Greetings and Welcome !
Need some help enhancing your English language and performance? Run out of ideas in essay writing? You came to the right place !
I am proud as I am grateful to be welcoming you to my very own 'Good English' blog.This brand new blog offers numerous tips, techniques and step-by-step guidelines
for students aiming for success and to grab an A in English. Please, have a look around, as the blog covers various help topics, helpful tips, informations and guidance for school students, especially for those who are sitting for Penilaian Menengah Rendah examinations !
What is Penilaian Menengah Rendah ?
First of all, before we start learning, I supposed we should have known a very important thing that starts it all. Yes, you guess it, PMR examinations. What is PMR ? what is it actually for and is it really important? After all, getting good results and passing the examinations with flying colours is our main objective right?
Some people may convince themselves that PMR is quite challenging. That is true, I know, because I was one of the PMR candidates. Although, some might go, " Nah, just a piece a cake ! ". Still, I believe there's nothing wrong about this statement either. Everything depends on how hard you work for it.
Penilaian Menengah Rendah (commonly abbreviated as PMR) is a Malaysian public examination taken by all Form Three students in both government and private schools throughout the country. It was formerly known as Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP). It is set and examined by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia), an agency that constitutes the Ministry of Education. Basicly, PMR is vital, to guide students on what subjects to take next year. Good results, Science Stream classes witing right ahead of you. The combination of subjects available to Form 4 students vary from one school to another.
This standardised examination is held annually during the first or second week of October. The passing grade depends on the average scores obtained by the candidates for this examination.Of course, English is one of the main subject, which apparently appears as a foreign language. Therefore,some candidates and students considered this as a pain in the neck. Getting 80% for your English marks doesn't always mean that you're about to get an A. The grades changes frequently so you might want to keep that in mind.
Some people may convince themselves that PMR is quite challenging. That is true, I know, because I was one of the PMR candidates. Although, some might go, " Nah, just a piece a cake ! ". Still, I believe there's nothing wrong about this statement either. Everything depends on how hard you work for it.
Penilaian Menengah Rendah (commonly abbreviated as PMR) is a Malaysian public examination taken by all Form Three students in both government and private schools throughout the country. It was formerly known as Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP). It is set and examined by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia), an agency that constitutes the Ministry of Education. Basicly, PMR is vital, to guide students on what subjects to take next year. Good results, Science Stream classes witing right ahead of you. The combination of subjects available to Form 4 students vary from one school to another.
This standardised examination is held annually during the first or second week of October. The passing grade depends on the average scores obtained by the candidates for this examination.Of course, English is one of the main subject, which apparently appears as a foreign language. Therefore,some candidates and students considered this as a pain in the neck. Getting 80% for your English marks doesn't always mean that you're about to get an A. The grades changes frequently so you might want to keep that in mind.
English Penilaian Menengah Rendah ( PMR ) Formats
My fellow readers,
I must suggest in the strongest term that the best way to master something, is by knowing as well as mastering the basic elements first before another. Yes, there are no doubts about that. By the time you know what to do, you know how to do it the right way. Therefore, we must study the PMR formats for English as a start.
The English PMR examination are divided into 2 papers. That's Paper 1 and Paper 2. I'm sure that you are already familiar with this part. All objectives questions are on Paper 1, followed by subjectives on Paper 2. If you ask me, I would say that Paper 1 is easier than Paper 2, so you must score as much as you can for Paper 1 to back yourself up on Paper 2 later on.
I must suggest in the strongest term that the best way to master something, is by knowing as well as mastering the basic elements first before another. Yes, there are no doubts about that. By the time you know what to do, you know how to do it the right way. Therefore, we must study the PMR formats for English as a start.
The English PMR examination are divided into 2 papers. That's Paper 1 and Paper 2. I'm sure that you are already familiar with this part. All objectives questions are on Paper 1, followed by subjectives on Paper 2. If you ask me, I would say that Paper 1 is easier than Paper 2, so you must score as much as you can for Paper 1 to back yourself up on Paper 2 later on.
