wre * glish Test (MUET) is Reading, Paper 3 of the ‘Malaysian University En This test will take you 75 minutes. ‘The aim of the paper is to test candidates’ abilities to understand reading texts at tertiary education level. These reading texts will cover both the formal and less formal text types. Duration: 75 minutes Overview Structure of the paper 40 questions “a 90 marks | Marks “a Topics in the texts are what most students are likely to encounter In their academic and educational surrounding. There is no reason 0 be worried as even a non-specialist will be able to understand topics in these academic areas. People and Culture Financial Awareness and Consumerism, Environment Science and Technology and Health Scanned with CamScannerInthe Reading Test, candidates should have good. linguistic knowledge in terms of grammar, sentence structure and choice of vocabulary. 6 Inaddition, candidates need to have Pragmatic knowledge, related to discourse, coherence, cohesion and the various text types. Sociocultural rules however, would demand candidates to know how to use and respond to language appropriately. For example, when we are addressing an employer or a friend, there will be differences in how we handle them. g Some of the mental processes required when reading include elements like: © Visual input G Syntactic i Establishing Propositional Meaning (Clause and sentence levels) @ Inferencing Building a mental model Creating a text level representation Creating an intertextual representation 9 Reading skills tested include the following: Identifying specific information G Identifying main ideas and supporting details G Inferencing: This involves thinking skills. You need to observe and interpret what you have read. Answers will not be available to be copied directly. ‘ Identifying details and examples from sources to support an argument ringuishing facts from opinions Interpreting texts for the author's intention Identifying the purpose of a paragraph or text Recognising the text structure of the whole text _ fying cause and effect relationships & Predicting outcomes - Summarising Comparing and evaluating information in different texts Scanned with CamScannerDy Cela Pe ane Nlenees 1 Ascandidates must have known by now, Malaysia's English 1, Education System has been aligned to the Common j, Framework of Reference or widely known with its acrony: since 2017. 2 Since 2021, MUET has been aligned to CEFR and this has given it an international standing. As this isthe MUET CEFR-aligned Paper, candidates must also know and have some knovledge of what CEFR levels entail. 3. Descriptors for reading skills according to CEFR is explained ig Table 1. At each scale it will tell you what you should be able to de As the scale goes up, your ability to read and understand abstr concepts should also be more competent. ANgLage ‘UrOpean, m CERR 4 For tertiary level, to be able to communicate rather effectively, candidates should be above B1 level. Levels of difficulties ranges from A2 to Cl in the MUET Reading Test. This means words used range from from basic to proficient levels. Descriptors for Reading Skills as According to CEFR Scale Reading can read with ease virtually all forms of the written language, including abstract, structurally oF linguistically complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and literary works. Ican understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style. 'can understand specialised articles and longer technical Instructions, even when they do not relate to my field. igh frequency 1 can understand the description of events, feeli 'Y every day or job-related language: lings and wishes in personal letters. ‘can read very short, simple texts. can find specifi, predictable information in simple everyday ‘material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and | simp! oe short simple personal letters. 's and | can undet | can understand familiar names, words and very sim ple sentences, f otices and posters or in catalogues. , for example on n Scanned with CamScanner‘The format 0! questions. The s either be a picture oft Syndicate. 1 | Three short simple texts; advertisements, announcements, notices, short official documents, 5, labels, directories, prospectuses, menus, and timetables linked by theme and text type 2. | Astraightforward factual text such as short stories, light magazines! newspaper articles, blogs, biographies, ‘emails, informal letters and formal letters. 3. | Astraightforward factual text; short stories, light magazines! newspaper articles, blogs, biographies, ‘emails, informal letters and formal letters. Reading Test Overview simple, long or a complex text. he paper's structure as provided by the Malaysian Examination 300 to 450 words 300 to 450 words + Reading multiple texts for specific factual information «+ Reading for main ideas and supporting details Inferencing Identifying details and examples to support an argument + Predicting outcomes Reading for main ideas and supporting details Inferencing Identifying details and ‘examples to support an argument Predicting outcomes the paper entails seven parts; with 40 multiple-choice even parts of the test consists of reading texts which could Table 2 will give you a clearer Listening Task Multiple 4 matchins 9 | (a2t0ct) MCQ with 5 3 options (A2 to Cl) MCQ with 5 3 options (A2 to C1) Scanned with CamScanner4 | Two thematically Each text | + Understanding the main McQ 6 linked long and | between | _ idea nad supporting with? | tec complex texts; 350 details and gist options ay specialist magazine | to 400 |+ Understanding text atticles, reviews, words | organisation features feature articles, + Deducing meaning formal letters, from context tesearch bulletins * Distinguishing facts and discussion from opinions forums. 