english essay article format spm

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• SPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - CONTINUOUS WRITING

SPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - DIRECTED WRITING

• the reasons behind the haze
• role of government and society
• steps that can be taken
• give relevant examples of:
• will help you to further your studies
• will help you to get a job
• will help you in your job
• will help you in your travels
• will help you to enjoy many interesting programmes in television
• will help you to appreciate many of the world’s most beautiful literary works
• couple – taking a walk
• two men approached them
• ordered couple to give jewellery
• a struggle – husband injured
• one neighbour – taking a dog for a walk
• heard shouts – went to investigate
• robbers saw dog – fled
• couple made police report
• insufficient table and benches
• food and drinks not covered
•  too little food counters
• dirty and clogged drains – smelly
•  food – expensive and lacks variety
• inadequate food – late comers have nothing to buy, to eat
• cold food – not fresh
• rude canteen workers
• express concern over the health of your friend’s cousin
• news about the situation
• steps taken authorities
• present situation
• use the informal letter format
• use all the points given
• expand each of the points given
• write in paragraph

SPM Essay Writing Guide – Format & Examples

Table of Contents

What is SPM?

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, or SPM, is a significant national exam that Malaysian students who have completed Form 5 education—typically at the age of 17—take. It’s crucial since it determines whether or not they can continue their education after high school and serves as a measure of their overall academic success. Writing an essay is a significant part of the SPM exam since it evaluates the test taker’s command of the English language , analytical reasoning skills, and ability to form coherent arguments.

SPM Essay Format

Excellent SPM essays may only be written by students who have a firm grasp of the proper essay format. An essay typically consists of three primary components:

1. Introduction

The introduction of an essay serves as the initial section, strategically designed to captivate the reader’s interest and provide essential contextual information for the subsequent content of the paper. The factors that contribute to the level of interest in an introduction are:

A hook: A hook is a provocative statement or query that grabs the reader’s attention.

Background context: Introduce the topic and its relevance in a brief background context.

Thesis statement: Clearly state your essay’s principal contention or goal.

The body of your essay comprises several paragraphs, each of which deals with a different aspect of your thesis or a related concept. When composing the body, adhere to the following guidelines:

Topic sentences: Each paragraph should begin with an introduction to the key concept that is succinct and straightforward.

Supporting evidence: To support your claims, offer statistics, examples, or supporting proof.

Smooth transitions: Make sure the transitions between paragraphs are reasonable, retaining the coherence of the structure.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion is the last section, where you restate your thesis and briefly review your significant points. To write a strong conclusion:

Summarise main points: Briefly summarise your main points from the body paragraphs.

Restate thesis: Rephrase your thesis statement to reinforce your main argument.

Closing thought: A provocative statement or call to action should be the closing thought.

How to Write an SPM Essay?

Essay writing is a craft that can be honed with time and focus. Write an excellent SPM essay by following this simple outline:

1. Understand the Question

To completely understand the criteria of the essay question, carefully read and consider it. Indicate the essay type (e.g., descriptive, narrative, argumentative) and the keywords that will be used.

2. Plan Your Essay

The key ideas you intend to cover in each part should be included in an outline. Planning ensures a clear essay structure and helps you organize your thoughts.

3. Start with a Strong Introduction

Write a captivating beginning that introduces the subject, establishes the mood, and expresses your thesis statement succinctly.

4. Develop the Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should focus on a single idea, with supporting details and arguments. Make seamless transitions between ideas.

5. Craft an Impactful Conclusion

Reiterate your thesis, restate your essential points, and give the reader a thought-provoking conclusion.

SPM Essay Writing Tips

Take into account these helpful tips to improve your essay-writing abilities:

1. Read Widely

Your vocabulary and knowledge base will grow due to exposure to various reading sources, including books, newspapers, and articles.

2. Practice Regularly

Consistent writing practice improves your writing abilities and increases your comfort level while confronting various essay subjects.

3. Seek Feedback

To pinpoint areas for growth, get comments from teachers, peers, or family members.

4. Time Management

Use your time effectively during the exam to allow enough time for preparing, writing, and reviewing.

5. Grammar and Vocabulary

Pay close attention to your grammar, spelling, and language choices for your writing to remain coherent and clear.

Types of SPM Essays

SPM essays can take many forms, each requiring a different strategy. Here are a few common types:

1. Narrative Essay

It tells a tale with aspects including characters, setting, and plot, frequently from the viewpoint of the author.

2. Descriptive Essay

It uses sensory details to create a realistic image of a person, location, or event to capture the reader’s attention.

3. Argumentative Essay

Presents reasons and proof to persuade readers to take a specific stance on a hotly debated subject.

