MUET WRITING QUESTION 1

What do we need to do?

Know the format: Title, Introduction, Overview / Overall trend, Analysis & Synthesis,
Conclusion are very important to produce a 200-words MUET report writing. Let’s have a look
at the items for MUET report writing, one by one. Refer to the sample question.

MUET report writing emphasizes on writing what we find from the stimuli (visuals) given in the
question. Hence the name “report” in its literal sense is actually a report, which requires some
skills in writing.

1 Title
This may be extracted from the given instruction or found in the titles of the given stimuli. In
other words, one may join a title from a visual to another visual. The number of words for the
title is not counted.

e.g Drama Competition Prizes and the Number of Participants (2012-2013)

2 Introduction
A statement that clearly mentions the charts and includes specific data (year/month/week/day)
when introducing the report.
For starters, the following opening sentences can be used;-

 The chart shows.

 Figure 1 shows …. And table 1 shows….
 The visuals illustrate..
 The stimuli demonstrate..

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 e.g The tables show Drama Competition Prizes and number of participants in secondary schools
in 2012 and 2013.

3 Overview and General Trend (use either one)

 Overview
It shows the connection or the link between the visuals. The easiest way to link the idea between
the visuals is to use words like influence, affect or other related words.

e.g The increase in the prize money for secondary schools in the Drama Competition from 2012
to 2013 might have influenced the increase in the number of participants in 2013.

 General Trend
It shows the overall movement or pattern of an item in comparison.

e.g Generally, there was an increase in prize money for all secondary school prizes from 2012 to
2013

4 Analysis

A statement that contains the following items:-

Key Feature (KF) – Refers to the items being discussed

Trend (T) – Refers to the change or movement of the data( item that can be presented
in percentage, frequency of popularity based on week, month or year

What are those items really about for MUET report writing? Just look at the samples below. Key
features are highlighted in green where as the group of data are highlighted in red.

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Observe the Key Features (in green)

What about the trend? I mean the movement of the data? The movement can be categorized into
4; increase, decrease, fluctuate and static. The best way is to use variety of synonyms like
skyrocket, rise, boost, doubled, hike, plummet, plunge, fall etc etc. Let’s look at the examples
below.

The third prize (KF) for primary school(KF) remained unchanged (T) at RM1,000-00 (D) but
there was an increase (T) of RM1,000-00 from RM2,000-00 to RM3,000-00 (D) for secondary
school over the two years (D).

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More examples:

⇒ Both primary and secondary overall best drama prize money doubled from RM1,300-00 to
RM2,600-00 and from RM1,800-00 to RM3,600-00 respectively between 2012 and 2013.

⇒ Secondary school’s second prize money had a higher boost from RM2,500-00 (2012) to
RM4,000-00 (2013) than primary school’s which increased from RM1,500-00 to RM2,000-00
respectively in the two years.

⇒ Perak recorded the most participants in 2012 and 2013 with 29 and 54 respectively.

⇒ Meantime, Kedah charted the least with 11 and 22 participants each in 2012 and 2013.

5 Synthesis

A. Using superlative to compare 2 statements in 2 years that contain the above item. Comparison
can be within the same stimulus as well. The appropriate superlatives (depending on the visuals)
are highest and lowest

e.g. The lowest prize money went to the best actor for both schools at RM400-00 each in 2012.

B. Write a statement by making links (L) between the given stimuli (between visuals)

e.g. The almost double growth in the number of secondary school participants in all states in
2013 was probably due (L) to the increase in prize money from 2012 to 2013.

6 Conclusion

Rephrase the overview or the general trend.

Tip: Use an opposite voice i.e passive or active voice statement when rephrasing the overview.

e.g To conclude, the prize money in 2013 influenced the increase of the number of participants in
secondary schools for year 2012 and 2013.

OR, simply rephrase by using other linking word when linking the ideas.

e.g In conclusion, the increase in prize money from 2012 to 2013 has an effecton the number of
participants in secondary schools in 2013.

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Below are the sample answer for MUET report writing.

Drama Competition Prizes and the Number of Participants in Secondary Schools.

The visuals demonstrate the Drama Competition Prizes and the Number of Participants
for Secondary Schools in 2012 and 2013.

The increase in number of participants for secondary schools from 2012 to 2013 was
influenced by the increase in the prize money for the secondary schools Drama
Competition 2013.

The 1st prize money was recorded the highest in 2012 for primary and secondary
school at RM2500-00 and RM3000-00 and in 2013, it showed a similar trend.
Nevertheless, the best actor recorded the lowest prize money in 2012 for primary and
secondary school each at RM400-00. For the overall best drama, the prize money
increased twofold from RM1300-00 to RM2600-00 and from RM1800-00 to RM3600-00
between 2012 to 2013 respectively. While Perak recorded the most participants in 2012
and 2013 with 29 and 54 respectively, Kedah charted the least with 11 and 22
participants each in same years. Lastly, the third prize for primary school remained
unchanged at RM1,000-00 but there was an increase of RM1,000-00 from RM2,000-00
to RM3,000-00 for secondary school over the past two years.

To conclude, the prize money in 2013 might have influenced the increase of the number
of participants in secondary schools for year 2012 and 2013.

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How do you answer MUET Report Writing for “RANKING” question?

There are so many types of report writing questions and most of the times, the format
used is the same as well; maybe needs a bit of tweaking. Again, the tweaking part is
essential, depending on the type of question you receive.

Instruction: Using only the information given, analyse the World Airline Ranking and compare the
World Airline Awards received by the Airlines. In your answer, you are to link the information
given in the visuals. you should write 150 to 200 words.