5 Interpreting text for author's intention, attitudes and style + Comparing and evaluating information in different texts 5 | Along and 500to |« Identifying the purpose | Match 6 6 complex text; 600 | ofa paragraph or text | sentences specialist magazine | words | Recognising the text tothe | (A2to C1) articles, reviews, structure of the whole | missing feature articles and text gaps in + Identifying cause and | the text, effect relationships in a tesearch bulletins, text 6 |Alengthy complex | 700t0 |+ Recognising text McQ 7 text; specialist 900 Content features (detail, | with 4 magazine articles, words opinion, emotions, options | (A2 to C1) ‘textbooks, attitude, writer's reviews, reports, Purpose, main idea and Journal articles, implications) research bulletins, + Recognising text professional organisation's features publications and (examplification, literary writing. comparison and * reference) 7 | Alengthy complex | 700t0 |+ Recognising textcontent | cq 7 text; specialist 900 features (detall, opinion, | with 4 magazine articles, | words | emotions, attitude, options | (A2 to C1) textbooks, writer's purpose, main reviews, reports, Idea and Implications) journal articles, + Recognising text research bulletins, organisation's features professional texamplificaton publications and comparison and literary writing, reference) Scanned with CamScannerReading strategies 1 To be a good reader there are several strategies which you need to have and acquire. 2 Candidates need to be aware of the various reading strategies that they can or should be using when they are trying to comprehend a reading text. 3. We should all be aware that proficient readers use several reading strategies. For instance, before they start reading a particular text, they already know their purpose for reading. 4. To put them ina piecemeal fashion, we are going to describe reading strategies in three aspects. 5. ‘The words in bold italics are to help you understand each strategy better. [if cova Reading Strategies Reading a text as a whole, When you do this, there are several points to know and to be aware oft (a) Set a purpose for reading: Have a purpose in mind when you read. (b) Activate prior knowledge: Think about what you know to help you understand what you read. (©) Predict what text is about: Preview the title to see what it is about before reading it. (d) Confirm predictions: Check to see if your guesses about the text are right or wrong. (e) Preview text for content: Preview the text to see what it is about before you start reading it. (&) Skimming to note text characteristics: Skim the text first by noting characteristics like length and organisation. (g) Making decisions in relation to what to read closely: Decide what to read closely and what to ignore. (h) Using context clues: Use contextual clues to help you better understand what you're reading. (i) Use text structure: Use tables, figures and pictures in the text to increase your understanding, (j) Use other textual features to enhance reading comprehension: Use typographical aids like boldface and italics to identify key information. —_— Scanned with CamScanner7 Previem-sotving Strategies What to do when you cannot understand what you ae ran (a) Read slowly and carefully: Read slowly but carefully in gy, ‘ to be sure that you understand what you are reading. (b) Adjust reading rate: Adjust your reading speed ACCoFding ¢ what you're reading. 2 (c) Pay close attention to reading: When text becomes dificult, pay closer attention to what you're reading. (d) Pause to reflect on reading: Stop from time to time and think about what you're reading. (e) Reread: When text becomes too difficult, reread to increase your understanding. (f) Visualising information read: Try to picture or visualise information to help remember what you read. (g) Read text out aloud: When text becomes difficult, read aloud to help you understand what you are reading. (h) Guess meaning of unknown words: Try to guess the meaning of unknown words or phrases. EX seppor Reading Strategies Practical things to do when reading: (a) Taking notes while reading: Take notes while reading to help you understand what you read. (especially when reading academic and factual texts) (b) Paraphrasing text information: Paraphrase (restate ideas in your own words) to better understand what you're reading. (c)_ Revisiting previously read information: Go back and forth in the text to find relationships among ideas in it. (a) Asking self questions: Ask yourself questions you would like to have answered in the text. (e) Using reference materials as aid: Use reference materials such as dictionaries to help you understand what you read. (using Google to check meaning, how to pronounce and even check how the words are used in sentences) (f) Underlining text information: Underline or circle information in the text to help you remember it, (g)_ Discussing reading with others: Discuss what you read with others to check your understanding. (h) Writing summaries of reading: Summarise what you have read to reflect on important information in the text. —_—_—_—————$—$—$———— Scanned with CamScanner(Test (Reading|Paper) PART! ead tree notices about the various rooms for rent, answer questions 1 to 4 based on the notices (A to C). which house 1 allows me to park easily? 