July 2012 MUET Writing 800/4 : What went wrong and how to solve it

Hiya...

Ok.. I've gotten a lot of feedback abt the July 2012 MUET results and basically the results are dire. That means that the entire country did badly this time round because the answers were not accurate enough according to MPM's requirement.

Here's a lowdown from my discussion with various people.

Writing:
For Q1:
Apparently, you can only talk about the 2010 data in the first stimulus because the second stimulus has only 2010 data... therefore, if you include the other info then it would mean that your report content is irrelevant. You must also LINK both stimuli and show the correspondence between the data without giving your own assumptions.

Any examiners out there to verify this?

For Q2:
Most students ended up telling grandfather tales about the BENEFITS co-curricular activities rather than talking about their opinion (agree? disagree?) about CO-CURRICULUM PARTICIPATION AS AN ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR UNIVERSITIES. Therefore they have skewed way off the main road... and into the ditch and sewer.

Would anyone like to write a sample essay and email to me so I can show everyone what a good essay looks like?


Anyway... if you would like to try, here is another essay topic.... even if you dont write the essay.. think about the 3 key issues...

Young people should be encouraged to join community service. Discuss.

Think very carefully abt the points so that you do not veer out of context. List down the 3 aspects by leaving a comment and i will tell you if you're on the right path or falling off the cliff. :P


Cheerios!


ANSWERS:
If you write about the general benefits of community service you are not answering the question. Zoom in on the word 'YOUNG' and it will become clearer. Give at least 3 reasons why the young people should be the one who takes part in community service.

Your answers should discuss at least 3 of the following:
1. youngsters are physically more energetic, healthy and can achieve more when involved in com service such as planting mangrove trees in protected wetlands etc.
2. young people have fresher and more invigorating ideas to do community service in an effective way, e.g. go green campaigns using ICT/twitter etc. to spread info and gather supporters
3. youths can use the experience to polish skills and for character building. Community service instils good time management, punctuality, softskills, proactiveness etc.
4. the younger generation in general has less burdens and responsibilities like family, career, debts etc. so they can take more active roles in community service including doing overseas volunteerism with MERCY Malaysia.. etc.
5. the young today are the future leaders of Malaysia so taking lead roles in community service like donation drives, running charity bazaars and dinners will give them priceless leadership experiences.

To pass the writing paper with flying colours you need to think above and beyond the norm. You have to show critical thinking skills and give valid and concrete examples to prove your point. Zoom in on the keyword in the question in order to achieve a high band....

DOES ANYONE WANT TO SUBMIT THIS ESSAY TO ME? I'LL TRY TO FIND TIME TO GRADE IT!