1.

0 SPM 1119 ENGLISH FORMAT

PAPER

Paper 1
(1119/1)

Paper2
(1119/2)

SECTION

QUESTION

Section A
Directed Writing

1 question

MARK

35 *

Section B
Continuous Writing
(5 choices)
Section A
Graphic Materials,
Short Texts
Signs And
Notices/Phrases
Rational Cloze

1 question

50 *

8 questions

7 questions

Section B
Information Transfer /
Structured Responses

10 questions

10

5 questions
1 question

10
15 *

3 or 4
questions
1 question

5
15 *

Section C
Reading Comprehension
Summary
Section D
(Literature Component)
Poem
Novel

SUB TOTAL

85

70

155

TOTAL
THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING SKILLS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPM
DW(35) + CW(50) + SUMMARY(15) + NOVEL(15)
155

2.0

115
155

74.2 %

SPM - ESSAY WRITING - LANGUAGE

ASPECTS

DETAILS

Accuracy of sentence constructions

Avoid / Reduce errors esp. basic errors - Tenses,
Subject-Verb Agreement

Use simple, compound & complex structures

effectively

PRECISION OF VOCABULARY

Use precisely
Include sophisticated words, idioms & proverbs

MECHANIC OF WRITING

Punctuate accurately and effectively

SPELLING

Accuracy of spelling

READERS INTEREST

Relevant, mature & interesting storyline

LANGUAGE ACCURACY
VARIATION OF SENTENCE
STRUCTURES

3.0

SECTION A : DIRECTED WRITING

YEAR

FORMAT

TASK

2007

TALK

You have been asked by the teacher to give a talk on a reference

book that is useful for secondary students.

2008

ARTICLE

You have been asked to write an article about your friend for your
school magazine.

2009

REPORT

You have carried out a survey on the reasons for their lack of
interest in sports. Based on your findings, write a report to the
Principal regarding the matter.

INFORMAL
LETTER

Your cousin has been chosen to take part in the National Service
Programme and is worried about going. You have decided to
write a letter to tell him/her about the benefits of this programme
and to encourage your cousin to go.

2011

TALK

Your advisor has asked you to give a talk to the Red Crescent
Society members in your school to upgrade their skills in giving
first-aid treatment.

2012

INFORMAL
LETTER

Your younger sister is studying overseas. You have decided to

write a letter to advise her on how to spend her money wisely.

2013

FORMAL
LETTER

You have just returned from a visit to Indah Recreational Park.

You found the park in poor condition. Write a letter of complaint
to the Town Council based on the notes you have made

2014

ARTICLE /
REPORT /
TALK ?

HOTS - Out of school context / not to the principal ?

2010

3.1

DW OF SPM 2013 FORMAL LETTER (for analysis)

You have just returned from a visit to Indah Recreational Park. You found the park in poor
condition. Write a letter of complaint to the Town Council based on the notes you have made .

not enough facilities

- no restaurants
rubbish everywhere
- not enough dustbins
dirty public toilets
- smelly
grass not cut
- snakes
information lacking
- no signposts
vandalism
- public telephones not working
When writing the letter, you should remember to:
- lay out the letter correctly (addresses, date, salutation, title, closing)
- use all the notes given

3.2.1 ELABORATION PRACTICE 1 : TALK

After attending a seminar about study techniques, you have been asked by your teacher to
give a talk to your friends about useful study tips. Use the notes that you took to help you write
the talk
Plan study time
Choose a quiet place
Study in a group
Make short notes
Use colours to highlight important facts
Take 5 minute breaks after every hour
When writing the talk, you should remember:
to use an appropriate greeting and closing
to state the purpose of the talk
to use all the notes given
to elaborate on each note
that the talk is for school students
CONTENT
POINTS

Plan study
time

WHAT

WHEN

WHO

HOW

WHY

What is study
time?

Time?

Who can help to

plan?

How to plan?

Importance of study
time
To discipline
ourselves, to ensure
enough revision for
exams
Importance of a
quiet place

8.00 10.30 pm
A specific period
of time to study
Examples?

Choose a
quiet place

Study in a
group

Make short
notes

Own room,
library

Take five
minutes
break after
every hour

When to study at
the place?
When we need to
be alone to focus

When to study in
group?

Members of the
group

When we need
others
opinion/views

Friends who can

share ideas /
views

Define short
notes

When to take
notes?

Who can help?

Brief notes of
important points

During classes,
seminars or while
studying
When to
highlight?

Use highlighting
pen of different
colours

During revision,
when listening to
lessons in
classes

Analyse time of the

days in a week,
then find a suitable
2-3 hour-slot.
How to ensure a
quiet place?
Be alone, no
talking to friends

What is a study
group?
A group of 3/4
friends to
discuss lessons

Examples?
Use
colours to
highlight
important
facts

Parents,
counsellors

Teachers,
counsellors

Who can help?

The counsellors
can help
identifying key
points to
highlight

What to do in
that five
minutes?
Take a walk,
look at
sceneries

3.2.2 ELABORATION PRACTICE 2 : REPORT

How to study in a
group?
Choose topics that
are open for
discussion, take
turn to present
views
How to take notes?
Understand the
issue, jot down
important points
only
How to highlight
Read paragraphs
or notes, identify
important points
and highlight

To focus and
memorise more
effectively
Why study group?
To get different
views, to train
ourselves to respect
others
views/opinion
Why short notes?
To undertand
important points
better, to focus in
classes / seminars
Why use colours?
Why highlight?
To see clearly later
when doing revision
Why take break?
To relax our eyes, to
recharge our ability
to focus

You have just returned from a visit to Indah Recreational Park. You found the park in poor
condition. Write a report to the Town Council based on the notes you have made.

not enough facilities

rubbish everywhere
dirty public toilets
grass not cut
information lacking
vandalism

When writing the report, you should remember to:

address to the Town Council
give your name as the writer
write a suitable title
use all the notes given

CONTENT
POINTS

WHAT
Examples?

WHEN
When happen?

WHO
Responsible?

Not enough
facilities

Rubbish
everywhere

Dirty public
toilets

Grass not
cut

Information
lacking

Vandalism

3.2.3 ELABORATION PRACTICE 3 : ARTICLE

HOW
Suggestions to
overcome?

WHY
Why problem?

You attended a workshop organised by the Red Crescent Society on how to manage a
sprained ankle. Your teacher advisor has asked you to write an article for your school bulletin
to upgrade the skills in giving first-aid among the students.
Use the notes below to write your article:

calm down
rest ankle
apply ice
bandage ankle
raise higher than hip
no massaging

When writing the article, you should remember to:

give your name as the writer
write a suitable title
end the article appropriately

CONTENT
POINTS

WHAT

WHEN

WHO

HOW

WHY

Calm down

Rest ankle

Apply ice

Bandage
ankle

Raise
higher than
hip

No
massaging

DW-1a

DW-1b

CW-1a

CW-1b

DW-2a

DW-2b

CW-2a

CW-2b

CW-2c

DW-3a

DW-3b

CW-3a

CW-3b

DW-4

CW-4