2 issuitable if don’t own a vehicle? 3, will feel most secure and safe? 4, allows me to keep a cat? tps The clue ofall the answers canbe derived from the highlighted parts in the text. Condominium Unit for Rent college Students Preferred + 4-1oom house Only 5 minutes by car to college, clinic, supermarkets single storey house for rent (8 rooms and 2 bathrooms) + Fully ~ furnished + Near LRT station + Within walking distance tobanks , university, and shopping malls + Monthly rent is RM300 per oom and food courts Peaceful with greenery view surrounding Each unit installed with grills and alarm + Only 1 room available + Flat rate of RM400 for each room inclusive of water and electricity bills + Basic amet ies provided like study table, wardrobe and standing fans + Pets allowed + Car park available Scanned with CamScannertps The highlighted texts are the clues for the answers. RGLRES to Ponder «- + Basically llthe answers come from he tex «Questions normally flow the sequence oftheter «Read the questions before Youaterpt the txt. Ths wil Yelp you toknow where to sy more atenion. « Pightghe where you thnk the cae eee nfomation to the questons PART 2 Read an email from a friend. Answer questions 5 to 9 based on the mail. To samia@mymail.com From | gregor@mymail.com 4 Subject Visit my place | Hi Samia, Just a quick email to say that it sounds like a good idea. Saturday is better for me because I’m meeting my parents on Sunday. So, if thats still good for you, why don't you come here? Then you can see the ney flat and all the work we've done on the kitchen since we moved in. We can eat at home and go for a walk in the afternoon. It going to be so good to catch up finally. I want to hear all about your new job. Our address is 52, Charles road, but it’s a bit difficult to find because the house numbers are really strange here. If you turn left at the ost office and keep going past the big white house on Charles Road, theres a small side street behind it with the houses 50 - 56 in. Don't ask me why the side street doesn't have a different name. But call me if you get lost and I'll come and get you. Let me know if theres anything you do or don't like to eat. Really looking forward to seeing you. See you soon! Gregor ¢: htps:/learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading! intermediate-b 1/a-conference-prograr®) 5 Gregor has just moved to a new... A. flat B_ condo C__ big white house 6 Samia had just got a... ‘A new place. Bnew occupation, C__ new promotion, 7 To go to Gregor’s house, one needs to ‘A. turn left at the post office, B__turnleft at the big house, after you p, C__ turnleft at the post office and yeast the Post office. Scanned with CamScannerj¢samia could not find Gregor’s house? , Wh oe will go out and meet Samia, Gregor will give Samia directions on the phone, Gregor will go out and fetch Samia if she calls for help. e phrases ‘Really looking forward to seeing you? means (Gregor dreads meeting Samia, Gregor is happy to meet Samia, c Gregor is excited to meet Samia. p PART 3 jd extract from an article. Answer questions 10 to 14 based on the following extract. (1 Tpue 16 and finally you can leave school! By now, youtre probably Xk of teachers, desks, tests and exams. But dont just run for the «ait. You need to think carefully about what to do next. If you want a rofesional career, you will need to go to university and get a degree. ‘Todo that, you need to stay at high school for another two years. But you needn't stay at the same place. There are several options in the district of Northacre. St. Leopold's School has the best pass rate of all the high schools in the district. It offers a wide range of subjects in the humanities and kiences. St Leopold's is, of course, a private school, so may be too expensive for you, But don't worry, there are several other options ifyou want to follow the academic route. Knowle Grammar School isa state school, so there are no fees, and it has excellent tuition and facilities, It is a boys’ school from the ages of 11 - 16, but from 16-18 it is co-educational. But it is selective, so you'll have to pass an «xam to get in. If you're interested in going into Business, check out Wyle River Academy, This school specialises in subjects like Business Studies, Management and Economics. If you prefer the arts, look at the Courses on offer at Northacre College. Here you can study woodwork, tt textiles and much more. Northiacre’ College’ also offers’ wide range of vocational Salifeations, You can do a 1-year certificate or a 2-year diploma in 7 = like electrics, plumbing, roofing and hairdressing. If you prefer a outdoors, look at Milldown College, where there are courses in cre lechanics, Land Management, Animal Management and much com f2l option is to get an apprenticeship with a local or national ang? You will get on the job training, gain certificates or diplomas ‘arming straight away. But be warned, places are limited! Find : © at the Jobs Fair on 26th May at Northacre Colle; Sour “* hips/Mearnenglsh britshcouncil.or/sites/podcasts/fles/LearnEnglsh-) Scanned with CamScanner