I have recently managed to acquire copies of the official examination reports for all STPM & MUET subjects from 2011 to 2013. Needless to say I am gobsmacked to have found such a treasure published by Pelangi and apparently ALL schools in Malaysia should have received a copy.
Anyway, from my observations, the results are quite astounding especially with the recent government announcement that for a future lawyer or doctor to graduate, they need a minimum Band 5. Look closely at the data and you will know why I'm reeling in shock.
As a MUET educator, what does this data tell you. Should you be worried?
As a MUET candidate, what are the implications to you? Should you be worried?
As a public university, what does this data translate to? Should you be worried?
As an education policy maker, how does this data reflect on the new MUET policy?
Should WE be worried?
Being worried is not enough. We each have a role to play. Together, we can make a difference.
Anyway, from my observations, the results are quite astounding especially with the recent government announcement that for a future lawyer or doctor to graduate, they need a minimum Band 5. Look closely at the data and you will know why I'm reeling in shock.
As a MUET educator, what does this data tell you. Should you be worried?
As a MUET candidate, what are the implications to you? Should you be worried?
As a public university, what does this data translate to? Should you be worried?
As an education policy maker, how does this data reflect on the new MUET policy?
Should WE be worried?
Being worried is not enough. We each have a role to play. Together, we can make a difference.
Oh my godness. Not even more than 0.00% managed to achieve Band 6? What does that mean? Not more than 10 candidates got Band 6 annually?
ReplyDelete0.42% Band 5, 5.26% Band 4.. About 1,000 candidates got Band 5 and Band 4 in Malaysia?
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken about 400,000 candidates sit for SPM examination every year. We can see from the statistics here, only 72,063 candidates with different walks of life sit for MUET November 2013.
ReplyDeletePaper 1 Listening shows the best performance of candidates as compared to other papers. Paper 1 is too much easier to score because there are only 20 questions that carry 45 marks.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say it's "too much easier," since that really depends on the topics given.
Deletehttp://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/09/11/Idris-Many-teachers-not-fit-to-teach-70-of-English-instructors-found-to-be-incapable-says-Education/ 70% of English teachers unfit to teach the English subject in schools. Only 18,000 English teachers in Malaysia pass in the Cambridge Placement Test. How about Maths teachers, Science teachers, Bahasa Melayu teachers, Agama Islam teachers, Geography teachers, History teachers and 400,000 other teachers? How many Malaysian teachers able to pass if they sit for Cambridge Placement Test? That's why Malaysian education system left behind from Singapore and Europe.
ReplyDeleteOfcourse the results are frightening,worrying and discouraging.But one thing for sure the government must not compromise on the quality of MUET PASSES especially for those in higher bands even though there is no number to speak of.This means there must be NO ATTEMPT at all to lower down the gradings of each band.This will make Malaysian students as a laughing stock in overseas.So to rectify-I would suggest do the rectifications in SPM English papers both in paper 1 and Paper 2.If you look at the recent Nov 2014 English paper 1 and compare against the reading questions in MUET,-the standards are too far-very very far-and any tom dick and harry will say,The SPM ENGLISH PAPER is set to ensure the passes among the SPM students maintaining at 65-70%(the YEARLY KPI STANDARD OF THE MINISTRY).But with these kind of passes-those getting A+,A and A- in SPM cannot even score band 2 in MUET READING QUESTIONS.So where do go from here?
ReplyDeleteUntil the cow comes home-this problem of MUET low passes in Higher bands is not achievable.
Conclusively-no more delay-upgrade the SPM questions!!!
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysia-ranks-39-out-of-44-countries-in-problem-solving-test-for-15-year-o
DeleteThis showed that only one out of 100 Malaysian students, aged 15, is able to solve the most complex problems, compared with one in five in Singapore, Korea and Japan. Critics have also questioned the real worth of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) which produces many students who scored As, but who can't compete with their peers from Singapore, China and Taiwan.
Every year,the Ministry must face reality that the passes in SPM ENGLISH PAPER is at the worst band.The passes every year at 60-70% is totally cosmestic whereas in actual if the questions are redesigned(slightly higher standard but lower than MUET).honestly I think the passes would not even reach the standard passes of 50%.