English PMR - Paper 1 Formats
[ You may skip this Part if you already know the procedures ]
First things first, there are 40 questions, total on Paper 1. It is a great necessity for you to answer all questions provided, within only 1 Hour. Each question are given 4 answer options, which are stated in A,B,C,D. You may choose only one answer for each question and answer it on the answer sheet provided. Just skip this part if you already know the procedures. Please be noted that you must take good care of the answer sheet and keep it clean and tidy. I would recommend you to use 2B pencils, along with exam grades erasers. There are some cases where candidates blackens their answer options with hard pressure on the pencil, until the answer sheet gets torned or you'll get yourself a messy hole on the paper. Other than ending up with an untidy answer sheet, the machine which checks your answers will reject your paper. We don't want that to happen would we?
Questions 1 - 10.
Basically, this part of the question is the easiest among all, so you really need to double check and keep your head on it. Concentrate and look for the best answer. As we all know, you shall be given information statements such as messages, letters, pie charts, tables, facts, notices and advertisements. You need to read the passage carefully, understand the question and answer. My advise to you is to read the information given twice, at least.
Questions 11 - 18.
This is where it gets increasingly difficult and more advanced. You shall be given a short text on any general topics with 8 blanks on it. You must read the text and chose the right answer to get it right. When you are not sure or say completely no idea in mind, read the text again and pick the most suitable words to match the passage. Once again, double check !
Questions 19 - 21, Questions 22 - 24.
This was my favourite part of the questions, right after Questions 1 - 10. On this part of the questions, you'll be given two short text of conversations between two or three people. In other words, dialogues. Within those dialogues, there are some words or phrases underlined, about 3 for questions 19 - 21 and also 3 for 22 - 24. You need to find out what are the actual meanings of the phrases chosen or underlined. Later on, choose your answer carefully after you make up your mind. Must I say it again? - Double check ! Carelessness is not an option.
Questions 25 - 28, Questions 29 - 34.
Readers,
This will be the part of the examinations where you are needed to read a lot, thus understanding and able to interpret the text appropriately. There will be some text provided, which commonly will be any sorts of English essays such as stories, Formal and Informal letters, advertisements, travel brochure, reports, speech and much more.
For this part, I would recommend you to highlight the main points that you can identify or even just underlining the main points. You may produce short notes if you wish, but you might need to buy yourself sometime to make that possible. Understand the passage and chose the correct answer. Again, double check your answers, as you might some mistakes.
Questions 35 - 37, Questions 38 - 40.
I've received a lot of complaints and protests from students and friends, because most of them really don't like this part of the examinations, since they include poems and short stories from the Literature Components. I dislike it too, I know, I know. But I figured there are nothing else we can do to understand them unless we read.The literature text book is the answer to all, make sure you can identify what are the poems and short stories all about. This includes the themes, meanings of each stanzas,moral values and etc. Make sure you read twice before answering for better understanding. Done that, then choose your best answer. Triple check !
That would be all for Paper 1.
First things first, there are 40 questions, total on Paper 1. It is a great necessity for you to answer all questions provided, within only 1 Hour. Each question are given 4 answer options, which are stated in A,B,C,D. You may choose only one answer for each question and answer it on the answer sheet provided. Just skip this part if you already know the procedures. Please be noted that you must take good care of the answer sheet and keep it clean and tidy. I would recommend you to use 2B pencils, along with exam grades erasers. There are some cases where candidates blackens their answer options with hard pressure on the pencil, until the answer sheet gets torned or you'll get yourself a messy hole on the paper. Other than ending up with an untidy answer sheet, the machine which checks your answers will reject your paper. We don't want that to happen would we?
Questions 1 - 10.
Basically, this part of the question is the easiest among all, so you really need to double check and keep your head on it. Concentrate and look for the best answer. As we all know, you shall be given information statements such as messages, letters, pie charts, tables, facts, notices and advertisements. You need to read the passage carefully, understand the question and answer. My advise to you is to read the information given twice, at least.
