Question 1

Report Writing
 Analysis & Synthesis

• A good report must include analysis and synthesis of

the data provided in the visual(s).

• There are 5 elements to be included when analysing

and synthesizing data
 5 elements:

1. Key Features (KF) : Item discussed

2. Movement/Trend (T) : movement or change in the
data
3. Data (D) : items that are quantified in
percentage, ranking, etc.
4. Time Frame (TF) : duration
5. Comparison (C) : differences or similarities of
information of key features
 Analysing Data

To analyse data contained within a visual, the visual should have the
following:

Key Feature + Data + Trend + (Comparison) + (Time Frame)

Example 1(Analysis):
Time frame

Categories of Drivers 2005 2006 2007

Professionals 3,600 5,000 7,000

Key feature
Data

Analysis 1: Analyse the data by comparing the different time frames with the
same key feature. Therefore, compare 2005 with 2006 and 2007 (3 TF) for
professionals (1 KF).

In 2005, professionals were involved in 3,600 accidents. The number of accidents

increased to 5,000 in 2006 and reached the highest number in 2007 at 7,000
accidents.
Example 2 (Analysis):

Analysis 2: Analyse the data by comparing the different key features within one
time frame. Therefore, compare professionals and non-professionals (2 KF) within
2005 (1 TF).

Categories of Drivers 2005 Time frame

Professionals 3,600
Key features Data
Non-professionals 5,500

In 2005, professionals were involved in fewer accidents (3,600) than

non-professionals (5,500).
 Constructing a Sentence for Analysis – Example 1
KF1 KF2 KF3

Fast food Restaurant Males Females

Will 1 4
Harvest Inn 2 2
Fairy 3 1
Rex 4 3
Table 1: Ranking of Choice of Fast Food Restaurants
Note: Rating Level
1. Excellent 2. Good 3. Fair 4. Poor

Ways to begin your sentence:

1) KF2 + ranked + KF1 + trend + but + KF3 + ranked it + trend.

Males ranked Will first but females ranked it last.
2) KF3 + ranked + KF1 + in + data + which was + trend/comparison + KF2 + who ranked it in + data
Females ranked Rex in third position, which was higher than males, who ranked it in fourth.
3) Both + KF2 + and + KF3 + ranked + KF1 + trend + at + data
Both males and females ranked Harvest Inn the same in second position.
 Constructing a Sentence for Analysis – Example 2
Figure 1: Sales of Books (2016)
70

60

50 Excel – KF1
Vision – KF2

RM ('000)
40

30 Reality – KF3
20 Superior – KF4
10

0
Excel Vision Reality Superior
Bookstore

Ways to begin your sentence:

1) In + time frame + KF2 + recorded + trend + earnings from book sales + at + data.
In 2016, Vision recorded the highest earnings from book sales at RM65,000.
2) The book sales of + KF1 + (data) + was + trend/comparison + KF3 + (data) + in + time frame
The book sales of Excel (RM15,000) was higher than Reality (RM8,000) in 2016.
3) KF3 + had + trend + sales of books + at + data + comparison + KF4 + at + data
Reality had lower sales of books at RM8,000 compares with Superior at RM20,000.
 Synthesising Data

• can be carried out within the same visual OR between different

visuals.
• requires at least 2 key features and 2 time frames. At least 2pieces of
data are needed to show a trend

2 Key Features + 2 Time Frames + 2 or 4 pieces of Data +

Comparison Trend
 Synthesising Data Within the Same Visual /Stimulus
Example 1 (Synthesis):

Category of Drivers 2005 2006 2007

Professionals 3,600 5,000 7,000
Non-professionals 5,500 13,100 8,500
Fresh graduates 15,000 16,000 14,000
Business owners 800 900 650
Total accidents 24,900 35,000 30,150
Table 1: Number of Road Accidents by Category of Drivers (2005-2007)

• Step 1 – compare 2005 (TF1) with 2006 (TF2) for fresh graduates (KF3)
• Step 2 – compare 2005 (TF1) with 2006 (TF2) for business owners (KF4)
• Step 3 – link step 1 and Step 2 using a linking word or logical connector.
 KF3 TF1 data
TF2

Fresh graduates were involved in 15,000

accidents in 2005, and this increased to
16,000 accidents in 2006. Similarly, accidents
data
involving business owners also showed an
increase, from 800 in 2005 to 900 accidents
in 2006 KF4 data TF1
TF2

