| The SPM English 1119 Exam comprises two papers: | | | | What is the bottom line? |
| Paper I and Paper 2. | | | | Students who want to do well in the SPM English |
| Paper 1, which is strictly on essay writing, requires | | | | exam should pay more attention to the above areas |
| candidates to write two essays: Directed Writing and | | | | that require them to write. However, writing is a skill |
| Continuous Writing. Paper 2 tests students in the | | | | that most students find onerous or difficult. Writing is a |
| following areas: reading and comprehension, | | | | skill that must be inculcated from young. Like reading, |
| information transfer skills, vocabulary, summary writing | | | | once you've got yourself into the habit of writing, you |
| skills, and literature. Although essay writing is reserved | | | | are hooked onto it for life. |
| for Paper 1, students are required to write a summary | | | | Writing is a process that has to start from the child's |
| and answer questions on poetry, novels and plays | | | | primary school years. But is this happening? It is |
| which test their ability to write. | | | | common for teachers to lament that students are |
| It is evident that writing is prominently featured in the | | | | unable to write despite having done quite well in the |
| SPM English exam. This can be deduced from the | | | | PMR English exam for 15-year-olds. I have personally |
| marks allocated for the following: | | | | facilitated a group of undergraduates in a public |
| Paper 1 - Directed Writing (35), Continuous Writing (50) | | | | university and I was horrified by the deplorable |
| Paper 2 - Summary (15), Literature (25) | | | | standard of English displayed in their assignments. |
| The total marks for the above is 125 marks out of the | | | | So, where did we go wrong? |
| total of 160 marks. | | | | |