MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH TEST (MUET)

(800/2)
SPEAKING TIPS
 EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
Item Description

Weighting 25%

Duration 30 minutes

Number of tasks Two

Task format Task A: Individual presentation

Preparation : 2 minutes
Presentation : 2 minutes

Task B: Group interaction (4 candidates to a group)

Preparation : 3 minutes
Discussion : 8-12 minutes

Skills tested As in the test specifications

* Evaluation Criteria
1. Task Fulfilment
* - understand the topic
- - shows maturity in discussing the topic
- develops ideas successfully
- presents viewpoints clearly
2. Language
- conveys meaning clearly
- uses appropriate and varied vocabulary
- links ideas effectively
- speaks using accurate grammar
3. Communicative Ability
- speaks fluently
- pronounces words accurately
- uses correct stress and intonation
- projects confidence during delivery
- interacts well and is able to maintain a discussion
- shows initiative and interest
 SEATING
ARRANGEMENT
Candidate A Candidate B
CHIEF EXAMINER
EXAMINER

Candidate D Candidate C
 PART 1: INDIVIDUAL
PRESENTATION

One situation is The candidates Each candidate is

Task

Preparation

Oral Presentation
given to all the are given 2 given 2 minutes
candidates. Each minutes to to present
candidate will prepare their his/her opinions.
receive a response
different
suggestion/opinio
n/view/solution
to the situation.

The tasks for Part 1 and Part 2 will be thematically related

 PART 2: GROUP DISCUSSION

A new situation The candidates The candidates

Task

Preparation

Group Discussion
and a mind map are given 3 are given 8 to 12
with five ideas is minutes to minutes to
given to all the prepare their discuss the topic
candidates arguments/points and come to a
group decision
on the best
suggestion/opinio
n/view/solution/
to the situation

Groups may differ in size. There will be two to four candidates in one group. Groups
with two candidates are given 4 to 8 minutes only, while groups with three candidates
are given 6 to 10 minutes only.
SOME USEFUL TIPS FOR MUET
SPEAKING CANDIDATES

* The first minute given to read the

question, make sure to read the
situation given carefully and
understand the requirement of the
question. Underline keywords

* Ask the examiner to explain the given

situation or the meaning of any
words that you are not sure of before
Task A starts.
* Use the provided paper to draw four
boxes like this

A B
C D

* Use each column to write notes for

Task A and Task B

* To brainstorm for ideas in 2 minutes,

use Wh- questions
Ø Who, What, Why, Which, Where,
When, How

# Write at least 2 main ideas with

§ Explanation, Elaboration, Example/s
& Reiteration
* The points mentioned by
a candidate in Task A can
be repeated in Task B.
The points will be taken
as new points by the
examiners.

* Task B is treated as a new

task, so do not attempt
to continue the
discussion by quoting
what other candidates
have mentioned in Task
A.
* Show interest in the
discussion
* Pay attention to what others
are saying
* Respond to other candidates
and quote what other
candidates say
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
STEP 1
* Good morning everyone.
Begin your presentation * Good morning examiners and all my
by greeting the friends.
examiners and *A very good morning to the examiners
candidates. and friends.
STEP 2 * The situation states that…
State the situation/ * Based on the situation given,…
task given * According to the situation given,…
* The situation I have been given is…

STEP 3 * In my opinion,…
Start your presentation * I believe that…
by stating your viewpoint * It is my view that…
or by introducing your * Based on my experience, my opinion is
first point. Then move on that…
to your main point.
To introduce the first point * First of all, I propose…
* For a start, I would like to suggest…
* I would like to begin by…

To signal a main point * My main point is…

* It is important to…
* One important reason is…
* The most important factor is…

To illustrate a point * Therefore…

* This means that…
* This is because…
* On top of that…
* According to…

To provide an example * For example,…

* For instance,…
* One example is…
* Take for example…
* …such as…
To start a new point * Secondly,…
* My next point is…
* Another suggestion is…
* Next, I would like to highlight…
*Another point that I would like
to emphasize is…
* Next, we come to…
* Moving on to my next point, which
is…

To refer to what you have said * As I have said earlier,…

* I mentioned earlier that…
* As I said at the beginning…
* I have pointed out earlier that…

To signal cause and effect * This…in turn can lead to…

* For this reason…
* As a result…
* Due to…
* As a consequence…
* …so that…
* …because of…
To signal that you are * So, what can be done to solve this
about to move on to a problem?
possible solution * What should we do?
*Let’s look at some of the
possible ways…
*Now, let’s consider some
possible solutions

To signal that you are * Thus…

drawing a conclusion * Hence…
from what has been said * Therefore…
earlier * As a result…
* So, we can see that…
* This in turn can lead to…

To conclude * In conclusion…
* In a nutshell,…
* In short,…
* Therefore, my suggestion…
* As a conclusion, I suggest that…
* Let me conclude by saying that…
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO INITIATE A
DISCUSSION IN GROUP INTERACTION

To start a discussion *I would like to start the discussion

by saying that…
* We are here to discuss…
*I would like to express my view
regarding this matter…
* Let’s look at some possible
solutions…
*Let’s begin this/ our discussion
by…
* Allow me to begin…
* May I begin by saying…
To ask for an opinion * What is your opinion?
* What do you think about…?
* What is your view on…?
*May I know your opinion
regarding…?
* What do you feel about…?
* Do you agree that…?
* What do you think we can do to…?
*Would you like to share your opinion
on…?
*Would you like to offer your
comments…?

To give an opinion/ state point of view * I think…

* I believe…
* I must say…
* In my opinion…
* From my point of view…
* I would say that…
* Personally, I feel…
* I am sure that…
* As far as I am concerned…
To express strong agreement * I strongly agree.
* I agree completely.
* That is certainly true.
* Yes. I am sure you are right.
* Absolutely!
* Exactly! I couldn’t agree with you
more…
* You have hit the nail on the head…
* You’ve made your point very clear.
*You have made an absolutely
convincing argument. I completely
agree…

To express agreement * I agree with you.

