MUET speaking _TASK B_Group Discussion

To all my students who are going to sit for MUET speaking

My S114 PST students

Here are some tips for group discussion:

1. Remember to start with a clean slate.

1.1 For e.g. Candidate C who kick-starts the conversation should not say that he/she agrees with Candidate A's point of views (POV) because in Task B Candidate A might change his/her POV

2. It is a discussion and thus not another round of individual presentation.

2.1 So, please use language forms and functions. Examples

To ask for opinion: “What do you think, Candidate D?”

To interrupt: “Excuse me, I would like to interrupt”

To disagree: “I don’t see eye to eye with you”

To ask to repeat information: “Can you please repeat your points?”

To seek for clarifications: “Do you mean…?”

3. Dead air is not good in group discussion. Dead air means there is a complete silence. If everyone agrees on one point and has no more supporting points to share, perhaps one candidate can lead the group members to talk about other points.
    3.1 Example:

          Question: Discuss ways to overcome tiredness. 
When everyone has agreed and shared all opinions on one point which is “having a good night sleep and rest” will be the best way to overcome tiredness. Therefore, nothing else to talk about this particular point but you still have time to discuss. So, one of the Candidates can lead the group members to talk about another point.

“I think we shall not overlook another point which is ‘having healthy eating habits’ to overcome tiredness. Research has found that numerous vitamins and minerals deficiencies can contribute to fatigue. Lack of vitamin B12 may cause tiredness and if untreated for a long period can lead to brain damage. Do you see eye to eye with me Candidate B?” (Share some supporting points, then pass the turn to another candidate)

4. When your brain goes blank due to anxiety, it can interrupt your ability to perform. So, when it comes to your turn to speak, you can ask the earlier candidate (before you) to repeat his/her information.

        4.1 Example: Can you please repeat your points?

         CAUTION: You cannot do it many times as you need to give           contributions to the discussion. Perhaps you can use it once             or twice.

5. You can help your friends audibly. You don’t have to whisper to your friends.

       5.1 Example: Suggest some words to a candidate who is groping                            for the right words, “Do you want to say ‘occur’”?

       5.2 Example: A candidate giving points that are not clear but you                          could understand him/her. You can help to clarify,                             “You mean ..., am I right?”

       5.2 Example: If your friend's stand or point of views are not clear, you may seek for clarifications

Candidate A: Having a positive attitude can make you happier because positivity may … What do you think Candidate C?

Candidate C: I disagree with you Candidate A, because I believe being grateful will make people happy. When you are grateful, you will be content…Candidate D, would you like to share your ideas? 
Candidate D: I believe that positive attitude can help us to think about good things about ourselves and other people...

Candidate B: So, Candidate D, do you mean that you agree with candidate A but disagree with Candidate C?

6. You know your friends/group members. So, before you go for speaking test, decide who is going to kick-start and who is going to conclude the discussion (two different candidates). Don’t decide on the spot by giving signals to friends. Get a weaker candidate to initiate the discussion and another weaker candidate to conclude. So, a dominant speaker will not conquer the entire discussion.

7. If you notice your group discussion is going off at a tangent, you can lead your group members to the right track. 
    7.1 Example:

          Question: Discuss television programmes that are useful in                               our daily lives.

 Candidate A: Television programmes for travelling can help us to learn more about other countries... and thus it is useful for our daily lives.

Candidate C: Yes, definitely. Travelling to overseas can help to widen our knowledge...* going off at a tangent

Candidate D: I agree with you. Paris is a good place to travel… *going off at a tangent

Candidate B: I think we should answer the question of why travelling is the most useful television programmes for our daily lives. I concur that incorporating travel inspiration into everyday life … (trying to lead group members to the right track)

8. Disagree or agree or partially agree

      8.1 Many candidates state that they AGREE with other                          candidates’ point of views BUT actually their points are                    showing otherwise.

         e.g. “I agree but…” X

        So, please BE CLEAR with your stand whether you agree or            disagree! If you partially agree then you have to explain to                which extent.

9. If you are afraid that you may not have much to discuss in Task B, you may disagree with each other’s point of views to a certain amount of time and subsequently choose the strongest/ stronger point(s) to agree with. But don’t agree abruptly in the end. Make sure you agree with some supporting points given.

10. At the end of a discussion, you may get consensus or 2vs2 or   3vs1 or each adamant with their own points. Don’t worry   because any of it can be your conclusion. For example “To   wrap it up, we could not get consensus in the end of the         discussion whereby…”

11. Don’t set alarm on your smartwatch to time yourself or group     discussion. It would be annoying.

12. Don’t show your bad habits. For example, shaking legs,                spinning a pencil around your fingers, etc.

13. Don’t lose your composure.

You need to be tactful and quick-witted in a discussion.
Dear students who are going to sit for MUET speaking tomorrow,
I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the best! Break a leg!

