DESCRIPTIVE: EVENTS

Unlike the directed writing component, there are no obvious marks awarded for
content. Refer to the scoring criteria for more details. To score the 40 language
marks, your writing needs to be firstly, almost error-free; and secondly, impressive.

1. Language

1.1 Vocabulary
You may impress your readers by the use of precise vocabulary/expressions. Some
examples of good vocabulary are:

1.2 Varied Sentence Structures

You may also impress your readers by the use of compound and complex sentence
structures. Some examples of compound and complex sentence structures are:

1.3 Prior knowledge

Prior knowledge is important, so you must carefully choose which festival you are
more familiar with. This will enable you to come up with more precise words, while
also assisting you in mapping your ideas fast.

1.4 Senses
Create a vivid experience for your readers by focusing on the five senses.
• sight
• sound
• smell
• touch
• taste

Sample Question and Answer

Question: Describe a festival celebrated in Malaysia

Hari Raya Celebration

Text Merit

One of the prevalent celebrations in Malaysia is Eid or more Precise

commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya vocabulary
literally means 'Celebration Day'. It is celebrated by Muslims on 1 Syawal of
Muslim Calendar after a month of fasting. Shopping malls and bazaars are Sense
usually crammed with people days ahead of Hari Raya, which creates a
distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country. Precise
vocabulary

This is the time when my mother and I will do our last minute Precise
acquisition of clothes, delicacies and festive decorations. Then, we will return vocabulary
to our home town to celebrate the festival. The night before Hari Raya is filled Sense
with the sounds of the takbir in the mosques. Just like in many parts of
Malaysia, especially in the rural areas, I will light oil lamps and place them
outside and around my grandmother‘s home.

My brothers, together with my cousins, will light traditional bamboo

cannon or firecrackers which are notoriously loud and can be very dangerous. Sense
The atmosphere resembles a battlefield, filled with thunderous and colourful
explosions of happiness and joy. My mother and aunts will be busy preparing
special dishes like ketupat, dodol, rendang and other delicacies to serve on the Expression
next day. My favourite is definitely lemang which is a type of glutinous rice
cooked in bamboo.
On the morning of Hari Raya, we will wear our traditional clothing,
the baju kurung. Before heading to the mosque for prayer, we will greet one Varied sentence
another and ask for forgiveness for sins which we may have committed. Once structure
the prayer is completed, it is common for many Muslims to visit the graves of
loved ones. During these visits, we will clean the grave, recite Yassin, and
also perform the tahlil ceremony. All these are done as a means to ask God to Precise
absolve both the departed and the living for our sins. vocabulary

The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors at

home. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for me and other children as we will be
given token sums of money, also known as "duit raya", from our parents or
elders. I truly enjoy the Hari Raya celebration which is a really unique
festival. It is more than a religious celebration as it fosters closer relation in a Varied sentence
family as well as the neighbourhood. structure