What Is The MUET Speaking Test?
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MUET is the Malaysian University English Test that is usually taken by pre-university students who intend to pursue a degree programme at a local university.
Similar to most English proficiency tests, MUET evaluates a range of language skills through four different papers.
Paper 1: Listening
Paper 2: Speaking
Paper 3: Reading
Paper 4: Writing
Do note that each paper carries an equal weightage of 25%. The highest score you can get is a MUET Band 6 which represents the average scores of all four components. While the listening, reading and writing papers are taken on the same day, the speaking test is usually taken on a separate day with allocated time slots.
In this article, we’re focusing on MUET Paper 2 which assesses your English speaking skills. Don’t miss out on some of our favourite MUET speaking tips as well as sample questions and answers to help you prepare for the test!
The MUET Speaking Test Format
The MUET Speaking test is 30 minutes long and consists of two parts. It aims to assess your ability to share ideas verbally and interact in small group discussions. The test is usually done in groups of four.
The topics used in the test can be diverse but rest assured, you will find them rather familiar as they are often themes or topics that you would’ve encountered in high school or in your daily life.
MUET Speaking Test Part 1: Sample Question And Answer
In Part 1, you will be given a prompt for you to respond to individually. You will have 2 minutes to prepare and then 2 minutes to present and share your response.
Here is a sample question for Part 1:
The first thing you should do once you get your question is understand the task requirement. In the example above, you’re required to talk about the importance of what and when people eat so make sure your answer matches the task in the MUET speaking question. One way to ensure that you stay on topic is to plan and outline what you intend to say during the preparation time.
Once the 2 minutes preparation time is up, you can begin by giving a short greeting. A simple ‘Good day everyone’ is enough at the beginning of your presentation. For a sample response to the question above, click here to watch a full simulation video of the MUET speaking test.
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MUET Speaking Test Part 2: Sample Question And Answer
In Part 2, you will participate in the small group discussion based on the given question. If you’re worried about not having any ideas to talk about, don’t be. You will find five prompts or keywords in the form of a mind map in the question paper to help guide your thoughts.
You will have 3 minutes to prepare your points and 8-12 minutes to discuss them with the other candidates.
Here’s a sample question for Part 2:
As you can see, candidates are also asked to conclude their thoughts at the end of the discussion. You don’t have to all agree on one point of view, nor do you have to strive to convince the other candidates to agree with you. You should instead focus on presenting your own points and opinions clearly during the discussion.
To watch an example of a MUET Part 2 discussion based on the prompt above, click here. That should give you a better idea of how to approach Part 2 of the MUET speaking test.
MUET Speaking Test Tips
Tip 1: Use the preparation time effectively
During the preparation time, avoid writing full sentences, as this will take time, and you may end up reading monotonously instead of speaking naturally.
You should instead write down your ideas in bullet points with keywords and phrases that you can refer to while speaking. If you’ve read our previous articles, you may have come across the acronym PEEC which stands for Point, Explanation, Examples and Conclusion. You may find it helpful to use this structure to outline and expand your points.
During the speaking test, you should prepare at least two full points with elaborations. However, you’re recommended to think of an additional point or two in case you find yourself having more time to speak during Part 1 of the test.
Tip 2: Use sentence connectors and linking words
Similar to essay writing, sentence connectors and linking words can help keep your thoughts well-organized and your presentation easily understood. Here are some of the words that you can use:
First, …
Next, …
My second point, …
Now, I’m going to talk about …
In addition, …
For example, …
Finally, …
In conclusion, …
To sum it up, …
Reminder: It’s more important to be clear in your speech. So avoid trying to use unfamiliar bombastic words during your MUET speaking test just for the sake of it.
Tip 3: Use sentence starters
Have an opinion to share but are not sure how to begin talking? For part 2 of the MUET speaking test, you will need to join in the discussion so here are some sentence starters that you can use to help you.
I agree with Candidate A …
I would like to add to Candidate B’s point …
I have another view/In another point of view, …
Besides that/In addition, …
I would also like to highlight …
I can share another example …
Tip 4: Stay calm and collected
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When you’re speaking, it’s completely normal to stumble over a word or two especially when you’re feeling nervous. If that happens, don’t panic and don’t let it affect the rest of your speaking test.
Always remember to breathe and if you need to take a quick pause, that’s ok. Stay calm and continue speaking once you’re ready.
Tip 5: Practice and practice more
The key to success when it comes to the MUET speaking test is practice, practice and practice. Give yourself different topics or prompts, and try speaking about them to increase your confidence and fluency. You can time yourself, record yourself or practice with a friend or family member.
