MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY ENGLISH TEST (MUET) Paper 800/4 Writing QUESTION 1: REPORT WRITING

By:

Pn. Patricia Peter S. Gunsanad

SMK Keningau II

Question 1: Report Writing

Task: To write a report based on a stimulus or a few stimuli in about 150 200 words. *Stimulus may include: Charts (pie chart, bar chart) Line graphs Tables Pictograms News headlines
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QUESTION 1 Requirements of Task:

The ability to... 1. identify and highlight key features in graphs/charts. 2. discriminate key features from details in graphs/charts. 3. analyse and interpret information in graphs / charts. 4. identify relationships in graphs/charts. 5. synthesise key features in graphs/charts.

FORMAT OF REPORT
Title By line (optional) Introductory Paragraph Introduction (I) Overview (OV) Body of Content Interpretation, Analysis and

Synthesis of key features in chart / graph / table. Conclusion A brief summary of information 4 presented.

CHECKLIST Introduction Overview Analysis Synthesis Conclusion Linkers

Y/N

Study the charts given below. Using all information conveyed in the charts, write a short report for a university lecturer. You should write in about 150 200 words. Percentage of People in country X who listen to Pop, Rock & Classical music

50 40 30 20 10 0 pop music rock music classical music Male Female 14-24 25-35 36-46 >46 yrs old

Introductory Paragraph
Introduction A general description of

content of chart / graph / table /etc.

The chart provided shows a comparison of the three types of music people from four age groups listened to in Country X.
Overview The general pattern/trend

observed in data given.

Generally (In general), Classical music is far less popular than rock or pop music.
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Content Paragraph
Analysis & interpretation of Key

Features (KFs) A break-down of information Giving meanings to numbers

Interest in pop music is strong (71%) from the 14-24 and 25-35 age groups, with 30% still continuing to listen to pop music after the age of 35.

Synthesis of Key Features Forming a relationship between data

given.
While a fairly balanced percentage of men and women listened to pop music, men dominate rock music with 30% listeners compared to 20% of women.

one of synthesis markers

DO NOT include assumptions / opinion in Content.

Conclusion
A brief summary of information

presented in all charts / graphs / tables / etc.

The young listeners have a stronger preference for pop and rock music while the older generation has a greater preference for classical music.

Do indicate the exact number of

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words.

SAMPLE ANSWER Music Preferences of Listeners in Country X

The chart shows a comparison of the three types of music people from four age groups listened to in Country X. At a glance, we can see that classical music is far less popular than rock or pop music. Pop music commands the highest number of listeners (68%) and followed closely by rock music (50%). While a fairly balanced percentage of men and women listened to pop music, men dominate rock music with 30% listeners compared to 20% of women. Interest in pop music is strong (71%) from the 14-24 and 25-35 age groups, with 30% still continuing to listen to pop music after the age of 35. Interest in rock music reaches its peak of 40% among the 25-35 age group, and an equal percentage of 25% interest among the 14-24 and 36-45 age groups. The pattern is the opposite with classical music in which more interest is recorded among listeners from the 35-45 and the more than 46 age groups. Overall, the young listeners have a stronger preference for pop and rock music while the older generation has a greater 11 preference for classical music.

Sample Question 2 (Southern Bookstore)

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Suggested Answer:

Sales of Reading Materials of Southern Book Store

Introduction: Figure 1 shows the pattern of annual sales of Southern Book Store between 2005 and 2007, while Figure 2 illustrates the sales of four types of reading materials in 2007. Overview: Generally, the increase in sales of reading materials corresponds with the overall increase of annual sales in 2007.
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Key Features:
In 2005, sales remained constant at low of 2000

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copies per month but in 2006, sales fluctuated between 3500 and 5500 copies. In 2007, sales dropped slightly from 3000 to 2000 copies from January to March before it increased significantly to 8000 copies in August and remained constant until December. The first quarter of 2007 recorded the lowest sales of reading materials as shown in Figure 2. The steady increase in sales from April to August 2007 in Figure 1 corresponds with the significant rise in sales of best sellers between the second the third quarter as shown in Figure 2.

 The

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plateau / high stable period in sales between August and December 2007 corresponds with the high sales of best sellers in the second half of 2007 as shown in Figure 2. Best sellers recorded the highest sale of 14000 copies in the second half of 2007/ Total sales of best sellers doubled in second half of 2007. Magazines were least popular among readers in 2007. Sales of textbooks rose steadily in the second half of 2007. Sales of workbooks showed a drop in the second quarter / workbook was less preferred compared to textbook.

Conclusion:
Best sellers contributed significantly /

remarkably to the annual sales of Southern Book Store in 2007.

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Suggested Answer:

Sales of Reading Materials of Southern Book Store Figure 1 shows the pattern of annual sales of Southern Book Store between 2005 and 2007, while Figure 2 illustrates the sales of four types of reading materials in 2007. Generally, the increase in sales of reading materials corresponds with the overall increase of annual sales in 2007. As observed in Figure 1, the annual sales of reading materials showed a significant rise in 2007 compared to 2005 and 2006. Sales remained constant at a low of 2000 copies per month in 2005, but fluctuated between 3500 and 5500 copies in 2006. Meanwhile, sales dropped slightly from 3000 to 2000 copies between January and March 2007 before it increased significantly to 8000 copies in August and remained constant until December. The increase in sales between April and December 2007 corresponds with the substantial rise in sales of best sellers in the second and third quarter, and remained at the highest sale of 14000 copies throughout the second half of that year as shown in Figure 2. In contrast, magazines were the least popular throughout 2007. Likewise, workbook was less preferred compared to textbooks, which rose steadily in the second half of 2007. Overall, best sellers contributed remarkably to the annual 17 sales of Southern Book Store for 2007.

Grading is based on....

Task Fulfilment
Relevance Accuracy Adequacy Appropriacy Conciseness Clarity

Language &

Organisation
Accurate sentence

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structure Varied sentence structure Appropriate vocabulary Appropriate linkers Clear, comprehensible meanings Appropriate paragraphing

Refer to Assessment Guide (Band Descriptors)

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Marking of Sample Answers (Southern Book Store)

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Checklist:
Has the candidate....
fulfilled the required task relevantly? analysed & interpreted the data correctly? given an overall statement of the

charts/graphs/table? presented enough key features? shown any relationship between the data? organised relevant data logically? used language correctly and appropriately? used linkers to connect ideas?
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The End of Question 1

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