Questions 11 - 18.
This is where it gets increasingly difficult and more advanced. You shall be given a short text on any general topics with 8 blanks on it. You must read the text and chose the right answer to get it right. When you are not sure or say completely no idea in mind, read the text again and pick the most suitable words to match the passage. Once again, double check !
Questions 19 - 21, Questions 22 - 24.
This was my favourite part of the questions, right after Questions 1 - 10. On this part of the questions, you'll be given two short text of conversations between two or three people. In other words, dialogues. Within those dialogues, there are some words or phrases underlined, about 3 for questions 19 - 21 and also 3 for 22 - 24. You need to find out what are the actual meanings of the phrases chosen or underlined. Later on, choose your answer carefully after you make up your mind. Must I say it again? - Double check ! Carelessness is not an option.
Questions 25 - 28, Questions 29 - 34.
Readers,
This will be the part of the examinations where you are needed to read a lot, thus understanding and able to interpret the text appropriately. There will be some text provided, which commonly will be any sorts of English essays such as stories, Formal and Informal letters, advertisements, travel brochure, reports, speech and much more.
For this part, I would recommend you to highlight the main points that you can identify or even just underlining the main points. You may produce short notes if you wish, but you might need to buy yourself sometime to make that possible. Understand the passage and chose the correct answer. Again, double check your answers, as you might some mistakes.
Questions 35 - 37, Questions 38 - 40.
I've received a lot of complaints and protests from students and friends, because most of them really don't like this part of the examinations, since they include poems and short stories from the Literature Components. I dislike it too, I know, I know. But I figured there are nothing else we can do to understand them unless we read.The literature text book is the answer to all, make sure you can identify what are the poems and short stories all about. This includes the themes, meanings of each stanzas,moral values and etc. Make sure you read twice before answering for better understanding. Done that, then choose your best answer. Triple check !
That would be all for Paper 1.
English PMR - Paper 2 Formats
Dear readers and friends,
We had just studied the formats and standards for Paper 1, now let's move on to Paper 2. As we all know, Paper 2 is all about writing an essay, a summary , followed by a literature component at the very end. Unfortunately, this time the literature component will be in subjectives and which means there are no answer options provided. Like I said, you have to score your best at Paper 1, as Paper 2 gets increasingly difficult in case you're not well - prepared. However, you don't have to get yourself too depressed about anything. Keep your chin up, that's what I'm here for, to help you in your writing.
- Please be noted that I'll be offering you various tips, informations and guidance that focuses more on Paper 2 than Paper 1.
[ Once again, you may skip this part if you already know the procedures ]
Let us get started. English PMR - Paper 2 formats contains three total Sections, that's Section A, Section B and Section C. There are only one question given on each Section. You MUST answer all questions, not to leave any of them blank. It's better that you try than to fail. When you're sitting for your PMR, you shall be provided a long answer book with about 6 pages. Allow me to remind you, you cannot use a Correction Tape, Corrective fluids or Liquid paper of any kind in case you make spelling mistakes in your essay. These items are strictly prohibited. Lets say you've done some mistakes, just put a single line across the words and write again. Make sure it is tidy. One more thing, you MUST use one type on pen ONLY. Do not combine black and blue pen together. Besides, red pens are also prohibited. Only the markers are allowed to use one, not us. Finally, you should write on both sides of your answer book provided.
Section A : Guided Writing.
Guided writing.For this section, you will be given a few boxes of simple cartoon pictures along with some short notes stated under each picture. Each picture provides you about 5 points in the notes or just 3 at least. Normally, there are only 4 pictures printed, otherwise your easy will be much longer than expected. Before you start, please, READ the instructions carefully. You need to do exactly what it says and exactly like how it wants you to. It will asks you to write any type of essay, suck as formal and informal letters, stories, articles, reports, speech, dialogues and etc. So far, a lot of candidates carelessly have chosen to write the wrong type of essay as directed. If the instructions asks you to write a story, don't write a letter instead or it will go wrong entirely, especially the formats. For some questions, you'll be given a topic or a title for your essay to help you out. For instance, this includes article or reports.
