PMR ENGLISH PAPERS ANSWERING TECHNIQUES

PMR ENGLISH PAPERSANSWERING TECHNIQUES BY NURULHANA HUSSAIN 2008

You can rise to the challenge • Step 1: Have a dream worth failing for • Step 2: View success as something you fail • into, not fall into. • Step 3: Learn to fail in the right places • Step 4: Learn to see the good in every • failure • Step 5: Jump!

LAST MINUTE PREPARATION STAY HEALTHY BRAIN BODY SLEEPWELL EAT HEALTHILY REST EXERCISE BE CALM REVISE AVOID JUNK FOOD AVOID SOFT DRINKS

PAPER 1 – 60 minutes • Section A: Graphics – 10 MCQs • 10 marks - 10 minutes • Section B: Rational Cloze – 8 MCQs • 8 marks - 10 minutes • Section C: Idiomatic Expressions – 6 MCQs • 6 marks - 10 minutes • Section D: Reading Comprehension –10 MCQs • 10 marks - 10 minutes • Section E: Poem and Short Story – 6 MCQs • 6 marks - 10 minutes • The remaining 10 minutes - for checking.

PAPER 2 -- 1 hour 30 minutes • Section A : Guided Writing • 30 marks – 35 minutes • Section B : Summary Writing • 10 marks – 25 minutes • Section C : Novel (Literature) • 10 marks – 20 minutes • TOTAL MARKS: 50 • The remaining 10 minutes - check for errors

FORMAT OF ESSAYS IN GUIDED WRITING INFORMAL LETTER FORMAL LETTER REPORT DIALOGUE TALK / SPEECH ARTICLE STORY / PICTURE SERIES OPINION-BASED ESSAY

Analysis of past years questions • 2000 Informal letter & picture series • 2001 Giving opinion & newspaper article • 2002 Newspaper article & report for magazine • 2003 Giving opinion & description of robbery • 2004 Speech & Article • 2005 Report on National Day Celebration • 2006 Letter to uncle • 2007 Story (picture series & note expansion) • 2008 Speech – ‘Safety Measures in School’

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS • Understand the rubrics / task given e. g. a. Study the pictures carefully. Imagine you are one of the people in the picture. Describe what happened. b. Write a speech / Write an article 2. Use the rubrics in their given form. e. g. Shopping – many people – curious- crowd – watching – snake charmer – saw – pick pocket – wallet -

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS 3. Use all the notes given in the question. • Always write in paragraphs to organize your ideas. (Main point, elaboration, examples) • Use linkers to correlate one paragraph to the other. e.g. To show difference - On the other hand, In contrast, On the contrary, However, Despite, To add to point - In addition, Besides, As a result, Similarly,

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS • Use the correct format a. formal / informal letter – know where the address and signature should be. b. Talk / speech – must have title, greetings to the audience, end with thank you. c. Report – must have title and the name of the person who wrote the report at the bottom. d. Article – must have title and appear formal e. Giving opinion – must make sure to state your opinion at the beginning of the essay.

TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS • Always put yourself in the place of the reader. * Are you convinced with the writer’s point of view? * Are you interested to read the essay until the end? * Are you satisfied with the information presented in the essay? * Could you predict the ending of the story?

CRITERIA FOR MARKING GUIDED WRITING • IMPRESSION MARKING

TIPS ON SUMMARIZING A TEXT 1. Understand what the question wants you to summarize. Find 5 main points from top to bottom and lift them from the text. 3. Make sure the points answer what the question wants. Combine the points using sequence / logical connectors (besides, furthermore, therefore..) Write in grids / boxes Remember that you should merely shorten the text. Do not include your own opinion.

Sample Question - Summary Write a summary on why Andrew’s visit to Malaysia was a memorable one. Your summary must: • not be more than 60 words, including the 10 words given below. • be in continuous writing (not note form) • be written in one paragraph Use your own words as far as possible without changing its original meaning. Begin your summary as follows: Andrew visited Malaysia and he was impressed with Malaysia because…..

Text for Summary Writing- PMR 2007 Dear Editor, I am writing this letter to express my appreciation to all Malaysians who had made my visit to Malaysia a meaningful one. Upon reaching Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I took a taxi to Kuala Lumpur city. The taxi driver greeted me with a warm smile and showed me to his taxi. He was also kind enough to recommend places of interest that I should visit in your country. Over the next few weeks, I travelled around the country. I visited Melaka, Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Redang and Genting Highlands, just to name a few. In Langkawi, I had the opportunity to be with the locals and also enjoy home-cooked dishes. I was truly touched by their friendliness and

hospitality. It was a wonderful experience! What I found unique about Malaysia is the way people of different races and religions live peacefully as one. I noticed this from the way Malaysians celebrated their National Day. Clearly, the way everyone came together is an excellent example of tolerance and understanding. This is what Malaysia should highlight to the rest of the world. Let me say ‘terima kasih’ to all those who have made my stay a memorable one. I will definitely come again and I would also promote Malaysia to all my friends back in England. Andrew Jacob

MARKING SCHEME FOR SUMMARY • CONTENT - 5 MARKS • LANGUAGE - 5 MARKS • TOTAL = 10 MARKS

ANALYSIS OF PAST YEARS QUESTIONS YEAR QUESTION_________________ 2002 Write about a character that you think is brave. 2003 Write about an interesting incident from the novel you have learnt. 2004 Write about one of the themes you learned in the novel. 2005 Write on one of the moral values – honesty/ responsibility. 2006 Explain why you like/dislike the ending of the story. 2007 Write about two characters who work together to obtain success. 2008 Write about an incident that you think important.

TIPS ON ANSWERING NOVEL QUESTIONS USE THIS FORMULA - I. E. J. I - IDENTIFY WHAT THE QUESTION WANTS. E - ELABORATE ON THE ANSWERS. J - JUSTIFY THE ELABORATION BY GIVING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE FROM THE NOVEL.

Sample Questions • Write about an incident that changes the life of a character in the story. Give evidence to support your answer. Identify - Elaborate – Justify -

MARKING CRITERIA FOR NOVEL

LAST MINUTE STRATEGIES 1. Do exercises – sample tests – a lot! Focus on your weak areas. Revise all the necessary formats. Utilize your teachers and friends. Pray! Apologize to your parents & teachers Do your best!

REMEMBER!There is no easy way to learn a language. • PRACTICE is the key word. • PRACTICE speaking • PRACTICE listening • PRACTICE reading • PRACTICE writing • PRACTICE thinking • PRACTICE dreaming

USEFUL STUDY TIPS SQ3R • SURVEY • QUESTION • READ • RECITE • REVIEW

SQ3R • SURVEY How do I feel about the topic? • QUESTION Predict- what would I learn from this topic? • READ Confirm the prediction • RECITE If you can’t paraphrase it, you don’t understand it. • REVIEW Recall and summarize

EXAM DAY • BE CALM / RECITE YOUR PRAYER • READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY • UNDERSTAND YOUR TASK • HIGHLIGHT / UNDERLINE KEYWORDS • BE ALERT WITH THE TIME • UTILIZE ALL THE TIME GIVEN UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE • FOR MCQ, TRUST YOUR FIRST ANSWER IF YOU ARE UNSURE • CHECK FOR ERRORS

REMEMBER AN ‘A’ STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL THE TIME GIVEN TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS FROM THE FIRST SECOND UNTIL THE LAST SECOND.

LET’S BREAK THE RECORD 100% PASSES FOR PMR THIS YEAR

ALL THE BEST! ‘A’ FOR ENGLISH

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

PMR ENGLISH PAPERS ANSWERING TECHNIQUES