Take a look at the above stimuli and then answer these questions.

1. Identify the key features(s)

2. What are the suitable trend words to be used?

3. Any linkers involved?

4. Is there any connection between the 2 stimuli?

5. Which is the suitable data to focus on?

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1) TITLE

Just copy what’s in the instruction. “2011 World Airline Ranking & Award”. Or maybe you
rephrase the idea like this “World Airline Ranking and award in 2011”.

2) INTRODUCTION

Let’s focus on the introduction then. Just take the ideas of the title in table 1 and table 2. Here it
goes..

Table 1 displays the world airline ranking in 2011 while table 2 shows the world airline awards
in the same year.

3)OVERVIEW / GENERAL TREND / OVERALL TREND

What about the overview or overall trend or general trend?

The are several “keywords” that you can use to show the connection between the 2 stimuli like
“influenced”, “influenced by”, “affected”, “affected by”, “correlation”, “corresponded” or
“correlated”.
Now, say if you want to write a general trend based on the stimuli above, please start the
sentence with “Generally” or “In general”. However, based on the question, we can see that the
2 visuals don’t link at all!

Now, lets give it a try:-

Generally, there is no correlation between the world airline ranking and the awards in
2011.
ANALYSIS/SYNTHESIS.

Before we proceed, have you identified the KEY FEATURES, DATA and TREND? Take a
good look..

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Bear in mind, we are dealing with Ranking question. As such, the keyword “rank” or rank-alike
(i.e ranking or ranked) should be in the analyses and syntheses. Same goes to question about
Rating, the word “rate” or rate-alike should be there.

Trend words
Increase
Improve
Decrease
Remain unchange
Same
Higher than
Lower than
Highest
Lowest

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There’s a formula for writing an analysis and synthesis

(Key Features + Trend Word + Data + Time or Year)

ANALYSES

example:
Qatar Airways rank increased from 3rd (2010) to top rank (1st ) in 2011.
Qatar Airways took the lead (1st ) in 2011 world airline ranking.
Thai Airways rank improved from 9th in 2010 to 5th in 2011.
Emirates Airline was ranked the lowest 10th (2011) whereas Turkish Airline was ranked the 10th
in 2010.
Cathay Pacific was ranked the same for both years (2010 and 2011) at 4th.

SYNTHESES

example:
Asiana Airlines was awarded Best Cabin Staff and Best Economy Class in 2011 even though it
ranked 3rd.
Although Emirates ranked the lowest 2011, it was awarded the Best Inflight Entertainment.

Tips.

 Use bracket “( )” for the Year or Data

 Don’t use descriptive word like surpass / consistent / achieved / compared. Instead, just use
trend words given above.
 Don’t write or use “flowery language” as this is not an essay question.

CONCLUSION
Lastly, the conclusion. This part is a lil bit straight forward if you ask me. What I can say is that,
the conclusion should mimic the overview/general trend. Start the sentence by using the word
“Overall” or “In Conclusion”. Refer to the example below.

Overall, the world online ranking in 2011 did not correspond to the 2011 world airline award.

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Study the charts below and write about the dominant hobbies of teenagers in Malaysia and
Thailand. In your writing, compare and contrast the information given. You should write 150 –
200 words.

Figure 1 : Dominant hobbies of teenagers in 1990

Figure 2 : Dominant hobbies of teenagers in 2010

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 Title Dominant Hobbies of Teenagers in Malaysia Extract this from the rubric
and Thailand in 1990 and 2010. or title of the visuals (not
included in the word count)
Introduction Figure 1 and Figure 2 show dominant hobbies Must introduce both visuals
of Malaysian and Thailand teenagers in 1990 (include years and
and 2010. countries)
Overview – Generally, there was a change in dominant Highlight the most significant
/Overall Trend hobbies among teenagers in Malaysia and trend / change in data OR
Thailand in 2010. show the link between
visuals
Malaysia and Thai teenagers shared similar
dominant hobbies in 1990 and 2010.
Overall, the total percentage of teenagers who
preferred the dominant hobbies rose in both
countries in 2010.
Key features, 55% Malaysian teenagers played games in Compare data between
Analysis & 1990 and the percentage rose to 60% in 2010. Figure 1 and Figure 2
Synthesis However , the percentage increase was bigger
for the Thais from 36% (1990) to 45% (2010) .
Both Malaysian and Thai teenagers had the
same 32% for singing and dancing in 1990 but
the percentage doubled to 64% in 2010 for
both countries.
Both Malaysian and Thai teenagers had the
same 32% for singing and dancing in 1990 but
the percentage doubled to 64% in 2010 for
both countries.
In 1990, watching television was the most
favoured hobby for Malaysians and Thais at Synthesis
65% and 50% respectively. In comparison , in
2010 Facebooking was the most dominant
hobby for both Malaysians (70%) and Thais
(66%).
Reading was the least preferred hobby at 30%
for Malaysians and 27% for Thais in 1990
while Twittering had the lowest percentage for
both countries at 45% and 38% in 2010
respectively.
Conclusion In conclusion, Malaysian and Thai teenagers Restate the overview /
had various preferences as their dominant overall trend . Include years
hobbies in both years. and countries
A good report must have the following features:
 The report should have a title, complete introduction, clear overview / overall trend, accurate analysis and
synthesis and a conclusion.
 Highlight all significant Key Features, Analysis and Synthesis effectively within 200 words.
 Present all information clearly and accurately using precise, concise and compact sentences.
 Present only the information given in the visual(s). Do no write personal views or assumptions.
 Use appropriate language and vocabulary to convey the relevant Analysis and Synthesis.
 Write the report in an organised manner to show unity and planning.

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