ORAL TEST NOTES

No Item Description
1 Weighting 30%
2 Duration 30 minutes
3 Number of tasks Task A (Individual Presentation) and Task B (Group
Discussion)
4 Topic Contemporary issues

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
COMPONENT TEST SPECIFICATIONS
Speaking Assessment will cover the following:

(i) accuracy
• using grammatically correct language
• using correct pronunciation, stress and intonation

(ii) fluency
• speaking with confidence and fluency

(iii) appropriateness
• using language appropriate for the intended purpose and audience
• using varied vocabulary and expressions
• using varied sentence structures
• observing conventions appropriate to a specific situation

(iv) coherence and cohesion

• developing and organising ideas
• using appropriate markers and linking devices
• using anaphora appropriately together with other cohesive devices

(v) use of language functions

• defining, describing, explaining
• comparing and contrasting
• classifying
• giving reasons
• giving opinions
• expressing relationships
• making suggestions and recommendations
• expressing agreement and disagreement
• seeking clarification
• asking for and giving information
• persuading
• drawing conclusions
• stating and justifying points of view
• presenting an argument

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 (vi) managing a discussion
• initiating
• turn-taking
• interrupting
• prompting
• negotiating
• closing

(vii) task fulfilment

• presenting relevant ideas
• providing adequate content
• showing a mature treatment of topic

Possible issues:
Socio-cultural, economic, science and
technology, sports, environment, education,
health, tourism

TEST PROCEDURE

The examiner will give candidates ONE minute to READ the tasks. After one minute is over,
candidates may ask the examiner to explain the meaning of a word, but not the whole question.

Task A: Individual Presentation

In Task A, each candidate is given a task to prepare. They have 2 minutes preparation time and 2
minutes to deliver their points.

Task B: Group Discussion

The group discussion takes place after all the candidates have given their speeches. Once again,
they are given 2 minutes to prepare. They will then have 7 ½ minutes (for groups of three) and
10 minutes (for groups of 4) to present their discussion.

The candidates will be evaluated based on the following:

A) Task fulfilment= understanding of topic given, presentation of viewpoints, and elaboration of
the points.
B) Language Use= ability to convey meaning intended, using appropriate vocabulary, linking
ideas cohesively, and using accurate grammar.
C) Communicative ability= fluency, pronunciation, stress and intonation pattern, confidence,
manner of interaction, and ability to maintain a discussion.

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THE DO’S AND DON’TS

Do’s Don’ts
• speak clearly, confidently and • mumble and speak softly
enthusiastically • be passive
• be focused and stay on track • out of point
• observe social conventions in interactions • be rude and insensitive or be insincere
with flattery
• maintain good eye contact at all time and • read straight from your notes
gesture appropriately
• support and prompt your other members • monopolise the discussion
• utilize the time given fully • make sweeping generalisation

EXPRESSIONS TO USE IN SPEAKING

A) Opening the Conversation

Greetings
Good morning to the examiners and my fellow candidates.

B) Opening the Discussion

Introducing the Topic

Today, we are going to discuss…
We are here today to discuss…
We will be discussing…
Our topic of discussion today is…
Let’s kick start this discussion by starting with…

Presenting Opinion
I think…
I am quite certain that…
I am positive that…
I feel that…
In my opinion…
Personally, I think that…
I really feel that…
I strongly feel that…
I am convinced that…

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Asking for Opinion
What do you think…?
What is your view on this matter?
What is your opinion regarding…?
What is your comment…?
How do you feel about…?
Do you agree with my/his/her opinion?
Do you think it is right to say…?

C) Responding To Suggestion

Expressing Agreement
That’s a good idea.
I am of the same opinion.
You have hit the nail on the head.
I agree.
That’s correct/ absolutely true.
That’s what I have been trying to say.
Yes, you can say that again.

Expressing Partial Agreement

Well, you are right in saying that…but I think…
I agree with most of what you’ve said. However,
I can only half agree with you.
I guess it’s true, but…
You have a point there; however,

Expressing Disagreement
I don’t agree with you.
I beg to differ
You’re absolutely wrong.
How could you say that?
I don’t believe that.
I don’t think so.
I don’t think that’s a good excuse/reason.
I feel very strongly against your point because…

Asking For Clarification

Please may I get this clear?
Could you clarify one point for me, please?
I’m not sure that I fully understand you.
What exactly do you mean by…?
Excuse me, I don’t really understand…
Excuse me, could you explain/elaborate on that?
Would you mind repeating that?

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Giving Clarification
Well, what I meant was…
Sure. I was trying to emphasize that…
I was merely saying that apart from…we also have to…
I was just pointing out the negative aspect of…
Certainly, I was highlighting the importance of…

Interrupting
Sorry, may I interrupt?
Can I add something here?
I am sorry to interrupt, but I think that…
Could I just interrupt for a moment?