PS, If I had shared the tips verbally with you in class, but I missed it here, please help to remind me. 

Q1: REPORT WRITING - MUET NOV 2016

Q1: REPORT WRITING - MUET NOV 2016

There are various ways of writing the same OVs, As and Ss. You may share your thoughts as these are just suggested answers and they are not final.

I think this question can be either market share influenced profiles or market share influenced by profiles. However, YOU MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR STAND choose either one between: market share influenced profiles or market share influenced by profiles in your whole report writing.

*You can try to memorise the sentence structures if you are weak in English. Caution: You shall not memorise the sentence structures unless you are a Band 1 or Band 2 candidate.

Market Share and Profile of Four Hypermarkets in Malaysia

            The visuals illustrate the market share of four hypermarkets (2008-2014) and their profiles in 2008 and 2014. Generally, number of stores and workers influenced the market share of the four hypermarkets in 2008 and 2014.

            The market share of Super was the least (16%) in 2008 and 2014 (15%) because it had the lowest number of stores and workers, 6 and 150 in 2008, and 5 and 140 in 2014 respectively. Meanwhile, Prosper’s market share rose from 31% (the highest) in 2008 to its peak (40%) in 2014 due to increasing number of stores and workers from 35 to 75 stores and 1000 to 2000 respectively. However, Premium Hypermarket had a reduction in the number of stores from 10 to 9 and workers from 250 to 220 in 2008 and 2014 respectively. So, it resulted a decrease of its market share from 25% (2008) to 17% (2014). In 2008 and 2014, Mighty Hypermarket had the same number of workers (1000 respectively) and almost the same number of stores (32 and 33 respectively). Therefore, its market share in 2014 was the same as 2008 (28% respectively)

In conclusion, the market shares of the four hypermarkets were influenced by their profiles in 2008 and 2014.

(203 words)

Market Share and Profile of Four Hypermarkets in Malaysia

Figure 1 shows the market share of four hypermarkets (2008-2014) while Table 1 displays their profiles in 2008 and 2014. Generally, the market shares of the four hypermarkets affected the number of stores and workers in 2008 and 2014.

       In 2008 and 2014, Prosper’s stores rose from 35 to 75 and the workers employed doubled from 1000 to 2000 because its market share increased from 31% (its highest) to 40% (the peak) respectively. Conversely, a reduction of Premium's workers from 250 to 220 and stores from 10 to 9 in 2008 and 2014 respectively was due to a drop of 8% in its market share (from 25% to 17%). Since Mighty's market share remained unchanged at 28% in 2018 and 2014, it had the same number of workers in 2008 and 2014 (1000 respectively) and a slight increase of stores from 32 (2008) to 33 (2014). Super Hypermarket had the least market share in 2008 (16%) and 2014 (15%). Thus it had the least number of stores and workers, 6 and 150 in 2008 and 5 and 140 in 2014 respectively. 

In conclusion, the profiles of the four hypermarkets were influenced by their market shares in 2008 and 2014.

(199 words)

Question 1: Report Writing - Mid Year 2009

REPORT WRITING

There are various ways of writing the same OVs, As and Ss. You may share your thoughts as these are just suggested answers and they are not final.

MID YEAR 2009

Study the following charts. Using only the information given, write about Southern Book Store’s annual sales of reading materials. In your writing, you are to link the data presented in both charts. You should write 150 to 200 words.

Southern Book Store’s annual sales of reading materials

                The graphs show annual sales of Southern Book Store (2005-2007) and sales of reading materials in 2007. Generally, the trend depicts the increase in annual sales in 2007 corresponds with the growth in sales.

In 2005, sales remained constant at 2000 copies per month but in 2006 sales fluctuated between 3500 and 5500 copies. In 2007, the number of copies dipped 1000 copies from January (3000) to March (2000) because of the lowest sales of reading materials (best sellers, textbooks, workbooks, magazines) at about 7500. Best seller shot up to the highest sales at 14000 copies between 3^rd and 4^th quarter of 2007 respectively. Therefore, it had contributed largely to the total annual sales for Southern Book Store as the sales rocketed to 8000 in August and then plateaued at 8000 copies until December. In the 3^rd and 4^th quarter of 2007, the second largest of sales in reading materials was textbook (5000 and 7000 copies respectively) and thus it would be the second largest contributor of the annual sales from August to December.

In conclusion, best seller contributed significantly to the annual sales of Southern Book Store in 2007.

(190 words)