SPM 2021 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1

P1 Reading and Use of English

Number of items 40
Number of parts 5
Task types 3-option multiple choice (short texts)
4-option multiple-choice cloze
4-option multiple-choice (longer text)
Gapped text
Matching and information transfer
Input Total reading input is approximately 2000-2200 words
Time allowed 1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting 25% of overall exam score

Part Task Type Number of Task Format

Items

1 3-option multiple 8 Eight short texts of no more than 90 words per text,
choice (short texts) each followed by one 3-option multiple-choice item

2 4-option multiple 10 Extended text (250-300 words) with 10 items

choice cloze removed, with four possible options for each item.

3 4-option multiple 8 One extended text (650 – 700 words)

choice (e.g. extract from a novel or magazine) 8 questions
with 4-option multiple-choice items

4 Gapped text 6 A text (350 – 450 words) from which 6 sentences

have been removed and placed in jumbled order
after the text. Candidates decide from where in the
text the sentences have been removed.

5 Matching and 8 Various input types with a total word count of no

information transfer more than 370 words. Tasks could include
completion of notes, diagrams, matching tasks and
short answer questions.

1
Part 1 -Consist of 8 questions on short texts such notice, text message, news
clipping etc.
Testing focuses
 Understand the main points in texts on a wide range of familiar topics
and some unfamiliar topics.
 Understand specific details and information in texts on a wide range of
familiar topics.
 Guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from clues provided by other
words and by context on a
 wide range of familiar topics and some unfamiliar topics.

2
3
4
Part 2 -Consist of 10 questions on extended text (250 to 300 words) testing
grammar, vocab.
Testing focuses
 Guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from clues provided by other words and by
context on a wide range of familiar topics and some unfamiliar topics.

 Recognise with little or no support typical features at word, sentence and text
levels of a wide range of genres.

5
WHAT IS A CLOZE ?
A cloze, or known as cloze test, is an exercise or test which consists of a comprehension of text
where elements or a portion of language have been removed. Then, a candidate is required to
replace the missing language item.

TYPES OF LEXICO : WHAT IS LEXICO-GRAMMATICAL KNOWLEDGE?

Lexico-grammar is a term used in linguistic where lexis (vocabulary) and grammar (syntax ) are
combined into one. At this level, words and grammatical structures are mutually dependent
to each other.

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
 Part 3 -Consist of 8 questions on extended text (650 - 700 words) which is an
extract from a novel, short story or magazine. This part is more of a
comprehension type and with 4-option multiple-choice items

Testing focuses
 Guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from clues provided by other words and by
context on a wide range of familiar topics and some unfamiliar topics.

 Recognise with little or no support typical features at word, sentence and text levels
of a wide range Of genres.

 This part tests lexico-grammatical knowledge.

TIPS
1. Read the passage and do not worry if you come across unfamiliar words. Sometimes, it
is not necessary to understand every word you read.
2. Read the questions carefully. Use cue words, these can be the “wh” words (what, when,
where, why, who, whose, how) and action verbs (identify, find, list).
3. Questions sometimes contain words found in the passage or synonymic. Use these
words to help you identify the part of the passage where the answer can be found.

14
15
16
ANSWER
PART 1
1. A 2. B 3. A 4. A
5. A 6. C 7. A 8. B

PART 2 (GRAMMAR EXERCISES)

1. A 9. B 17. D 25. D 33. C
2. D 10. C 18. C 26. A 34. C
3. B 11. D 19. C 27. C 35. D
4. C 12. B 20. B 28. B 36. C
5. A 13. A 21. A 29. B 37. A
6. C 14. D 22. B 30. C 38. A
7. B 15. B 23. A 31. C 39. B
8. A 16. D 24. C 32. C 40. D

PART 2 (PRACTICE)
9. B 10.D 11.C 12.C 13.A
14.B 15.B 16.A 17.C 18.D

PART 3
19.A 20.C 21.B 22.D
23.B 24.D 25.B 26.C

17