Adding a Point
Could I just add to that?
I would like to add that…
Adding to what you have said just now…
In addition to what you have said just now…

Making a Proposal/Suggestion
May I propose that…?
I suggest that…
Wouldn’t it be a good idea that…?
Don’t you think it would be a good idea that…?

Dealing with Digression

Yes, that’s a good point, but…
…can we concentrate, first of all, on…?
…may we leave that till later and look first at…?
…we’d prefer to discuss…first.

Mediating
I am certain we can find a way to reconcile our differences.
I’m sure we can find a compromise here.
I think both sides have to give and take a little bit here.
Don’t be too hasty in our judgment. Let’s look at both sides of the argument.

Restating a Position
As I said earlier, Candidate A …
As I pointed out earlier, Candidate C …
As I have already said, …
Let me repeat what I said before…
Allow me to refresh your memory on what I said earlier…

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Maintaining the Discussion
Using Fillers
Anyway,…, Well,…, You know,… I’m not sure, but I think…
Err, let me see…, what I mean is…, What I’m trying to say is…
Using Encouraging Expressions
Really?
I see.
Is that right?

Concluding the Discussion

If all of you are in favour, I suggest that we…
If everyone is in agreement, I propose that…
So, if all of us agree, we can decide to…
If there is no objection, I suggest we…
In conclusion, …
Our unanimous decision is that we…

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SPEAKING TEST SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Instructions to candidates

Task A: Individual presentation

• Study the stimulus or topic given.
• You are given two minutes to prepare your responses.
• You are given two minutes to present.
• Listen to the others while they are making their presentations and take down notes for the
group discussion in Task B.

Task B: Group Discussion

• You are given two minutes to prepare points to support or oppose the other candidates’
views.
• After you have listened to everyone, try to come to a decision as to which of the four
suggestions is the best.
• Your group is given ten minutes for the discussion.

Set 1 (MUET November 2013)

A country’s economic success depends on many factors. What are some of these factors?
Candidate A: Its manpower
Candidate B: Its education system
Candidate C: Its healthcare system
Candidate D: Its natural resources

Set 2 (MUET November 2013)

Respect is a very important value. There are various forms of respect. What are some forms
of respect?
Candidate A: Respecting the law
Candidate B: Respecting your elders
Candidate C: Respecting other people’s beliefs
Candidate D: Respecting other people’s opinion

Set 3 (MUET November 2013)

What helps a person attain happiness in life? Name some contributing factors.
Candidate A: To have a goal in life
Candidate B: To have good relationship with other people
Candidate C: To have a healthy body
Candidate D: To have a positive outlook

Set 4 (MUET November 2013)

Good manners is important in everyday life. Suggest how good manners can be shown.
Candidate A: Good manners should be practiced at home.
Candidate B: Good manners should be practiced at public places.
Candidate C: Good manners should be practiced at schools.
Candidate D: Good manners should be practiced when using public transportation.

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Set 5 (MUET November 2013)
You just started working and have received your first month’s salary. What do you intend
to do with your money?
Candidate A: Give a part of the money to your parents
Candidate B: Spend a part of the money
Candidate C: Donate a part of the money towards a worthy cause
Candidate D: Save a part of the money

Set 7 (MUET November 2013)

You are planning to live on your own. How do you prepare yourself for this life?
Candidate A: Learn how to manage your money
Candidate B: Learn how to cook
Candidate C: Learn how to keep your home clean
Candidate D: Learn how to manage your time

Set 8 (MUET November 2013)

Malaysia is fast becoming an international centre for higher education with many foreign
universities offering their programmes here. How does this benefit Malaysia?
Candidate A: Malaysia will be better known internationally.
Candidate B: Malaysians can obtain a degree from a foreign university without going overseas.
Candidate C: Malaysia will earn additional income.
Candidate D: Malaysians will interact with people from other countries.

Set 9 (MUET November 2013)

It is a dream of many Malaysians to achieve something great. Suggest some feats that can be
achieved.
Candidate A: To go to the moon
Candidate B: To win an Olympic gold medal
Candidate C: To be a world-famous singer
Candidate D: To be an internationally-known chef

Set 10 (MUET November 2013)

A new supermarket has just opened in your neighbourhood. How can it attract customers to
go there?
Candidate A: The supermarket should sell a wide variety of products.
Candidate B: The supermarket should have special offers and free gifts.
Candidate C: The supermarket should be clean and attractive.
Candidate D: The supermarket should have helpful and friendly staff.