* You are right.
* That is true.
* I share the same view.
* I am of the same opinion.
* I am glad you mentioned that.
* I see your point.
To express partial agreement * You could be right but…
* That is true but…
* I see your point but…
* You have a point but…
* That may be so but…
* Your suggestion is good but…
* I do not entirely agree with you.
* I agree to a certain extent, but…
* That’s true to a certain extent, but…
• I think you are right to say that.
However,…

To express strong disagreement * I disagree completely.

* That can’t be true at all.
* That is absolutely untrue.
* That’s totally out of the question.
* No. I don’t like this suggestion.
 * I disagree.
* I don’t see it that way.
* I beg to differ.
* I don’t think so.
*I am not convinced that your
suggestion will work.
*This will give rise to other problems.
To express disagreement On the contrary,…
*I understand what you’re saying but
I don’t think that’s practical / the
correct solution.
*I would consider …as more
important…
* I think it would be better if…
* I think you are mistaken.
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO MAINTAIN A
DISCUSSION IN GROUP INTERACTION

To accept ideas/ opinions/ * That’s a good idea.

suggestions * That sounds great!
* That’s fine with me.
* I can’t agree more.
* I support your suggestion.
* I have no objection to that.
* Your suggestion is acceptable to
me.
* I am in favour of Candidate C’s
suggestion.
* That’s a great suggestion. You’ve
got my support.
* You’ve made your point very
clear.
To reject ideas/ opinions/ * I appreciate your opinion but…
suggestions * I do see your point but…
* I understand your concern but…
* That is interesting but…
* You have a good point there but …
* I am sorry, I can’t agree with you.
* I am afraid we do not share the same opinion.
*I am sorry, I can’t accept what you have just
said.

To ask for clarification * What do you mean by…?

* I am sorry I missed your point. Could you
please explain…
*I am afraid I am not quite sure of what you
meant. Could you please clarify…
*Sorry, I don’t follow you. Would you mind
giving an example?
* Can you please explain further on…?
Do you mean to say that…
* May I know why…?
* Do you mind telling me more about…?
* Could you please explain that to me again?
To interrupt *Excuse me, can you please repeat
what you have just said?
* Excuse me, can you please clarify
that?
* Allow me to interrupt…
* Excuse me, but isn’t it true that…
*Sorry to interrupt but I have to say
this…
* Excuse me, could I just ask you a
quick question?
*I am sorry to interrupt but I think
we need to get back to our topic.
*I am sorry I have to stop you. Can
we get back to our topic on…?
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO CLOSE A
DISCUSSION IN GROUP INTERACTION

To conclude * In conclusion,…
* As a conclusion,…
* To conclude,…
* In a nutshell,…

To state a group decision * We all agree that…

(total agreement) * Our decision is that…
* We have decided that …
* We have come to the conclusion that…
* We have come to an agreement that…
To end the discussion *Does anyone have anything else to say?
Otherwise, we shall end this discussion
here
* If you have nothing more to add, we
shall stop here.
*It has been an interesting discussion.
Since we have come to an agreement, I
guess it is time to end our discussion.
*As all of you have come to an
agreement, let’s bring this discussion to a
close.

To close a discussion *Thank you for your contributions to this

discussion.
*Thank you for a fruitful and interesting
discussion.
* Thank you very much for your attention
and participation
 IF NOT EVERYONE CAN AGREE

3 agree 1 disagrees If three candidates agree on one of the

arguments, while one candidate strongly agrees
with a different argument, the ‘leader’ of the
group may conclude the discussion like this:

Example:
‘In conclusion, most of us agree that exercising
moderately is the most effective way to
overcome stress. Thank you for your attention.’
 If two candidates agree on one argument
2 agree, or 2 disagree while the other two candidates agree with
another argument, the ‘leader’ of the group
may say something like this:

Example:
‘To conclude, we are unable to come to a
group decision because some of us believe
that exercising moderately is the most
effective way to overcome stress, because
exercising moderately produces the feel-
good hormone and promotes restful sleep.
The rest of us, on the other hand, are of the
opinion that good time management is the
best way to overcome stress because we
can get things done in a systematic manner
so that work does not accumulate over
time. Thank you.’
 It is also possible that all four candidates
No one agrees with anyone hold strongly to their individual arguments
where all four candidates cannot agree on
one argument. A group decision may not be
achieved at the end of the 10-minute
discussion. The ‘leader’ of the group may
then say something like this:

Example:
‘We are unable to come to an agreement on
the most effective way to overcome stress.
All of us strongly believe in our own views
though we agree with some of the
arguments presented. Thank you for your
contribution to this discussion.’
 THE DOs
Read the given situation carefully
•Understand the requirement of the question
•Write short notes (the main points, explanation,
examples)

Speak confidently
•Organise your ideas before you speak
•Speak clearly
•Finish your sentence

Show interest in the discussion

•Pay attention to what others are saying
•Respond to other candidates and quote what other
candidates say
 THE DON’TS
Conquering discussion
•Not giving the chance for other candidates to speak
•Keep on interrupting before the other candidate can finish
his/ her points

Only focusing on your own points

•Busy writing all the time
•Not paying attention to other candidates’ points
•No eye contact with other candidates throughout the
discussion

Being a passive participant in a discussion

• Wait to be prompted
• Monosyllabic reply/ respond
• Show no interest (facial expression)
* For MUET speaking notes, sample questions and tips
* Go to teslpowerhsbm.blogspot.com
*THAT’S ALL
FOLKS.
THANK YOU.