4. Expository Essay

Gives details, justifications, or analyses on a subject backed up by examples and facts.

5. Reflective Essay

Reveals one’s own feelings, thoughts, and experiences while highlighting the lessons learned from a certain incident.

SPM Essay Example for Malaysian Students

To provide you with a practical reference, here is a brief example of an SPM essay provided by Malaysian Essay Helpers :

Example Title: “The Impact of Technology on Education”

The digital era has completely transformed every part of our lives, including education. Classrooms have changed as a result of the growing use of digital devices and the internet, with both positive and negative effects.

Paragraph 1 (Positive Impact)

The educational process has been greatly improved by technology. Interactive instructional software and applications provide pupils with fun ways to understand difficult ideas. Additionally, e-learning platforms have made it possible to receive a degree from a distance, eliminating geographic restrictions and fostering lifelong learning.

Paragraph 2 (Negative Impact)

However, there are negative consequences to using too much technology in the classroom. The decline of conventional methods of instruction may lead to a shortage of students with strong critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Additionally, the digital divide between kids from various socioeconomic origins has the potential to make educational disparities worse.

In conclusion, it is undeniable that technology has significantly influenced modern schooling. To guarantee that every student receives a well-rounded education, educators must strike a balance between tech-based instruction and conventional teaching techniques, despite the fact that technology has many benefits in terms of accessibility and learning opportunities.

For Malaysian students who want to perform well on their exams, mastering the art of SPM essay writing is essential. Students may improve their writing talents and create compelling essays highlighting their knowledge and critical thinking skills by adhering to the correct essay style, employing effective writing approaches, and practicing frequently. Remember to experiment with different essay formats to increase your writing versatility and use other people’s work as inspiration to enhance your own.

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A Guide to the Format and Grading of 2024/2025 SPM English Papers

5 April 2024

7 minutes to read

• 01. What must I know about SPM English Paper 1?
• 02. What is the English essay SPM format?
• 03. Is the English speaking test format for SPM difficult?
• 04. How to respond to SPM English listening test questions?
• 05. Get the best SPM English tutoring support at Superprof

Have you ever thought about the importance of being able to write an excellent English essay in your SPM paper?

Since the latest update to the SPM English format in 2021, the SPM English qualification has been lauded as a reliable benchmark for Malaysians who want to reach a global standard of English. Currently, the SPM English 2024/2025 syllabus is targeted to help students achieve CEFR B1 and B2 standards of English.

With that, understanding the SPM English format and the marking schemes can help students answer exam questions confidently. That is because familiarising oneself with exam patterns and knowing how to answer questions accurately can enhance student performance!

Are you stuck figuring out which SPM English papers will teach you the correct exam format and scoring system?

Fear not. This article provides a breakdown of what you need to know about the format and marking schemes of all the SPM English papers . Let's begin with SPM English Paper 1 .

What must I know about SPM English Paper 1?

First, look at the table below to understand the SPM English Paper 1 format.

Now you know that SPM English Paper 1 is essentially a reading comprehension paper. Since the answers for this paper are fixed, you just need to choose the correct answer from the options provided to you or complete phrases and sentences using the information provided in the texts.

Allow us to break down the marking scheme for SPM English Paper 1 :

Part 1 (Multiple-Choice Questions)

Students will read short texts from books, advertisements, magazines and more. Choose the best answer out of 3 choices for each question. (8 marks)

Part 2 (Multiple-Choice Cloze)

Read a passage (testing grammar and vocabulary) and choose the best answer out of 4 choices for each question. (10 marks)

Part 3 (Multiple-Choice Questions)

Read a long passage and choose the best answer out of 3 choices for each question. (6 marks)

Part 4 (Gapped Text)

Read a passage in which six sentences have been removed. Fill in these gaps with the choices provided. (8 marks)

Part 5 (Matching and Information Transfer)

Identify and match paragraphs to the 4 given statements. Then, find 4 words from the texts to complete the given sentences. (8 marks)

For SPM English Paper 1 , it is wise to read all the texts and questions carefully before putting down your answers. Make sure you read all the options provided, and for the parts where you have to fill in the blanks, ensure that your answers use accurate grammar and tenses while remaining relevant to the overall text.

You'll understand when you try out SPM English reference and past papers for yourself!

What is the English essay SPM format?

Moving on to SPM English Paper 2, which is the writing paper.

You may be worried about what kind of English essay SPM topics you will have to write about. In reality, you don't have to write very lengthy essays in this paper since most writing tasks are in the limited-response format! Let's look at the marking scheme for SPM English Paper 2 and some guidance on how to write each English essay .

Don't forget that you should know your SPM English 2024/2025 syllabus like it's in the back of your hand.