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Set 11 (MUET November 2013)
What are some possible factors that can lead to road accidents? Identify some of these
factors.
Candidate A: The condition of the road
Candidate B: The weather
Candidate C: The condition of the vehicle
Candidate D: The driver

Set 12 (MUET November 2013)

In the event of an emergency, who would you contact?
Candidate A: A family member
Candidate B: An emergency hotline
Candidate C: A friend
Candidate D: A neighbour

SAMPLE ANSWERS

Instructions to candidates

Task A: Individual presentation

• Study the stimulus or topic given.
• You are given two minutes to prepare your responses.
• You are given two minutes to present.
• Listen to the others while they are making their presentations and take down notes for the
group discussion in Task B.

Task B: Group Discussion

• You are given two minutes to prepare points to support or oppose the other candidates’
views.
• After you have listened to everyone, try to come to a decision as to which of the four
suggestions is the best.
• Your group is given ten minutes for the discussion.

Situation
Your brother has been given the opportunity to study in England on a government scholarship.
You and your family are very proud of him. Decide on a special gift for him to prepare for his trip
abroad.
Task A: Suggest that they give him cash. Say why.
Task B: Discuss which of the following would be most useful.
i. cash
ii. a laptop computer
iii. some suitable clothing
iv. some Malaysian foodstuff

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Candidate A
Task A: Suggest that they give him cash. Say why.
Good morning to the examiners and my fellow friends. I’m very happy that my brother has
just received a scholarship to study in England. My relatives and I would like to give him a special
gift. We all think that the best gift is money because it will be very useful for him.
The first reason is with cash he can buy the things that he needs when he gets there. There
will me a lot of things that he will need like new books, stationery, clothes and food. He will also
need to pay for transportation like taking the bus or train to go to the university campus. As we
know, it is very expensive in England so any money we give him will be very useful.
Secondly, my brother can use the money to buy a mobile phone data plan when he gets to
England. I think this is very important so that we can contact him easily. Furthermore, he can text
us and keep us updated with his progress in his studies there. Hence, if we really miss him, we can
just give him a call.
Finally, I also think giving him money is the best choice because it is light and doesn’t take
up a lot of space. If we were to give him a computer, books or winter clothes it will be very heavy
and bulky for him to bring to England. Therefore, I think that it is much easier to bring money and
buy those things when he gets there.
In conclusion, these are some of the reasons why I think giving him cash is the best choice.
To me, it is the most useful gift we can give him. Thank you.

Candidate B
Task A: You suggest that they give him a laptop computer. Say why.
A very good morning I bid to one and all. My relatives and I are very proud of my brother.
He has just received a scholarship to study in England and so we would like to give him a special
gift. We believe that the best present for him is a laptop computer.
Firstly, as a university student, my brother will have to do many assignments. If he has a
laptop computer he can bring it everywhere and consequently, do his work anytime and anywhere.
Thus, he will not have to share the computers at the computer room with other students and he will
be able to do his work more quickly and efficiently.
Another point is that when he boards the plane from KLIA to London, he will be able to
bring the laptop with him easily because it is compact and light compared to a desktop computer.
Hence, it will not be too much trouble to transport it to England.
Last but not least, if he has a laptop he will be able to connect to the internet. This has two
main advantages as firstly, he can do a lot of research online. The World Wide Web is a fountain
of information so it will be very useful for him to make full use of this technology. Furthermore,
he can keep in touch with friends and family here in Malaysia by social media or e-mail.
In short, a laptop computer will prove to be very useful to my brother. He can do his
assignments, research for information and keep in touch with us using it therefore it will make the
best gift. Thank you for listening.

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Candidate C
Task A: You suggest that they give him some suitable clothing. Say why.
To the examiners and my fellow candidates, a wonderful morning I bid you. My brother
was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to study overseas. We want to send him off with a nice
gift so we have decided to buy him some suitable clothing.
The main purpose for buying him some suitable clothing is because the weather in England
is very different from the weather in our country. There are four seasons there so he will need to
have different clothes for different situations. For example, we can buy him some sweaters,
cardigans, scarves, snow caps, thick socks and gloves and many more. These will definitely keep
him warm in winter.
The second reason is we think that he should have clothes that reflect our Malaysian
identity. This is because he will be a young ambassador for our country so if he has a few sets of
traditional clothing like the Baju Melayu or formal Batik shirts, I am sure he will not only look
good but promote our culture overseas.
Lastly, neat clothes make a good impression. For instance, if we buy him some everyday
clothes like jeans and trousers with nice shirts and matching ties, this will give him a good feeling
about himself so he will walk a bit straighter and talk a bit wiser. Moreover, people will look at
him and have a good impression about Malaysian students.
To conclude, I think that the best present to give him is some suitable clothing because it
will be very useful and will reflect positively on him. Thank you very much.