2 Key Features + 2 Time Frame + 2 or 4 pieces of Data + Comparison

 Synthesising data between different
visuals/stimuli

Synthesising data between two or more different

visuals requires making links between the given
visuals.
 Synthesise the indicated information from Table 1 with the indicated indicated information in Table 2.
Table 1: Number of Road Accidents by Category of Drivers (2005-2007)
Category of Drivers 2005 2006 2007
Professionals 3,600 5,000 7,000
Non-professionals 5,500 13,100 8,500
Synthesise this Fresh graduates 15,000 16,000 14,000
information
Business owners 800 900 650
Total accidents 24,900 35,000 30,150
Table 2: Causes of Road Accidents in 2007
Causes Drink- Poor road Fatigue Faulty
Category of Drivers driving conditions vehicles

Professionals √ √
Non-professionals √ √
Synthesise this Fresh graduates √ √ √
information
Business owners √ √

In 2007, fresh graduates were recorded as having been in involved in the highest number of road accidents (14,000) due
to drink-driving, poor road conditions, fatigue and faulty vehicles. Business owners, in contrast, had the lowest number
of road accidents (650). These were only caused by fatigue.
 Constructing a Sentence for Synthesis

Figure 1: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2014 Figure 2: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2015
80 90 84
69
70 64 80
70
60 55 55 70
Percentage (%)

Percentage (%)
60 55 55 55
50 44
50 45
40 35
Primary 40 Primary
30 25 26 30 30
Secondary 30 Secondary
20
20
10 10
0 0
Nasi lemak Fried noodles Cereal Bread Nasi lemak Fried noodles Pancakes Sandwiches
Types of Food Types of Food

Nasi lemak – KF1 Fried noodles – KF2 Cereal – KF3 Bread – KF4
Pancakes – KF5 Sandwiches – KF6 Primary – KF7 Secondary – KF8

Example 1 (Synthesis):
In 2014, cereal was the preferred breakfast for primary and secondary school students
(69% and 64% respectively). However, in 2015, pancakes were the most popular
breakfast among primary and secondary school students at 84% and 70% respectively.
 Constructing a Sentence for Synthesis

Figure 1: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2014 Figure 2: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2015
80 90 84
69
70 64 80
70
60 55 55 70
Percentage (%)

Percentage (%)
60 55 55 55
50 44
50 45
40 35
Primary 40 Primary
30 25 26 30 30
Secondary 30 Secondary
20
20
10 10
0 0
Nasi lemak Fried noodles Cereal Bread Nasi lemak Fried noodles Pancakes Sandwiches
Types of Food Types of Food

Nasi lemak – KF1 Fried noodles – KF2 Cereal – KF3 Bread – KF4
Pancakes – KF5 Sandwiches – KF6 Primary – KF7 Secondary – KF8

Example 2 (Synthesis):
Nasi lemak was the least preferred breakfast at 35% for primary school students in 2014,
while sandwiches were the least favoured at 45% for these students in 2015.
 Constructing a Sentence for Synthesis

Figure 1: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2014 Figure 2: Preferred Breakfast among School Students in 2015
80 90 84
69 80
70 64 70
70
60 55 55

Percentage (%)
55 55 55
Percentage (%)

60
50 44
50 45
40 35
Primary 40 Primary
30 25 26 30 30
Secondary 30 Secondary
20 20
10 10
0 0
Nasi lemak Fried noodles Cereal Bread Nasi lemak Fried noodles Pancakes Sandwiches
Types of Food Types of Food

Nasi lemak – KF1 Fried noodles – KF2 Cereal – KF3 Bread – KF4
Pancakes – KF5 Sandwiches – KF6 Primary – KF7 Secondary – KF8

Example 3 (Synthesis):
In 2014, fried noodles were preferred by 55% of both primary and secondary school
students. Likewise, the percentage remained unchanged in 2015.
• Candidates who only list the data without description, analysis and synthesis
will not score well.
• Similarly candidates who describe the data without using the appropriate trend
word will not score well either.
 Proficient candidates are those who are able to analyse the data and show the
synthesis of the data in their answer.

