Techniques of

answering

English language
SPM

PAPER 1
Why do we need to score in
Paper 1?
Marks 85
Writing test
It tests your ability to write good English
Apply your knowledge in delivering
the topics/ contents

Directed writing
Nothing impossible,
just unfamiliar
- Chinese saying

Year

Format

2010 Informal letter

2009 Report
2008 Article

2007 Talk

2006 Informal letter

2005 Informal letter

Scope

Encouraging cousin to take

up National Service
The lack of interest in sports
among students
Write about a friend who
was chosen as the best
student
Science reference book that
is useful for secondary
students
Give reasons to friend why
he/she would make a good
Head Prefect
Tell friend about your threeday outdoor activity camp

Focus
Issues

Discipline problems
Students co-curricular activities
Current issue
Campaign in school
Experience of students
Environmental problems
Health
Science & technology
People
Moral or aesthetic values

Things revolve
among students

SPM 2009
Write a report for the Principal
on the lack of interest in sports
among students in school.

Format - report
Address the principal
Title
Reported by
(f1-f3)

Format (f1 & f2)

30th July 2011

To: The Principle,

SM Seri Jenan.
Ref: Reasons for students not
interesting in Sports

30th July 2011

To: The Principal,

SM Seri Jenan.
Ref: Reasons for the Lack of
Interest in Sports among
Students

Introduction
I am conducted a survey to
get reasons for the lack of
interest in sports among student
in the school. There were 40
students interview in the survey.
The findings of the survey show
there were 3 mains reaons for
the lack of interest given.

I had conducted (past perfect)

survey to identify (vocabulary)
reasons for the lack of interest in
sports among students (PLURAL)
in the school. There were 40
students interviewed (passive)in
the survey. The findings of the
survey show there are (present T)
three mains reasons (Sp) for the
lack of interest shown (voca.)

Reason 1 (c1)
students

- attitude
-lack of time

The first reason was the

(c1) student attitude in
sports. They said that it
was a wasted time. If
they take too much
attention in sports, they
will lack of time to
study.

Your answer

Your answer

Suggestion
The problems mentioned by
students can solved with this
following suggestion. Firstly,
teacher should told students about
the benefits/ importance of taking
part in sports. Teachers need to
stress that sports make our body
strong and health. If we are health
we study better.

The second reason is their parent.

Most of students parents
emphasizes on academic
performance especially in public
examinations. Parents would send
their children t0 tuition classes rather
to the school field. However, they
said that their parents want them to
concentrate on their studies. Taking
part in sports will not give them
good job.

Can you identify

the mistakes in the
paragraph?

The third reason the students gave

is related to sports facilities and
equipment. First, there is not enough
equipment for everyone. Students
have to take turns to use the racquet
or hockey sticks which waste a lot of
their time. Many get bored waiting
while some lose interest and
eventually do not attend practice at
all. Second, students stated that the
field and courts were not maintained
well. They could not practise well or

The problems identified through the

survey can be overcome with the
following suggestions. First, teachers
could talk to their students about the
benefits of getting involved in sports
such as keeping the mind and body
fit and healthy and learning essential
values such as teamwork. Teachers
should also talk to parents to help
them understand the importance of
sports in helping to create wellrounded students.

Second, the school could allocate more funds

to help improve the facilities and buy more
equipment so everyone can have opportunity to
participate. It will also be good idea employ
qualified to employ qualified trainers or coaches
to help students to enjoy each game better.
Third the school could organised more
competition to get students interested in
participating in sports. Competitions are always
fun so this would be a good way to encourage
students to take an interest in sports. In
addition, the school could offer attractive prizes
to encourage participation and reward students
for their performance.

Conclusion
I believe the suggestions are
good measures to encourage
students to take part in sports. I
hope the students will realize the
importance of taking part in
sports .

Closing :

Thank you.
Prepared by, (f3)

What did you see?