Part 1 (Short Communicative Message)

Write a short note or email in less than 80 words. Students must write their essay based on the short note or email provided in the question. They are also encouraged to provide straight-to-the-point answers with little elaboration due to the word limit. (20 marks)

Part 2 (Guided Writing)

Write an essay in about 125 to 150 words. Based on the notes given, write an essay with a body of three to four points, and elaborate your ideas with opinions, evidence and related subject matter. (20 marks)

Part 3 (Extended Writing)

Choose one out of 3 choices of essay topics to write about. In about 200 to 250 words, write a report/ review/ article/ story (depending on your choice) based on the notes given. Elaborate your main points with sufficient opinions, evidence, examples and related subject matter. Include a good introduction and conclusion for a great English essay . (20 marks)

We also want to emphasise that examiners will use the assessment scales of...

• Content - essay content is relevant to the task
• Communicative achievement - essay communicates tasks effectively and with ease while being able to grab the reader's attention
• Organisation - essay is well-organised and uses coherent language
• Language - essay uses appropriate range of vocabulary and grammatical forms

... when marking your English essay SPM papers.

Here's an article to help you pick up further tips for answering SPM English Papers 1 and 2.

Is the English speaking test format for SPM difficult?

We have made it to SPM English Paper 3! Out of all the SPM English papers , the English speaking test is the only paper that will be carried out internally - with a subject teacher and one of your friends as a speaking partner. You may find yourself enjoying a conversation with your classmate!

And here is the marking scheme for Paper 3 you need to watch out for:

Part 1 (Interview)

Answer 4 simple questions within 3 to 4 minutes. You will be asked general questions about yourself, such as your name or your family members.

Part 2 (Individual Discussion)

Answer a few questions based on a random topic given. You will be given 20 seconds to prepare your answers. Complete your answer within 1 minute.

Part 3 (Discussion With Partner)

Converse with your partner for 2 minutes based on a given topic, and spend 1 minute making your final stand or conclusion. Speak for a total of 3 minutes in this part.

The three analytical criteria for SPM English Paper 3 are grammar, vocabulary and communicative competence. Ideally, students should demonstrate a high degree of grammatical control, possess a good command of language structures and grammatical forms, and express themselves in English easily.

Tip: You are encouraged to remain calm throughout the English speaking test , and choose words and tenses that you know over flowery or bombastic word choices.

Click here for more tips to score your SPM English papers !

How to respond to SPM English listening test questions?

Despite some controversy surrounding the legitimacy of SPM English listening tests, it is clear that being familiar with spoken English will help you master the SPM English format for Paper 4:

Based on the current marking scheme, there are four parts you need to answer in this paper. Generally, you will listen to audio recordings of conversations, speeches, dialogues or talks and then answer the questions given.

• Part 1 - Listen to 7 different situations and answer 7 questions.
• Part 2 - Listen to a conversation and answer 8 questions.
• Part 3 - Listen to 5 short extracts and choose the correct answers.
• Part 4 - Listen to texts and complete the missing information.

Before answering the questions, be sure you understand what the questions are asking for, and that will help you look for the correct answers as you listen to the audio being played.

There are fantastic resources to help you master SPM English listening skills and more.

As you get used to the format and marking schemes for SPM English 2024/2025 , we wouldn't want you to miss out on the top English tutors in Malaysia ...

Get the best SPM English tutoring support at Superprof

After all the preparations you've made to follow the SPM English format during the actual SPM exam and memorise the marking schemes... you may still find it challenging to tackle your English speaking test and other parts of the SPM English syllabus .

If you are facing this situation, it is encouraged that you work with a professional English teacher who can help you master SPM English 2024/2025 .

Introducing to you: Superprof !

Superprof is a leading global platform that connects tutors and students worldwide : students can learn from anywhere around the world and find a tutor teaching their subject of interest, including SPM English ! Unlike traditional classrooms where students learn in large groups and have to be physically present at lessons, Superprof offers the advantage of one-to-one learning and virtual lessons for students seeking online learning.

Accessibility to learning SPM English with a qualified tutor is just one of the many benefits students can experience on Superprof . We are pleased to let you know students who have signed up on Superprof can easily schedule lessons with their SPM English tutor in their own time! That means you can schedule lessons with your Superprof tutor according to your availability , so you can still take a break from studying on the weekends if you wish.

Psst... you can get your first SPM English class for free when you sign up with Superprof !

Now, you are sure to master the SPM English format and marking schemes to score well in your SPM English papers ! We wish you the best of luck.

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A lover of both psychology and food - Ayleah simplifies even the most complex ideas to make all things learning accessible to everyone. Read about interesting topics in Malaysia from a counsellor's perspective!

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