Example 1:
Table 1: Employers’ Expectations and Applicants’ Perceptions of Qualities Required at the
Workplace
Qualities Ranking of qualities employers Ranking of qualities applicants
look for in job application believe employers look for
Diligence 1 3
Personality 2 4
Motivation 3 2
Experience 4 1
 Data Interpretation Sample answer and Elements contained in the Comments
sentence structure sample answer
Listing There are four qualities, KF: diligence, personality, This answer addresses the
Merely listing the KFs namely diligence, motivation and experience task in a very limited way –
without the trend word personality, motivation and mere listing of points or
and without comparing the experience. KFs. This reflects a very
KFs limited user.
Description Employers ranked diligence KF: diligence This answer addresses the
Only comparing the at 1 while applicants Comparison: while task in a very limited way –
ranking of the KFs without ranked it at 3. Data: 1 and 3 neither an analysis nor a
using the appropriate trend synthesis. This reflects a
words. limited user.
Analysis Employers ranked KF: personality This answer fulfils the task
Able to compare the personality higher at 2 Comparison: higher in a satisfactory way –
ranking of the KFs and than applicants who Trends word: higher, lower analysis information with
state the trend word. ranked it lower at 4. Data: 2 and 4 reasonable success. This
reflects a satisfactory user.
Synthesis Employers ranked diligence KF: diligence,personality This answer fulfils the task
Able to compare 2 KFs with and personality higher at Comparison: top, lower – able to synthesise
2 sets of data while stating the top and 2 respectively Trend words: top, lower information effectively.
the trend word. but applicants ranked them Data: top, 2, 3 and 4 This reflects a proficient
lower at 3 and 4 Linker: but user
respectively.
Example 2:

Figure 1: Number of Sales in July and August 2015

45
40
40
35
35

Number of Sales ('000)

30 30
30
25
25
20
20 July
August
15

10

0
Armanda Cornelia Citarasa
Shopping Mall

Shopping Mall July August

Armanda 2 3
Cornelia 1 2
Citarasa 3 1
 Data Interpretation Structure
Listing There are three shopping
Merely listing the KFs malls: Armanda, Cornelia
without the trend word and Citarasa. The number
and without comparing the of sales is for July and
KFs August 2015.
Description a) The total sales for
Only comparing the KFs but Armanda in July was
without using the 20,000 but in August, it
appropriate trend words. was 35,000.
b) There were 2
promotional activities
in July but 3 in August.
Analysis a) Cornelia recorded a
Able to compare the KFs higher number of sales in
and state the trend word. July at 40,000 than in
August at 25,000.
Elements Comments
KF: Armanda, Cornelia and This answer addresses the
Citarasa task in a very limited way –
TF: July and August 2015 mere listing of points or
KFs. This reflects a very
limited user.
a) Figure 1 This answer addresses the
KF: Armanda task in a very limited way –
Comparison: but neither an analysis nor a
Data: 20,000, 35,000 synthesis. This reflects a
TF: July and August 2015 limited user.
b) Table 1
KF: promotional activities
Comparison: but
Data: 2 and 3
TF: July and August 2015
a) Figure 1 This answer fulfils the task
KF: Cornelia in a satisfactory way –
Comparison: higher…than analysis information with
Trend Word: higher reasonable success. This
Data: 40,000, 25,000 reflects a satisfactory user.
TF: July and August
 Data Interpretation
Analysis
Able to compare the KFs
and state the trend word.
Synthesis
Able to link information in
Figure 1 and Table 1 using
an appropriate trend word
and a linking word.
Sample answer and Elements contained in the Comments
sentence structure sample answer
b) Citarasa had more b) Table 1 This answer fulfils the task
promotional activities (3) in KF: Citarasa in a satisfactory way –
July than in August (1). Comparison: more…than analysis information with
Trend Word: more reasonable success. This
Data: 3 and 1 reflects a satisfactory user.
TF: July and August
a) Cornelia registered a Link between Figure 1 and This answer fulfils the task
higher number of sales Table 1 – able to synthesise
in July at 40,000 than in a) information effectively.
KF: Cornelia, promotional
August at 25,000 even This reflects a proficient
activity
though it had only 1 Comparison: higher…than user
promotional activity in Trend words: higher, only
July compared to 2 in Data: 40,000, 25,000, 1, 2
August. Linker: even though
b) Armanda had more b)
sales in August (35,000) KF: Armanda, promotional
than in July (20,000) activity
Comparison: more…than
because it had more
Trend words: more than, more
promotional activities Data: 35,000, 20,000, 3, 2
in August (3) than in Linker: because
Juky (2).
Reference:
1. Ace Ahead MUET, Oxford Fajar (11th Edition)
2. MUET Writing Practice, Oxford Fajar (2nd Edition)
Thank you for your time.
See you next week!