MUET

Malaysian University English Test (MUET), first launched in 1999 and administered by
Malaysian Examinations Council (Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia), is a test to measure
candidates’ English language proficiency. MUET is taken by students who intend to
pursue their tertiary education at local public universities since it is a mandatory test
to gain entry into degree courses offered at all Malaysian public universities. This test
is carried out twice a year, in April/May and October/November. Candidates usually
register through their academic institutions while private candidates through State
Education Departments (Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri), with a registration fee of RM60.

Unlike International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) which are globally accepted as the certification of English
language proficiency, MUET is recognized only in Malaysia and Singapore (National
University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management
University).

MUET consists of four components: listening, speaking, reading and writing. New test
specifications have been introduced officially and will apply from MUET
October/November 2008 onwards while old test specifications will still apply for MUET
October/November 2007 and April/May 2008. The table below shows the detailed
comparison between new and old format of MUET.

Old Test New Test Possible

Test
Specifications Specifications Genres
Listening 45 marks 45 marks Lecture,
(800/1) briefing, talk,
Duration: 30 minutes 30 minutes discussion,
Weighting: 15% 15% interview,
Number of 3 5 telephone
texts: conversation,
Number of 15 20 announcement,
questions: instructions,
Question Four-option - Information advertisement,
type: multiple-choice transfer news, meeting,
- Short answer documentary
- Four-option
multiple-choice
- Three-option
multiple choice
Speaking 45 marks 45 marks Contemporary
(800/2) issues
Duration: 30 minutes 30 minutes
Weighting: 15% 15%
Number of 2 2
tasks:
Task A: Individual A: Individual
format: presentation presentation
B: Group B: Group
interaction interaction
Reading 135 marks 120 marks Articles from
(800/3) journals,
Duration: 120 minutes 90 minutes newspapers and
Weighting: 45% 40% magazines,
Number of 4 6 shorter texts academic texts,
texts: (at least one text electronic texts
with graphics)
Number of 50 50
questions:
Question - Cloze - Three-option
type: - Information multiple-choice
transfer - Four-option
- Four-option multiple-choice
multiple-choice
Writing 75 marks 90 marks Report, article,
(800/4) letter, essay
Duration: 90 minutes 90 minutes
Weighting: 25% 30%
Number of 2 2
questions:
Question Task 1: Task 1:
type: Summary of not Interpretation
more than 100 of information
words based on
Task 2: specific stimuli
Extended provided (no
writing not less than 150
fewer than 250 words)
 words Task 2:
Extended
writing based on
a given topic (no
less than 350
words)

Candidates are rated into six bands – band one being the lowest and band six being
the highest -- according to their test scores. The total score is 300 and the table
below shows MUET band description.

Aggregated
Band Description
Score
Very good user - Very good command
of the language. Highly expressive,
fluent, accurate and appropriate
6 260 - 300 language: hardly any inaccuracies.
Very good understanding of language
and contexts. Functions extremely well
in the language.
Good user - Good command of the
language. Expressive, fluent, accurate
and appropriate language but with
5 220 - 259 minor inaccuracies. Good
understanding of language and
contexts. Functions well in the
language.
Competent user - Satisfactory
command of the language. Satisfactory
expressive and fluent, appropriate
language but with occasional
4 180 - 219
inaccuracies. Satisfactory
understanding of language and
contexts. Functions satisfactorily in the
language.
Modest user - Modest command of the
language. Modestly expressive and
fluent, appropriate language but with
3 140 - 179 noticeable inaccuracies. Modest
understanding of language and
contexts. Able to function modestly in
the language.
 Limited user - Limited command of the
language. Lacks expressiveness,
fluency and appropriacy: inaccurate
use of the language resulting in
2 100 - 139
breakdown in communication. Limited
understanding of language and
contexts. Limited ability to function in
the language.
Extremely limited user - Poor
command of the language. Unable to
use language to express ideas:
inaccurate use of the language
1 Below 100 resulting in frequent breakdowns in
communication. Little or poor
understanding of language and
contexts. Hardly able to function in the
language.

Students that have taken MUET are eligible to be enrolled into degree courses offered
at local public universities as long as their CGPA for Diploma STPM or Malaysian
Matriculation examinations are good enough to fulfil the entry requirement. The
difference between all these bands is that students from band 1 and 2 have to take
two extra English courses during holidays while band 3 and 4 students take one extra
course. Students with band 5 or 6 can skip the extra English course. Some competitive
degree courses like medicine and pharmacy, however, require students to get band 5
or 6 in MUET.