Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Guide
Posted by Chong
Malaysian University English Test (MUET), first launched in 1999 and administered by Malaysian Examinations Council (Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia), is a test to measure candidates’ English language proficiency. MUET is taken by students who intend to pursue their tertiary education at local public universities since it is a mandatory test to gain entry into degree courses offered at all Malaysian public universities. This test is carried out twice a year, in April/May and October/November. Candidates usually register through their academic institutions while private candidates through State Education Departments (Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri), with a registration fee of RM60.
Unlike International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) which are globally accepted as the certification of English language proficiency, MUET is recognized only in Malaysia and Singapore (National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University).
MUET consists of four components: listening, speaking, reading and writing. New test specifications have been introduced officially and will apply from MUET October/November 2008 onwards while old test specifications will still apply for MUET October/November 2007 and April/May 2008. The table below shows the detailed comparison between new and old format of MUET.
| Test | Old Test Specifications | New Test Specifications | Possible Genres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (800/1) Duration: Weighting: Number of texts: Number of questions: Question type: | 45 marks 30 minutes 15% 3 15 Four-option multiple-choice | 45 marks 30 minutes 15% 5 20 - Information transfer - Short answer - Four-option multiple-choice - Three-option multiple choice | Lecture, briefing, talk, discussion, interview, telephone conversation, announcement, instructions, advertisement, news, meeting, documentary |
| Speaking (800/2) Duration: Weighting: Number of tasks: Task format: | 45 marks 30 minutes 15% 2 A: Individual presentation B: Group interaction | 45 marks 30 minutes 15% 2 A: Individual presentation B: Group interaction | Contemporary issues |
| Reading (800/3) Duration: Weighting: Number of texts: Number of questions: Question type: | 135 marks 120 minutes 45% 4 50 - Cloze - Information transfer - Four-option multiple-choice | 120 marks 90 minutes 40% 6 shorter texts (at least one text with graphics) 50 - Three-option multiple-choice - Four-option multiple-choice | Articles from journals, newspapers and magazines, academic texts, electronic texts |
| Writing (800/4) Duration: Weighting: Number of questions: Question type: | 75 marks 90 minutes 25% 2 Task 1: Summary of not more than 100 words Task 2: Extended writing not fewer than 250 words | 90 marks 90 minutes 30% 2 Task 1: Interpretation of information based on specific stimuli provided (no less than 150 words) Task 2: Extended writing based on a given topic (no less than 350 words) | Report, article, letter, essay |
Candidates are rated into six bands – band one being the lowest and band six being the highest -- according to their test scores. The total score is 300 and the table below shows MUET band description.
| Band | Aggregated Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 260 - 300 | Very good user - 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. |
| 5 | 220 - 259 | Good user - 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. |
| 4 | 180 - 219 | Competent user - 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. |
| 3 | 140 - 179 | Modest user - 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. |
| 2 | 100 - 139 | Limited user - 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. |
| 1 | Below 100 | Extremely limited user - 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. |
Students that have taken MUET are eligible to be enrolled into degree courses offered at local public universities as long as their CGPA for Diploma STPM or Malaysian Matriculation examinations are good enough to fulfil the entry requirement. The difference between all these bands is that students from band 1 and 2 have to take two extra English courses during holidays while band 3 and 4 students take one extra course. Students with band 5 or 6 can skip the extra English course. Some competitive degree courses like medicine and pharmacy, however, require students to get band 5 or 6 in MUET.
Online Resources for MUET
MUET Tips by Melanie, MUET Listening Tips, MUET Speaking Tips, MUET Reading Tips and MUET Writing Tips
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i just want to ask...i matriculation's student...i got band 2 in muet 2008...if i repeat muet as calon persendirian 2009...how bout the result that i'v obtain from muet 2008? is it might be effect for my courses that iv been chosen before?
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 3:43:00 PM
now the format have change...the percentage of reading and writing are same which are carry 30% respectively^^
Posted by
Anonymous |
Saturday, April 25, 2009 4:58:00 AM
i'll be matriculation's students soon and i really worry with my english..im not really good in english..~speaking,writing.really bad for me..n how can i handle this?? i really want pass n get a good band for my MUET..please help me guys..
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 4:00:00 PM
hye...i have lost ma MUET certificate ...how is possible for me to get back ma certificate....i really hope somebody will help me out...i'm really grateful for your kindness..thank you.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 1:15:00 PM
Hey I would like to confirm one thing...
Is it true students who are doing locally need to take MUET, or else we can't graduate?! Currently, I'm in Year 1 Semester 2, and I only took IELTS but not MUET, so what I heard was I must take MUET or else there will be a no graduation ceremony for me...
Posted by
iewnihc |
Saturday, May 30, 2009 9:36:00 AM
i am now studying on a particular degree..i already taken MUET 2004..but the question here is how long the validity of MUET..what should i do? it is i have to renew my muet..pliz clear me.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Saturday, June 06, 2009 11:24:00 AM
i am pre law student of uitm kuantan pahg...i really afraid bout my future muet..if i want 2 pursue my study,i need 2 get band 4 for muet...what preparation should i do now 2 pass wif flying colours??
Posted by
Anonymous |
Saturday, June 13, 2009 4:56:00 PM
i really worry with my english..im not good in english.. especially in speaking and writing. My grammar really poor.
Even thought i thankful to GOD coz my last exam i got 4B in English subject.
But, can u tell where can i find sample witing for MUET coz i will take muet examination this octorber.
Please help me mr/miss ....*beg*
Posted by
Athailah_AHMAD |
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 10:20:00 PM
what i must to do? i am taking STPM for MUET.. there is something i don't really get understand..about MUET assignment..
i even don't know how to started the introduction~
help me!
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wednesday, August 05, 2009 9:56:00 PM
i had taken already for my MUET in MID-Year 2009 but i did not achieved any band..i got "X" at my slip result and what suppose it means?Previously..i had not been seated for MUET exam in part of "Speaking" and yet i'll rather confused..is it that i have failed..?But now in process i have to take back for my MUET and will be seated on this October for speaking.Now, i'm just self-study for preparation taking MUET exam that will be running on October..started with "Speaking" papers.So my question is, what a minimum band should i obtain that qualify a person to enroll at local university?i have intended to continue my study at local university next year..i hope.Because i had reads so many times admission on local university, it says the student should has a muet at least band 1.Now, i'm just waiting for my diploma convocation but has been postponed for H1N1 disease.I am taking diploma in engineering..and many of my friends and colleague talked that for engineering courses, the person should obtained at least band 3 because a lot of references in university mostly in english..i'm not denying about it.so..plzz help me!
Posted by
Fee |
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:56:00 AM
i have lost my MUET certificate..how ia possible for me to get back the Muet certificate slip
Posted by
Anonymous |
Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:18:00 AM
ai...sad ! i will take muet next month.it is my 3rd time to take tis exam... last time i jz miss 4 marks to get band3... plsss... help me !!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
Monday, September 07, 2009 12:41:00 PM
actually,I'm looking for statistics about past years MUET listening results(like how many students manage to get band 6 in listening)...can anyone upload some of it?
Posted by
Anonymous |
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 10:48:00 PM
How can I sit for muet exam. Any class before the exam at malacca?
Posted by
Anonymous |
Tuesday, January 05, 2010 3:21:00 PM
i am a matriculation student..
i only get band 3 in muet..
is that okey for me to get into university??
Posted by
Anonymous |
Monday, January 11, 2010 12:52:00 PM
i'm a form 6 student, and i'm doing my upper 6 this year. i'm going to sit for muet exam this april, and i'm lack of self-confidence. i'm afraid i won't be able to speak fluently in muet speaking, if there is no point or ideas for me to deliberate. what am i supposed to do? i need a guideline to speak. i need someone to tell me how to buy time. should i start by defining the stimulus? and go on to my point and then, elaborate my pionts with example?
Posted by
muet dilemma |
Monday, March 29, 2010 7:40:00 PM
dear muet dilemma,
actually the speaking part is not as hard as it seems.the most important thing is to communicate well with your group members.i would advise you to practise every week in your group to familiarise yourself with the flow.u can assign everyone in your team to pick up a certain point so that everyone can give feedback to each other.believe me,team cooperation is the outmost important aspect.it may make you or break you in the speaking test.another thing,do not monopolise or dominate the conversation.ask a lot of questions to your group members as it carries marks as well.a good group doesn't necessarily agree on a point at the end but try to consolidate/merge points.eg:i believe that point A is as important as point B.
(p/s:im very happy with my group and i got Band 5)
Posted by
Anonymous |
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:12:00 PM
Is it possible to get band 4 if i miss my speaking? i will not be going for my speaking due to some issues!
Posted by
Anonymous |
Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:31:00 PM
im difficult wit muet exam...hw 2 get band 3...
Posted by
Anonymous |
Friday, April 23, 2010 9:40:00 PM
here, i want to share my experience related on MUET...
i already sat this examination 3 @ 4 times before... i dont know, my marks in 2 times ago decreased... i'm too surprised with this situation... i dont know how can be happened? sometimes the question makes candidates confuse...
Posted by
FiLZaH |
Friday, April 23, 2010 10:08:00 PM
hye..i'll take muet today at 8.00 a.m...
i don't actually have formal class for muet..
i only have 6 hours of classes..
so i'm a bit nervous...
wish me luck.
n good luck for 2010 muet candidates..
Posted by
shazz_e2aq |
Saturday, April 24, 2010 1:27:00 AM
hey, i am going to sit 4 muet dis october, can you help me on how can i make sure that i'm not going to run out of ideas coz i'm sure i'm going to be very nervous when i talk in front of audience...especially in front of the examiners....
Posted by
Anonymous |
Sunday, June 06, 2010 4:05:00 PM
I'm polytechnic student. I finish my diploma ready but I never take my MUET exam yet. I just want confirm that can I take my MUET exam at Univercity or I must take the exam before I enter the Univercity
Posted by
tpa134 |
Saturday, August 07, 2010 3:04:00 PM
I also worry for my MUET test...my english also very poor...
Posted by
Anonymous |
Monday, August 09, 2010 6:55:00 PM
I also worry for my becoming exam MUET..
my english is not good enough..I think
Posted by
Anonymous |
Friday, August 13, 2010 12:29:00 PM
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