You need to use all the notes to help you out, but not necessarily all of them if your head is filled with bright ideas that is way better than the notes stated. Noted that I'll be teaching you how to answer each Section later on. Furthermore, it is extremely vital for you to elaborate each points or notes given. A good essay always has a point, a few elaborations and followed by some examples within each paragraph.
It is highly recommended that you include along numerous relevant informations for better scoring. Last but not least, whatever that is that you write, make sure it is not less than 120 words, or the people who marks your essay won't read the rest of your points.
Section B : Summary.
Secondly, the next section shall be the summary writing. For this particular section, you'll be given another text or a passage. Not too long and not too short.
Sometimes, the text goes simple and for some other times it will be a bit complex. If it does, remember to read twice at least. The text or passage given is random, which includes factual essays, notes, speeches, anything. Your task for the summary section is to briefly summarize the text or making it shorter and simple. Then, write your summary. All the things you have to do is, read the text and find the main points. Find 5 points at least,which is possible to ensure that you'll gain full marks. To make it easier, you are already provided with 10 words as a start. Your summary must not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given. Do not start with your own words, eventhough it sounds better. Next, write in continuous writing, which means ONE paragraph only. Not in notes form. The main procedure is to use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Keep in mind, you must use sequence connectors or sentence connectors to merge 1 point after another. What is a sequence connector? It is a word used to merge each point. For instance, the word ' Besides ' and ' Furthermore '. Using these words make your summary orderly arranged. In addition, you must write down the number of words words there are in your summary about two lines below, with a bracket. Write in digits. This step is to make the marking progress a lot easier. The people who marks your paper also marks hundreds and hundreds of other candidates' papers. Surely he or she doesn't have enough time to count the number of words in your summary. He or she will just estimate and when the estimation gets over 60 words, he or she will ignore the rest. That's more than enough to make us upset.
Section C : Novel.
The last but not least, Section C. This section is all about the novel or literature components that you learnt from Form 1 to Form 3. Normally, each particular area in Malaysia studies the different novel. For instance, I choose Robinson Crusoe for the previous PMR because all Sarawakians study that novel. If you want things to go easy on you, you better read and be ready. Although, reading novels is a pain in the neck for some people unless you really interested in reading. First of all, you shall be given a list of novels studied in the literature component in English Language. It is up to you to choose which novel is easier to write about that matches the question provided. Based on ONE of the novel listed, write your answer based on the question asked. It may be anything, including themes, moral values, characters that you admire, plots and etc. You MUST provide evidence from the text to support and back up the answers that you stated. If possible, you should provide examples from the novel before moving up to the next point. Finally, your response or answer should be not less that 50 words, which is easy if you do as follows. You also must write in continuous writing, not in notes form. In other words, one paragraph.
END OF PAPER 2.
We had just studied the formats and standards for Paper 1, now let's move on to Paper 2. As we all know, Paper 2 is all about writing an essay, a summary , followed by a literature component at the very end. Unfortunately, this time the literature component will be in subjectives and which means there are no answer options provided. Like I said, you have to score your best at Paper 1, as Paper 2 gets increasingly difficult in case you're not well - prepared. However, you don't have to get yourself too depressed about anything. Keep your chin up, that's what I'm here for, to help you in your writing.
- Please be noted that I'll be offering you various tips, informations and guidance that focuses more on Paper 2 than Paper 1.
[ Once again, you may skip this part if you already know the procedures ]
Let us get started. English PMR - Paper 2 formats contains three total Sections, that's Section A, Section B and Section C. There are only one question given on each Section. You MUST answer all questions, not to leave any of them blank. It's better that you try than to fail. When you're sitting for your PMR, you shall be provided a long answer book with about 6 pages. Allow me to remind you, you cannot use a Correction Tape, Corrective fluids or Liquid paper of any kind in case you make spelling mistakes in your essay. These items are strictly prohibited. Lets say you've done some mistakes, just put a single line across the words and write again. Make sure it is tidy. One more thing, you MUST use one type on pen ONLY. Do not combine black and blue pen together. Besides, red pens are also prohibited. Only the markers are allowed to use one, not us. Finally, you should write on both sides of your answer book provided.
