MUET Writing Question 1 How to tackle question 1:
A step-by-step guide Step 1
· Analyse the task given
· Study the stimulus and graphic aid. Types of stimuli are likely to be: - Single line graph
- Double line graph
- Bar graph (single double or triple bar graph - Pie chart
- Table - Process
- Short pieces of task Step 2
· Focus on the task given · Jot down on point quickly
Step 3
· Organize your point by numbering them in logical sequence · Insert linkers/connectives
· Your introduction should describe the broad/important trend (s)shown · Do not provide your opinion or the copy words from the stimulus. · Writing your report/article in full. Do not ask bullet points.
Interpretation and outline
Interpretations the bar chart (see interpretation and outline for one stimuli on page 175).
Interpretation the table. Compare and contrast the price of both the imported and local cars from the year 1980 to 2000
· Title
Giver title of the essay · Controlling idea
State the main or controlling idea · Trend
State the trend · Analysis
Provide analysis of the data provided · Conclusion
Summarize main findings Sample Essay
Different modes of commuter transport in Kuala Lumpur
The graph shows the different modes of commuter transport used in Kuala Lumpur 1980, 1990, and 2000.
The tread indicates the growing use of cars for commuting to work
between 1980 and 2000,and the corresponding decline in the popularity of buses from being the most popular mode of transport in 1980 to the least popular in 2000
Train commuter numbers rose from just under 20% in 1980 to about 27% in 1990, but fell to about 23% in 2000 . motorcycle use has bee relatively stable , falling from around 27% of commuters in 1980, to 22% in 1990 , but climbing back to reach 25% by 2000. Car use increased steadily from just over 5% in 1980 to 23% in 1990 , reaching almost 40% by 2000 as prices of imported and local car dropped significantly . this price drop caused an increase in car ownership, and caused the popularity of buses to drop from just under 35% in 1980 to 27% in 1990 and 15% in 2000.
There is a clear correlation between the growing use of cars and the decline in popularity of buses. The use of cars has had the strongest on the public transporting system .
Rose (to) Increased (to)
A rise An increase
Went up (to) Climbed (to) boomed Growth An upward trend A boom (a dramatic rise) Fell(to) Declined(to) Decreased(to) Dipped(to) Dipped (to) Dropped (to) Went down(to) Slumped(to) Reduced(to) A decrease A decline A fall A drop A slump A reduction
Leveled out (at) Did not change (at) Remained steady (at) Stayed constant (at) Maintained the same level A leveling out No change Fluctuated (around) Peaked (at)
Stood at (we use this phrase to focus on a particular point , before we A fluctuation reached a (of) reached at.
mention the movement , for example in the movement for year , Unemployment stood at…..)
Describing the degree of change
ADJECTIVES ADVERBS Dramatic Dramatically Enormous Enormously Steep Steeply Substantial Substantially considerable considerably Adjectives Adverbs Significant Significantly Moderate Moderately Slight Slightly Minimal Minimally
Adjectives Adverbs Rapid Rapidly Quick Quickly Swift Swiftly Sadden Suddenly Adjectives Adverbs Steady Steadily Gradual Gradually Slow Slowly
Useful adjectives to compare and contrast
Positive
Comparative Superlative Cheap Cheaper Cheapest
Large Larger Largest
Good Better Best
Bad Worse Worst
Striking More striking Most striking Profitable More profitable Most
profitable
Describing one part of the chart /graph. Starting with the adjective
The highest The greatest The lowest The most significant The smallest The largest Percentage of Proportion of Number of Men Cars sold Holiday makers Are employed in the executive category. Are blue Come from Sabah
Starting with the subject
Red is the professional is the Mexico is the More Far more Much more Many more A lot more Substantially more Considerably more Significantly more Slightly more fractionally more Most second /third most least men holiday makers Popular Most prevalent Common Are employed in the manufacturing sector Come from Mexico Car colour. Employment category Holiday destination Than…
Starting with the subject
Blue cars are Men are Kajang is As quite as just as nearly as almost as not as Common Popular prevalent As More Much more Far more Substantially more Considerably Than….
more Slightly more Fractionally more less Much less Far less Considerably less Fractionally less Guidelines Dos
· Spend about 5 minutes reading the graph (s) or chart (s) and prepare your answer.
· Write in your own the data is about.
· Understand what the axes on the graph (s) or the percentage in the pie chart (s) represent.
· Understand what the important stages of the flowchart or diagram are, and that you know order they all came in.
· Focus on the key information or important trends. · Look for ways to compare data.
· Use sequence expressions such as ‘first of all’, ‘after that’, ‘at the same time’, ‘next’, ‘finally’, etc. when describing a process or flow chart.
· Think about tenses and time, particularly when comparing data. · Describe and report information.
· Organize your information clearly. You will need an : (1) introduction (2)body (3) conclusion
· Read through what you have written. Don’ts
· Don’t start writing immediately.
· Don’t repeat the same words in the chart in your essay.
· Do not include information that is not on the graph, diagram or chart. · Don’t give opinions.