Robbery
A fire
An accident

Section B
1. Describe an
unforgettable incident
that you saw on your
way home from school.
(descriptive writing)

report, remember to set out the

report correctly. Include any other
information which you consider
relevant.
-a passenger alighted from a bus
-a motorcyclist overtook the bus from
left
- the motorcyclist rammed into the
passenger
- a man hurt while motorcyclist
escaped from the scene
- someone telephoned for the
ambulance

Retired teacher victim of hit-and-run

BATU PAHAT, Wed A passenger who alighted
from a bus was hit by a motorcycle in a hit-run
accident which occurred along Jalan Permata
earlier today. Mr Tan Kim Tee, a retired school
teacher, was on his way to the bank to cash a
cheque when he was struck and thrown ten
metres. He never reached his destination.
According to eyewitnesses, Mr Tan has just
stepped off when the motorcycle, a racing
model, overtook the stationary bus illegally from
the left and hit him. The motorcyclist did not
even pause to look as Mr Tan was flung to the
side of the road.

Mr Ganesh, 60, a hawker who operates a teh tarik stall

near the scene of the accident, described the accident as
appalling. The poor fellow was groaning by the road. I
think one of the passengers in the bus came down to
help him. I quickly used my hand phone to telephone the
hospital.
Mr Yap See Huat, 35, the passenger who administered
first aid to the victim said the motorcycle had been
following the bus closely for some time as traffic heavy.
According to him, the motorcyclist was very impatient.
He kept swerving from side-to-side, trying to overtake
the bus. He must have thought it was a golden
opportunity when the bus stopped to let Mr Tan alight.
I think Tan has been war he must have broken at least
two bones in his left leg. He looked very shaken. Mr Tan
has been warded in General Hospital and is reported to
be in a stable condition. Later today, police arrested a

Organising your ideas

What happened?
When?
How did it happen?
How many people involved?
Describe the scene and what people (at the scene)

did
The feelings
the victims
- the rescuers
- yours
- the crowd?

Narrative writing
4. Write a story ending
with we said
goodbyes and went our
separate ways.

A Trilogy of Love
From the moment we met in early spring,
as she stepped out of her car and threw
her hair back, I knew I was in love. Her
long dark hair, her beautiful smilewhen
she says hi, Im faint for a while. While
gazing into her soft beautiful eyes as she
spoke, I couldnt help but notice her
laughter that accompanied that
mystifying beauty. Her laughter
echos, the silence awakesher beauty
abound.. just makes my heart ache..

She told me she was from the

mountains in Kentucky and how
much she loved and wanted to return
some day. She comes from the
mountains, A place she calls
homeThis place she loves, where
shes not alone I knew this was a
woman like no other woman in my
life. Shes into my life like a song
and a prayernever before, it just
wasnt there..

In the days that followed, as we strolled

in the park immersed with spring fragrances,
I knew I would never be the same. My life
has changed like flowers in JuneA new
day is here, smell the lilacs in bloom.
I found her not only beautiful but
intelligent and I couldnt stop thinking of
her. As your beauty comes into focus.. My
thoughts are yours, forever yours.
The more I got to know her, the happier I
became. For no one has made me happier,
filling my life as completely As you had
made me, caressing me with your smile
when our eyes meet...

Closing
And now, even though it pains me to think
of her, I will continue to love and honor her
because hope and love are good things and
good things never die. Now, as the sun
settles into night, loneliness reigns, oh! the
pain
All I have left is a song and a prayer
sometimes I wonder what all I can bear
After that moment we said our goodbyes and
went our separate ways.

Beauty
According to Gibran;
"Beauty is eternity; gazing itself in mirror."
But since beauty lies in the eyes of the
beholder', everybody has his own perception of
beauty. The quotation is indeed based on the
universal pillar of wisdom but 'what indeed is
beauty. Maybe it is the beauty Princess Diana
that captured the heart of people of England or
maybe it is the glamorous face of Juliet that
shook the core of Romeo.

Shahjahan. Of course, no getting away from

the top most models of the world who have

mesmerized the people. Is beauty a
mysterious woman with long dark silky hair,
hazel eyes, dimpled red cheeks, rosy lips,
straight back, noble bust and an attractive
face? To me these ideas hold no importance
and are simply fake.

The general idea of mob relating to beauty

is always a damsel. This is where I object. Why
always an attractive girl has to be a model of
beauty. "Why not a cute child with a worriless
face?
Nature, in my view, has bestowed upon
children every droplet of beauty. Children do
not do Yoga, eat fresh vegetables or practice a
dimple studded smile to make their way into
the hearts of the people. A poet has very
rightly observed;

A poet has very rightly observed;

" The cutest thing the world can see,
A child new born to his mother's glee,
With a profile so cute and tension free,
A grudgeless heart the success key."