Section A : Guided Writing.
Guided writing.For this section, you will be given a few boxes of simple cartoon pictures along with some short notes stated under each picture. Each picture provides you about 5 points in the notes or just 3 at least. Normally, there are only 4 pictures printed, otherwise your easy will be much longer than expected. Before you start, please, READ the instructions carefully. You need to do exactly what it says and exactly like how it wants you to. It will asks you to write any type of essay, suck as formal and informal letters, stories, articles, reports, speech, dialogues and etc. So far, a lot of candidates carelessly have chosen to write the wrong type of essay as directed. If the instructions asks you to write a story, don't write a letter instead or it will go wrong entirely, especially the formats. For some questions, you'll be given a topic or a title for your essay to help you out. For instance, this includes article or reports.
You need to use all the notes to help you out, but not necessarily all of them if your head is filled with bright ideas that is way better than the notes stated. Noted that I'll be teaching you how to answer each Section later on. Furthermore, it is extremely vital for you to elaborate each points or notes given. A good essay always has a point, a few elaborations and followed by some examples within each paragraph.
It is highly recommended that you include along numerous relevant informations for better scoring. Last but not least, whatever that is that you write, make sure it is not less than 120 words, or the people who marks your essay won't read the rest of your points.
Section B : Summary.
Secondly, the next section shall be the summary writing. For this particular section, you'll be given another text or a passage. Not too long and not too short.
Sometimes, the text goes simple and for some other times it will be a bit complex. If it does, remember to read twice at least. The text or passage given is random, which includes factual essays, notes, speeches, anything. Your task for the summary section is to briefly summarize the text or making it shorter and simple. Then, write your summary. All the things you have to do is, read the text and find the main points. Find 5 points at least,which is possible to ensure that you'll gain full marks. To make it easier, you are already provided with 10 words as a start. Your summary must not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given. Do not start with your own words, eventhough it sounds better. Next, write in continuous writing, which means ONE paragraph only. Not in notes form. The main procedure is to use your own words as far as possible without changing the original meaning. Keep in mind, you must use sequence connectors or sentence connectors to merge 1 point after another. What is a sequence connector? It is a word used to merge each point. For instance, the word ' Besides ' and ' Furthermore '. Using these words make your summary orderly arranged. In addition, you must write down the number of words words there are in your summary about two lines below, with a bracket. Write in digits. This step is to make the marking progress a lot easier. The people who marks your paper also marks hundreds and hundreds of other candidates' papers. Surely he or she doesn't have enough time to count the number of words in your summary. He or she will just estimate and when the estimation gets over 60 words, he or she will ignore the rest. That's more than enough to make us upset.
Section C : Novel.
The last but not least, Section C. This section is all about the novel or literature components that you learnt from Form 1 to Form 3. Normally, each particular area in Malaysia studies the different novel. For instance, I choose Robinson Crusoe for the previous PMR because all Sarawakians study that novel. If you want things to go easy on you, you better read and be ready. Although, reading novels is a pain in the neck for some people unless you really interested in reading. First of all, you shall be given a list of novels studied in the literature component in English Language. It is up to you to choose which novel is easier to write about that matches the question provided. Based on ONE of the novel listed, write your answer based on the question asked. It may be anything, including themes, moral values, characters that you admire, plots and etc. You MUST provide evidence from the text to support and back up the answers that you stated. If possible, you should provide examples from the novel before moving up to the next point. Finally, your response or answer should be not less that 50 words, which is easy if you do as follows. You also must write in continuous writing, not in notes form. In other words, one paragraph.
END OF PAPER 2.
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