need is a friend
indeed.' Describe how a friend helped you in difficult time.
2013 - 'Truly Malaysian.' Describe what this means to you.

2000 - My Hero
1998 - Describe a day at school when you were very
unhappy.
1997 - (1) Imagine your were moving to a new house.
Describe the last day in your old house. (2) Describe the
scene at a crowded bus or railway station.

2012 - Describe an outing with your friends.

ARGUMENTATIVE
2011 - A famous person you admire.
2010 - Describe the most popular student in your school.
2009 - Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on
your way home from school.
2008 - Write about a person who has succeeded in life.

2014 - There is a lack of freedom given to teenagers today.

Do you agree?
2013 - Is tuition necessary? Discuss.
2012 - Should parents give children more freedom?
Discuss.

2011 - Should school students have part-time jobs?

2013 - Reality shows
2010 - "The Internet is mostly a good thing." Do you agree?
Support your opinion.
2009 - School children should not have long holidays. Do
you agree?

2012 - Saving money for the future.

2011 - The best things in life are free.
2010 - What can we do to save the environment?

2008 - Examinations - good or bad?

2009 - My favourite day of the week.
2007 - 'Teenagers today are only interested in
entertainment.' Do you agree?
2002 - Good results in school do not guarantee success in
the future. What is your opinion?

2007 - My early years

2006 - How can television help students in their studies?
2005 - How to keep oneself healthy.

2001 - Some people think the legal age for driving should
be increased from 17 to 19. What do you think?
2000 - "More land should be used for agriculture than for
industry." Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons to
support your opinion.

2004 - How can we help promote tourism in Malaysia?

2003 - An invention you cannot live without.
2002 - How I can help to make the world a better place to
live in.

1999 - The computer - is it really an advantage?

1998 - Parents do not spend enough time with children
nowadays. What is your opinion?
1997 - Do you think games are an important part of school
life?

2001 - (1) How do you think the media has influenced you
and your family? (2) Large families make happy families.
2000 - (1) Life in Malaysia in the new millennium. (2)
Things that I like about my life.
1999 - Education - what it means to me.

FACTUAL / EXPOSITORY
2014 - Why are animals important to human beings?

1997 - Being young.

NARRATIVE

answer, click here: Model Answer 2)

2014 - Write a story about a fisherman beginning with:

"The wind blew strongly. Out at sea, ..."

2005 - Write a story with the title: "An Unexpected Visitor".

2013 - (1) Write a story about being alone. (2) Write a story
that ends with: "... and so I became a better person."
2012 - Write a story beginning with: "The teacher walked
into the classroom. It was the first period ..." (For another
model answer, click here:Model Answer 2)
2011 - Write a story that ends with: "... They looked at each
other and smiled meaningfully." (For another model
answer, click here: Model Answer 2)
2010 - Write a story beginning with "It had been raining all
day...".
Model Answer 2
Model Answer 3
2009 - Write a story that ends with: "... We said our
goodbyes and went our separate ways."
2008 - Write a story ending with: "... Now I realise the value
of a true friend."
Model Answer 2
Model Answer 3

2004 - Write a story ending with: "... We had never laughed

so much in our lives."
2003 - (1) Write a story that ends with: "... If only I had
listened to his/her advice." (2) A day I wished had never
happened. (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)
2002 - Write a story beginning with: "Is it really you? Where
have you been all these years?"
2001 - Write a story of an old man returning to his home he
left many years ago.
1999 - The day I lost my temper.
1998 - Write a story beginning with: "I could tell by his face
that he was angry...
1997 - Write a story with the following title: A Narrow
Escape. (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)
ONE WORD / OPEN ESSAY

2007 - Write a story beginning with: "Kim was nervous

when the door opened...". (For another model answer, click
here: Model Answer 2)

2012 - Cleanliness
2011 - Peace

2006 - Write a story ending with: "If only I had been more
careful, that wouldn't have happened." (For another model

2010 - Home

2009 - Beauty
2008 - Stars

2006 - What changes would you like to see in your life in

the next ten years?
2005 - If you were given a chance to be anybody, who
would you want to be and why?

2007 - Tomorrow
2004 - My ideal school
2006 - Food
2005 - Music
2004 - Clothes

2003 - You have been given a chance to visit a country of

your choice. Which country would you choose and why?
2000 - If you were able to choose a time in history that you
could visit, which time would it be and why?

2003 - Friends
1999 - My Dream Car
2002 - Colours
1999 - Memories (For another model answer, click
here: Model Answer 2)
(Although this essay with the same title is a bit long, you
can get some ideas too.)

LETTER WRITING
1998 - Write a letter to a penfriend describing some
interesting places in your village, town or home state.

1997 - Water
IMAGINATIVE
2008 - My perfect future husband or wife

*Note: For the new SPM examination format, letter writing

is not included in Section B (the Continuous Writing
Section). It belongs to Section A (the Directed Writing
Section) instead.