ReplyDeleteThe Ministry must learn to face the truth.....
Your extract does not show any failures among MUET candidates.I think the table must also show percentage failures especially THOSE lower than band 1.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise the Ministry will say-although the MUET questions are tougher,still we have 100% passes.
There is nothing lower than Band 1. Unofficially Band 1 is very low proficiency 0-99 marks from a total of 300. In the past even a band 1 can enter uni even though it is considered a fail. With the revised policy, no band 1s qualify to enter. Arts stream needs at least B3 or 4 to grad n docs n lawyers need B5. Thriller!
DeleteI hope you don't mind to share your result in the Cambridge Placement Test? What is your opinion about the test?
DeleteC2. I would need 2hrs min to explain my stand. Haha.
DeleteThis is the extract of a seminar to show the reality of SPM candidates:
ReplyDeleteEducation Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof (Teacher Development Professionalism) started the ball rolling with a startling revelation — that two-thirds of students and two-thirds of teachers involved in a survey struggled with English proficiency.
“In formulating the Preliminary Report Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013 - 2025), we conducted a survey involving 13,000 students and 11,000 teachers in government schools.
“From that survey, there were two main findings.
“First, we benchmarked SPM English results with that of the Cambridge English Language 1119 standards and found that although students had good grades in SPM, two-thirds of them failed to meet the basics of English proficiency (a credit of C6) in the 1119 paper,” Dr Khair said to the 160-member strong crowd.
“In the second (finding), we found that teachers did not fare well as two-thirds of those surveyed failed to reach “proficient” levels of C2 and C1 in the Cambridge Placement Test,” he added.
“The ministry is not in a state of denial about the problems we face. The aim of the system is to provide students with the basic skills to communicate and although they know the language, the question now is whether they can communicate confidently and master the language to an extent that they can face the challenges of the globalised workplace,” Dr Khair said.
He added that the final Malaysia Education Blueprint, scheduled to be sent to the Cabinet in December, will put a focus on the country’s 70,000 English teachers.
I have been thinking a lot lately on how to improve the students' proficiency.
ReplyDeleteAudrey, we are in the same boat.
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey, I love your writings and its so inspiring. I, too have a blog that takes one English language learning and English grammar but as exciting as yours. I am really awed with your blog. Impressive! I love it. On behalf of the world, thank you!
ReplyDeletebtw dear, may i take this numbers and put it into my blog and you could always use the Words, put it in schdule and printscreen it. hehe..
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteCould you pls email me the reference to the table above that shows the MUET exam stats 2011-2013? I'd like to use it for my Master research paper.
Thanks!
(ericka.krystalyn@gmail.com)
Hi Audrey... I've been a MUET teacher since 1999 and to tell you the truth, Malaysians should worry when looking at the data in a glance. I'm not blaming anyone but if you are in our shoes, no matter how deep our worries are - We can't do much... May be I'm too pessimistic but even I myself am thinking of quitting from this teaching line.
ReplyDeleteWe only have two choices. Be optimistic or be pessimistic. When we looking at the data in a glance, we cannot deny that our national education system something wrong here and there. Who able to fix this complicated issue? We don't expect every Malaysian citizens to speak and write in English perfectly and achieve Band 6 MUET easily. We cannot deny the fact that around 10 or not more than 20 candidates managed to get Band 6 MUET every MUET session. Now we talk about majority of the future Malaysian leaders and Malaysian citizens? Do you know what is the possible expectation? We expect that every Malaysian citizens go for their maximum limit to learn English with passion. We expect English passion is our culture in future.
ReplyDeleteHi audrey,
ReplyDeleteI'm a Malaysian student completing MA in a UK university. I was wondering if I could use the data for my research. Would you please email me the reference? I really appreciate it =) _ Amy my email: asfiraasra@gmail.com
Hi may i know the overall results for the recent MUET Mac 2015?? Where to get the statistics? How many candidates scored band 6, band 5 and so forth.
ReplyDeletehey can i have the reference as well for my thesis ... thanxxxx
ReplyDeletefrancis_ligadu@yahoo.com