MUET
Encyclopedia
Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is a test of English language proficiency, largely for university admissions. The test is set and run by the Malaysian Examinations Council (which also runs the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
examination) and largely recognized only in Malaysia and Singapore
.
Most candidates who sit for MUET do so to apply for admissions in public universities and colleges. MUET is largely optional, if considered at all, in applying for admissions in other universities and colleges in Malaysia as well as National University of Singapore
, Nanyang Technological University
and Singapore Management University
. Most of those who do consider MUET in admission applications allocate little weight to it. Most universities, including many who offer "twinning" courses with local private colleges, outside these two countries do not consider MUET as an acceptable test for English language proficiency, preferring instead, the IELTS
.However, in recent times, the MUET has lost its prominence as a requirement to be admitted into local universities, be it public or private ones. Many local universities now require students to only have sat for the MUET in order to graduate, without taking into account the band achieved.
Candidates usually have to register via their institution, private candidates with their State Education Department, with a registration fee which used to be RM 61, but has now gone up to RM 101. Although Malaysian government has decided to abolish government examination fees from 2007 onwards, MUET will remain as a paid test.
The maximum scores for each component is 45 for Listening and Speaking, 120 for Reading Comprehension and 90 for Writing, with an aggregate score of 300. The scores are then graded in 6 bands, with Band 6 the highest and Band 1 the lowest.
Band 6- Very good user (Aggregated score:260-300)
Very good command of the language. Highly expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language: hardly any inaccuracies. Very good understanding of language and contexts. Functions extremely well in the language.
Band 5- Good user (Aggregated score:220-259)
Good command of the language. Expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language but with minor inaccuracies. Good
understanding of language and contexts. Functions well in the language.
Band 4- Competent user (Aggregated score:180-219)
Satisfactory command of the language. Satisfactory expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with occasional inaccuracies. Satisfactory understanding of language and contexts. Functions satisfactorily in the language.
Band 3- Modest user (Aggregated score:140-179)
Modest command of the language. Modestly expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with noticeable inaccuracies. Modest understanding of language and contexts. Able to function modestly in the language.
Band 2- Limited user (Aggregated score:101-139)
Limited command of the language. Lacks expressiveness, fluency and appropriacy: inaccurate use of the language resulting in breakdown in communication. Limited understanding of language and contexts. Limited ability to function in the language.
Band 1- Extremely limited user (Below 100)
Poor command of the language. Unable to use language to express ideas: inaccurate use of the language resulting in frequent breakdowns in communication. Little or poor understanding of language and contexts. Hardly able to function in the language.
, matriculation colleges, certain universities, as well as certain private and semi-private colleges. The test is run thrice annually, in February, July and November start from 2012 onward.
Three components - Listening, Reading Comprehension and Writing, are usually tested on the same day - always a second or fourth Saturday of the month, all with the same paper nationwide. The Speaking component is tested both in individual task and in groups of up to four, with papers different, most of the time, with other groups - and changes always every examination day. When a test centre uses the same question paper for the Speaking component for more than one group, other groups are sequestered until every group have either finished the test or in the examination room.
Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
The Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia is a pre-university examination taken by students in Malaysia. It was formerly known as the Higher School Certificate...
examination) and largely recognized only in Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Most candidates who sit for MUET do so to apply for admissions in public universities and colleges. MUET is largely optional, if considered at all, in applying for admissions in other universities and colleges in Malaysia as well as National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
, Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore with the biggest campus in Singapore and the world's largest engineering college. Its lush 200-hectare Yunnan Garden campus was the Youth Olympic Village of the world's first 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in...
and Singapore Management University
Singapore Management University
The Singapore Management University was officially incorporated on January 12, 2000, and was Singapore's first private university funded by the government...
. Most of those who do consider MUET in admission applications allocate little weight to it. Most universities, including many who offer "twinning" courses with local private colleges, outside these two countries do not consider MUET as an acceptable test for English language proficiency, preferring instead, the IELTS
IELTS
IELTS , or 'International English Language Testing System', is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.There are two versions of...
.However, in recent times, the MUET has lost its prominence as a requirement to be admitted into local universities, be it public or private ones. Many local universities now require students to only have sat for the MUET in order to graduate, without taking into account the band achieved.
Candidates usually have to register via their institution, private candidates with their State Education Department, with a registration fee which used to be RM 61, but has now gone up to RM 101. Although Malaysian government has decided to abolish government examination fees from 2007 onwards, MUET will remain as a paid test.
Components, Scoring and Grading
There are four components in MUET: Listening(800/1)-(45 scores), Speaking(800/2)-(45 scores) ; Reading(800/3)-(120 scores); Writing(800/4)-(90 scores).The maximum scores for each component is 45 for Listening and Speaking, 120 for Reading Comprehension and 90 for Writing, with an aggregate score of 300. The scores are then graded in 6 bands, with Band 6 the highest and Band 1 the lowest.
Band 6- Very good user (Aggregated score:260-300)
Very good command of the language. Highly expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language: hardly any inaccuracies. Very good understanding of language and contexts. Functions extremely well in the language.
Band 5- Good user (Aggregated score:220-259)
Good command of the language. Expressive, fluent, accurate and appropriate language but with minor inaccuracies. Good
understanding of language and contexts. Functions well in the language.
Band 4- Competent user (Aggregated score:180-219)
Satisfactory command of the language. Satisfactory expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with occasional inaccuracies. Satisfactory understanding of language and contexts. Functions satisfactorily in the language.
Band 3- Modest user (Aggregated score:140-179)
Modest command of the language. Modestly expressive and fluent,appropriate language but with noticeable inaccuracies. Modest understanding of language and contexts. Able to function modestly in the language.
Band 2- Limited user (Aggregated score:101-139)
Limited command of the language. Lacks expressiveness, fluency and appropriacy: inaccurate use of the language resulting in breakdown in communication. Limited understanding of language and contexts. Limited ability to function in the language.
Band 1- Extremely limited user (Below 100)
Poor command of the language. Unable to use language to express ideas: inaccurate use of the language resulting in frequent breakdowns in communication. Little or poor understanding of language and contexts. Hardly able to function in the language.
Locations and test dates
The Malaysia Examination Council test centres are largely in national secondary schools that offers Form 6Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
The Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia is a pre-university examination taken by students in Malaysia. It was formerly known as the Higher School Certificate...
, matriculation colleges, certain universities, as well as certain private and semi-private colleges. The test is run thrice annually, in February, July and November start from 2012 onward.
Three components - Listening, Reading Comprehension and Writing, are usually tested on the same day - always a second or fourth Saturday of the month, all with the same paper nationwide. The Speaking component is tested both in individual task and in groups of up to four, with papers different, most of the time, with other groups - and changes always every examination day. When a test centre uses the same question paper for the Speaking component for more than one group, other groups are sequestered until every group have either finished the test or in the examination room.
See also
- Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan MalaysiaSijil Tinggi Persekolahan MalaysiaThe Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia is a pre-university examination taken by students in Malaysia. It was formerly known as the Higher School Certificate...
- IELTSIELTSIELTS , or 'International English Language Testing System', is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.There are two versions of...
(International English Language Testing System) - TOEFLTOEFLThe Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
(Test of English as a Foreign Language)
External links
- Malaysian Examination Council
- MUET guide written by former test taker.