ENHANCING MUET

PERFORMANCE

Reading 800/3
Prepared by:
Mdm. Audrey Koh Sui Ean
B. Education TESL (Honours) UK

Reading Carries the

Highest Weightage.. 40%
6 Sections x 45 questions x 1 hours:
1. One passage with graphics (Non-Linear)
2. 5 Comprehension passages
Question types:
1. 3 option objective questions
2. 4 option objective questions

3-Option MCQ
This questioning technique is introduced to really
challenge candidates reading ability.

1.True
2.False
3.Not stated
Read very carefully before
choosing the right answer.
* Do not use your general knowledge to answer the
question, if it is not in the passage, dont assume you
know the answer by choosing the one that is
logically right.
Select NOT STATED if it CANNOT BE FOUND in
the passage or stimuli.

Information Transfer Tip No. 1:

Identify the type
of non-linear
forms used.

NON-LINEAR
FORMS:
1.TABLES
2.PIE CHARTS
3.FLOW CHARTS
4.BAR GRAPHS
5.LINE GRAPHS
6.PICTOGRAMS

Information Transfer Tip No. 2:

Learn the vocabulary commonly used in
information transfer exercises.

Rise
Go up
Gain
Increase
Improve
Escalate
Incline

Fall/Drop
Go down
Loss
Decrease
Depreciate
Deteriorate
Decline

More than
Higher than
Most
Highest
Largest

Less than
Lower than
Least
Lowest
Smallest

 Constant
Stable
Equal

Steady
Gradual
Slight
Maintain
Minimum
Marginal

Sharp
Drastic
Steep
Strong/Weak
Maximum
Record High/
Record Low
Doubled/2
Times
Tripled/3
Times
Quadrupled/
4 Times

Erratic
Fluctuating

(+)
Profit
Growth
Production
Increment
()
Loss
Claims
Expense
Expenditur
e

Cost
Spent
Incur
Paid In
Paid Out
Trade
Invest
Import
Export

Start/Beginning
Mid/Middle
End/Ending
Quarterly (1/4)
Half (1/2)
Weekly
Fortnightly (2 Weeks)
Monthly
1st Quarter (Jan-Mar)
2nd Quarter (Apr-Jun)
3rd Quarter (Jul-Sept)
4th Quarter (Oct-Dec)
Annually (1 Year)
Biannually (2 Years)
Decade (10 Years)
Century (100 Years)

Reading Comprehension
Usually the difficulty level of the
comprehension passages will
increase with each passage.
For each passage, there will be 7-8
questions that cover:
1. Content
2. Vocabulary
3. Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 1

Answers usually follow the sequence
i.e. Read the passage carefully as the
answer for the 2nd question is usually
found between the answers for Q1 & 3.
eg. If the answer for Q1 is in LINE 5 and
Q3 is in LINE 20, then the answer for
Q2 is most likely around LINE 6 TO 19.

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 2

Use the anaphoric (before) or
cataphoric (after) referencing
technique
to find the answer.

Anaphoric reference (before the word):

A study was conducted on 200 Malaysian
respondents. The researchers conducted the
survey by giving them questionnaires to answer.
1) The word them refers to
a) the study
b) the respondents
c) the survey
d) the questionnaire

Cataphoric reference (after the word):

It is one of the most common sleep
disorders and a major health problem. In
fact, insomnia affects normal rest patterns
and as a result insomniacs find it difficult to
fall asleep.
1) The word It refers to
a) sleep
b) health
c) insomnia

Reading Comprehension TIP No.3:

When you cannot locate the answer directly you need
to infer, i.e. make intelligent assumptions.
Eg. Many people bought the product. Profits increased
due to high sales.
All of the following statements are false except:
a. The product was a failure.
b. The product was a success.
c. The product was expensive.
d. The product was easy to use.
* Pay attention to words like except and not as it may
trick you into choosing the wrong answer. Other common
phrases used include: Which of the following is true?

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 4

For Vocabulary:
Eg. The word ___ in line 3 refers to
1. Eliminate impossible answers.
2. Identify the root word.
3. Identify prefixes and/or suffixes.
4. Use anaphoric or cataphoric
referencing.
5. Select the most likely answer.

Can you break this word down?

deforestation
forest root word
de to remove
-ation noun to show process
ie. Deforestation is the process of removing
trees from the forest.

Now can you figure this word out?

degradation
grade (level of quality) root word
de to remove
-ation noun to show process
ie. Degradation is
the decrease of quality of something.

Now can you figure this word out?

desalination
saline (salty water) root word
de to remove
-ation noun to show process
ie. Desalination is the process of removing
salt from water.

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 5

For Prediction:
Eg. A suitable title for the passage is
______.
Read the text carefully before selecting
the best title.
Drawing Conclusion:
Eg. It can be concluded that ______.
Read the entire text carefully
before summing it up.

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 6

For Writers Style:
Eg. The writer develops his ideas using
A compare and contrast
B problems and solutions
C cause and effect
D timeline
You need to read the text carefully to
see the writers line of argument.

Reading Comprehension Tip No. 7

For Writers Tone:
Eg. The writers purpose is to
A support
B inform
C go against
D persuade
You have to think about the writers
main intention of writing the text.

GENERAL TIPS
The ONLY ways to improve are:
1.READ, READ & READ SOME MORE. (read at
least 1 newspaper a day &1 book a week)
2.PRACTISE, PRACTISE & PRACTISE EVEN
MORE. (do each reading comprehension test
TWICE, 1st time without referring to dictionary or
friends, 2nd time with reference. Logically, the 2nd
try will be higher than the 1st or there is
something wrong with.YOU!

If you do well
in reading,
half the battle is
won!
Good Luck!