Candidate D
Task A: You suggest that they give him some Malaysian foodstuff. Say why.
I would like to wish everyone here a very good morning. As we all know, my brother has
won a scholarship to study in England. Therefore, some relatives and I have decided to give him
some Malaysian foodstuff as a going away present.
First and foremost, one of the main problems Malaysians face when studying overseas is
that it is hard to find Malaysian food. We feel it is a good idea to give him some Malaysian
foodstuff because it will take time for him to get used to the place and the local food which is
different from Malaysian food. Thus, in the meantime he can enjoy the Malaysian foodstuff that
we have given to him.
The next reason is because some of the foodstuff we have here in Malaysia is quite hard to
find in UK. Most students studying overseas really enjoy eating Maggi Mee and sambal belacan.
For instance, it is also hard to find the right spices for curry and rendang and so on, so if we supply
him with enough Malaysian foodstuff, he can eat it whenever he misses home.
The final point I have is that he can use the Malaysian foodstuff we give him and cook it
for the Westerners there. Sometimes, universities organise events like Malaysian Night and so he
and his friends can cook some Malaysian specialities for them to taste a bit of our way of life.
Hence, the Malaysian foodstuff will be very useful to promote our culture.
In a nutshell, giving my brother Malaysian foodstuff to take with him to England is a good
idea. This is because he will have some familiar food to eat when he misses home and he can also
share it with his new friends. Thank you for listening to my opinion.

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Task B: Discuss which of the following would be most useful.
i. Cash
ii. A laptop computer
iii. Some suitable clothing
iv. Some Malaysian foodstuff
* Work together in your respective groups and complete the following discussion.

A: Good morning once again to everyone. We are here to focus on the issue at hand which is
__________________________________________________________. I would like to
invite anyone of you to kick start this discussion by giving us your point of view.

B: Allow me to begin. First of all, I’m happy that our brother has won the scholarship to study in
England. Therefore, we must decide what would be the most useful gift for him. In my opinion,
I strongly believe that _______________
_________________________________________________________________. This is
because I think he can _________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
For example, ______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

C: I see your point but how about getting him ______________________________. In this way,
he can use it to ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

D: I don’t quite agree with you because ____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________. I think it
would be more useful if we bought _______________________ for him. Does anyone agree
with me?

A: Yes, I agree with you. To add to your point, I feel that ______________________
_________________________________________________________________.
This is so he will ___________________________________________________.

C: I’m afraid I don’t see eye to eye with both of you. Buying that as a present for him is not the
most useful gift because __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Moreover, ________________________________________________________.
Can you all understand what I’m trying to say?

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B: Indeed, I do see your point of view but I still feel that the most useful gift is
__________________ because it can ___________________________________. Another
reason is ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________. For
instance, _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

D: That’s an interesting perspective and I agree with you that ___________________

_________________________________________________________________. However, I
think we should consider other points. We should also think about buying him
_______________________________________________________.
If he gets this as a present, he can ______________________________________ and
____________________________________________. Wouldn’t you agree?

A: I’m not sure I understand what you are saying. Can you explain it again, please.

D: What I mean is we should buy him _____________________________________ because it

will me more useful for him when he is studying in England. This is because
___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

A: Aaah… I see. Yes, I think it would be a very useful gift too. This way, he can
_________________________________________________________________.

C: That’s a good point, but don’t you think if we gave him _____________________ it will be the
most useful for him as a student. I still believe that this is the most useful because
_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Remember, we need to think of the best and most useful choice.

B: I agree with you, Candidate C. In addition, he can use this gift to _____________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________. So candidates A & D, what do you guys think?

D: Now that you’ve explained it like that, I also agree that it will be the most useful. In fact, he
could also use it to _________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

A: As for me, I feel that it is also the most useful. When he arrives at his university in England, he
will be able to ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.

C: That’s right. Well, after listening to all the points on the four choices we have, I think it is time
to make a conclusion.

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D: Yes, I think so too. Does everyone agree that we should give our brother
_______________________________________ as a special going away present?

All: Yes, I agree.

B: In a nutshell, we all agree that _______________________________ is the best choice because

firstly, he can _________________________________________, secondly,
________________________________________________ and finally
_________________________________________________________________.
Thank you.

COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY CANDIDATES

 Task Fulfilment
o Ignore the situation given
o Not able to use the time wisely
o Did not elaborate the ideas and provide examples
o Did not understand the question and the flow of the test
 Language Use
o Grammatical error
o Bad pronunciation and intonation
o Direct translation (Malay to English)
 Communicative Ability
o Rude
o Passive
o Not confident
o Dominate the discussion (Task B)
o No eye-contact- Reading the notes

References:
Chuah, H., Paul-Evanson, C., & Dinna, F. (2012). The complete text and guide: MUET latest exam
format. Kuala Lumpur: Global Mediastreet Sdn Bhd

Wiles, A. (2010, May 4). MUET my way!. Message posted to

http://muetmyway.blogspot.com/2010/05/muet-speaking-8002-tips.html

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