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*Please note that the content below relates to the MUET writing test before the 2021 format update and change. 

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Apart from practising your essay writing skills, there are some tricks you can adopt to do well in this section. Here are some important MUET writing tips.

Getting familiarised

Make sure you know the structure of the paper like the back of your hand. Understand its basic structure first. Refer to MUET reference books to better understand the format.

Do task 2 first

Start doing task 2 first because it’s worth a lot of marks and it’s easier. Once you’ve completed this section, you’ll feel a lot more confident to tackle task 1. Also, writing your first essay is also more difficult as your train of thoughts have not been organised yet. Doing this will get you started on the right foot.

Don’t waste too much time on task 1

Remember – learning all specific writing structure for each type of task 1 and applying that structure will help you save so much more time. All you have to do is to apply new data and suitable verb tenses. To do well in this, read sample essays and take note of good essay structures.

Never leave out any tasks

No matter how difficult you find the test, never leave out any tasks. If you do, you’ll be penalized heavily.

Practise, practise, practise

Practise both tasks 1 and 2 within an hour. Writing those essays within the time limit at home will give you an idea of how much time you need to gather thoughts, to start writing and to check your final work.

Buy a good dictionary

To be able to write well, you need a wide vocabulary. Invest in a good dictionary or thesaurus. The Oxford and Miriam Webster dictionaries are some of the best ones out there.

Always include…

Each paragraph has to include a topic sentence, 2-3 supporting sentences and development sentences such as examples, experience and data. Although the topic sentence doesn’t always have to be at the beginning of the paragraph, students who are weak in writing are advised to stick to this structure. Don’t try to be overly creative as you might end up making silly mistakes.

Useful links:

Have a go at this MUET writing question and check out the model answer.

Check out our tips to ace your MUET writing test and the below infographic with links to more advice articles: