Thursday, August 24, 2006
Band 5 for MUET
I had wanted to share this a long time ago. Since nobody has started to share their personal experiences yet, I'll start off with mine.
First, let me explain what MUET is. MUET is short for Malaysia University English Test. This is compulsory for all students who intend to enter Malaysian universities. I expect all Form 6 and matriculation students will know what I'm talking about. There are 6 bands for MUET. If you get band 1 and 2, you fail the test. Band 3 means just passing. The highest band is band 6 (more than 85%).
My English has always been relatively good. Not extremely good, but still, better than my classmates and most of my peers. To tell the truth, I was aiming for band 6 for MUET. At first I thought that a band 6 was impossible, but since last year they sort of lowered the standard, I began to feel that it was achievable. And it certainly would be a feather in my hat if I had a Band 6 cert in hand when applying for a university, or even for a job.
After a few exams, I was confident that getting a band 6 was within the range of my ability. I don't mean that I was certain I would get a band 6, I just knew it was possible. For every school exam that was graded accordingly, I managed to get a band 6, and was constantly improving towards the date of exam. My MUET teacher in school was expecting me to be able to get a band 6 too. I was satisfied with the results of my school exams, mostly because I knew that my MUET teacher did not give lenient marks. She gave us the marks we should get, and nothing less, nothing more. But being pleased with my results in school was not enough, the important thing was to get the same results for the real thing, the actual MUET that cost RM 60 to sit for, which is more expensive than any STPM paper I'm going to sit for this year.
The day came. I was a bit overwhelmed with the style of the questions, they were not quite the same as what I did before. Still I managed to finish the papers on time. I still remember what my classmates who said around me said. They told each other that I'm on the way to getting a band 6! In fact, before that, most of them were certain that was what I'll achieve. I remembered that when I was writing out my essay, I was rather short of time towards the end. I thought I had half an hour more to go! Luckily for me, the examiners started handing out strings for us to tie up our papers 20 minutes before time. I felt that that was queer - why are they giving us the strings so early? That was when I checked the time and oh my! I hurried on with my writing. My essay ended up complete, but less expressive than usual. The Speaking test was on another day. It was quite easy, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
Last month the results came out. Instead of the desired band 6, the online check revealed that I had a band 5 instead. I didn't know what to expect, so I can't say I was too upset over that. I remember the response from my friend who was online at the same time. We were chatting via the MSN messenger. He said, "... something must be wrong." He got a band 5 too. "Nothing is wrong," I replied. For in my heart, I knew that was true. God had given me a band 5. And if he had given me a band 5, that's the band for me and I must learn to accept it.
However, this was just the beginning. It wasn't too bad to know I got band 5. But to hear that tons of others (who are usually quite behind me in school exams) got the same band was a little bit too much for me. Actually the word 'tons' is an exaggaration. There are only about 8 people out of around 150 or so but that's bad enough. Instead of standing above the rest with a sparkling band 6, here I am, on same footing as they are, with a common band 5! "Thank God for the results," was what my friend told me. I can't remember his exact words. That's what I did, at once. When my mind was still blurred I thanked God without being actually sure of what I'm thanking God for. But now I know!
But before I reveal to you the reasons why I'm giving thanks to God, let me carry on with my narration first. Be patient, it's almost finished! When I got my result slip, I was only missed band 6 by 5 marks. I had the highest mark in school. My teacher felt that I should get more than 50/70 for the writing paper. "You must have got a stingy examiner," she said. "You should have easily got at least 60 and above." That was the part which pulled me down. Anyway, all that was no use now as we couldn't even appeal for the results to be checked over. The only alternative was to resit the exam, which I don't think is neccessary. I did very well in the reading and speaking papers, and got near maximum marks. As for the listening paper, my performace was only moderate.
I admit I was rather upset over the results towards the end, partly because it hurt my pride, and partly because I had a very good tuition teacher who took the trouble to coach me out of the kindness of her heart. She also expected me to get a band 6, and I didn't seem to be, well, bearing the fruits of her labour.
Whatever it is, all this was no coincidence. It happened out of God's will. And God's will is always perfect, the best he could want for us.
The reasons I'm giving thanks to God:
1. Because of the band 5, which is a very good band, and is sufficient to ensure me a place in U (provided my STPM results are also satisfactory), and enough to find a job. I even qualify as an English teacher!
2. Because it's a timely reminder. I've been neglecting my relationship with God at that period, and this is a reminder for me to refocus on him instead of struggling on myself. Once I saw the results, I felt deep down that this is the reason.
3. Because it inspires me to do better in STPM. I felt that I had to work hard, to avoid another disappointment!
4. Because it brought to me the warmth of friendship. One of my friends called me up to 'comfort' me after he knew. I was very touched, though somehow I found it funny at the same time. Comfort someone with a high band! That showed how he cared as a friend. Usually people will say,"You've already got a band 5, that's good enough! It's better than what most people will get." But this guy was kind enough to remember the not-so-happy person with a band 5, as well as the unhappy ones who failed! I really thanked God for him. In fact, I felt that it was worth the band 5 to just receive that call. It also reminded me to learn to be someone like that too.
5. Because God may have forseen the consequences if I have got a band 6. The most probable one - I might have been too proud! That's not impossible, I find it very easy to be proud of myself. (So everyone, think twice before praising me!) I've been trying to control this for a few years, and it's pretty much OK now though. God gave me enough, just enough to avoid my being too proud of myself. This is a lesson of humility. I had and will be using English a lot now, so before I begin to get too proud of this linguistic ability, God used the MUET to humble me first.
There are many more such reasons, but these are the main ones. Now MUET is long over and STPM is coming up! So to all of you who are also studying, work hard! God will take care and provide for our future, but we've got to put in some effort first. So may the Lord be with all of you! And all glory be unto His name!
First, let me explain what MUET is. MUET is short for Malaysia University English Test. This is compulsory for all students who intend to enter Malaysian universities. I expect all Form 6 and matriculation students will know what I'm talking about. There are 6 bands for MUET. If you get band 1 and 2, you fail the test. Band 3 means just passing. The highest band is band 6 (more than 85%).
My English has always been relatively good. Not extremely good, but still, better than my classmates and most of my peers. To tell the truth, I was aiming for band 6 for MUET. At first I thought that a band 6 was impossible, but since last year they sort of lowered the standard, I began to feel that it was achievable. And it certainly would be a feather in my hat if I had a Band 6 cert in hand when applying for a university, or even for a job.
After a few exams, I was confident that getting a band 6 was within the range of my ability. I don't mean that I was certain I would get a band 6, I just knew it was possible. For every school exam that was graded accordingly, I managed to get a band 6, and was constantly improving towards the date of exam. My MUET teacher in school was expecting me to be able to get a band 6 too. I was satisfied with the results of my school exams, mostly because I knew that my MUET teacher did not give lenient marks. She gave us the marks we should get, and nothing less, nothing more. But being pleased with my results in school was not enough, the important thing was to get the same results for the real thing, the actual MUET that cost RM 60 to sit for, which is more expensive than any STPM paper I'm going to sit for this year.
The day came. I was a bit overwhelmed with the style of the questions, they were not quite the same as what I did before. Still I managed to finish the papers on time. I still remember what my classmates who said around me said. They told each other that I'm on the way to getting a band 6! In fact, before that, most of them were certain that was what I'll achieve. I remembered that when I was writing out my essay, I was rather short of time towards the end. I thought I had half an hour more to go! Luckily for me, the examiners started handing out strings for us to tie up our papers 20 minutes before time. I felt that that was queer - why are they giving us the strings so early? That was when I checked the time and oh my! I hurried on with my writing. My essay ended up complete, but less expressive than usual. The Speaking test was on another day. It was quite easy, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
Last month the results came out. Instead of the desired band 6, the online check revealed that I had a band 5 instead. I didn't know what to expect, so I can't say I was too upset over that. I remember the response from my friend who was online at the same time. We were chatting via the MSN messenger. He said, "... something must be wrong." He got a band 5 too. "Nothing is wrong," I replied. For in my heart, I knew that was true. God had given me a band 5. And if he had given me a band 5, that's the band for me and I must learn to accept it.
However, this was just the beginning. It wasn't too bad to know I got band 5. But to hear that tons of others (who are usually quite behind me in school exams) got the same band was a little bit too much for me. Actually the word 'tons' is an exaggaration. There are only about 8 people out of around 150 or so but that's bad enough. Instead of standing above the rest with a sparkling band 6, here I am, on same footing as they are, with a common band 5! "Thank God for the results," was what my friend told me. I can't remember his exact words. That's what I did, at once. When my mind was still blurred I thanked God without being actually sure of what I'm thanking God for. But now I know!
But before I reveal to you the reasons why I'm giving thanks to God, let me carry on with my narration first. Be patient, it's almost finished! When I got my result slip, I was only missed band 6 by 5 marks. I had the highest mark in school. My teacher felt that I should get more than 50/70 for the writing paper. "You must have got a stingy examiner," she said. "You should have easily got at least 60 and above." That was the part which pulled me down. Anyway, all that was no use now as we couldn't even appeal for the results to be checked over. The only alternative was to resit the exam, which I don't think is neccessary. I did very well in the reading and speaking papers, and got near maximum marks. As for the listening paper, my performace was only moderate.
I admit I was rather upset over the results towards the end, partly because it hurt my pride, and partly because I had a very good tuition teacher who took the trouble to coach me out of the kindness of her heart. She also expected me to get a band 6, and I didn't seem to be, well, bearing the fruits of her labour.
Whatever it is, all this was no coincidence. It happened out of God's will. And God's will is always perfect, the best he could want for us.
The reasons I'm giving thanks to God:
1. Because of the band 5, which is a very good band, and is sufficient to ensure me a place in U (provided my STPM results are also satisfactory), and enough to find a job. I even qualify as an English teacher!
2. Because it's a timely reminder. I've been neglecting my relationship with God at that period, and this is a reminder for me to refocus on him instead of struggling on myself. Once I saw the results, I felt deep down that this is the reason.
3. Because it inspires me to do better in STPM. I felt that I had to work hard, to avoid another disappointment!
4. Because it brought to me the warmth of friendship. One of my friends called me up to 'comfort' me after he knew. I was very touched, though somehow I found it funny at the same time. Comfort someone with a high band! That showed how he cared as a friend. Usually people will say,"You've already got a band 5, that's good enough! It's better than what most people will get." But this guy was kind enough to remember the not-so-happy person with a band 5, as well as the unhappy ones who failed! I really thanked God for him. In fact, I felt that it was worth the band 5 to just receive that call. It also reminded me to learn to be someone like that too.
5. Because God may have forseen the consequences if I have got a band 6. The most probable one - I might have been too proud! That's not impossible, I find it very easy to be proud of myself. (So everyone, think twice before praising me!) I've been trying to control this for a few years, and it's pretty much OK now though. God gave me enough, just enough to avoid my being too proud of myself. This is a lesson of humility. I had and will be using English a lot now, so before I begin to get too proud of this linguistic ability, God used the MUET to humble me first.
There are many more such reasons, but these are the main ones. Now MUET is long over and STPM is coming up! So to all of you who are also studying, work hard! God will take care and provide for our future, but we've got to put in some effort first. So may the Lord be with all of you! And all glory be unto His name!
# posted by Gail @ 12:12 am 
Comments:
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Oh, gosh. You don't know me, really, but I was searching the net for other peoples' experiences with MUET results, and your blog popped up. (I'm getting my own MUET results this Monday, and I'm quaking with fear right about now)
Anyhow, reading your entry just somehow... reminded me of me. I'm pretty proud of my English; it's my first language, even though I'm a Malaysian Chinese. In a way, my linguistic gifts are my pride and joy, and more than once, people have told me that I would do -very- well in MUET.
Thank you for your entry. Lately, I've been feeling all shaky and stuff about the results; I didn't know how I would go on with life if I didn't get what I'd wanted. I don't expect a band six, but reading your entry has taught me how to handle it. I will no longer suffer writers' block if I get a non-expected band! ^.^
Thank you -so- much again!
~Emmelyn Cindy
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Anyhow, reading your entry just somehow... reminded me of me. I'm pretty proud of my English; it's my first language, even though I'm a Malaysian Chinese. In a way, my linguistic gifts are my pride and joy, and more than once, people have told me that I would do -very- well in MUET.
Thank you for your entry. Lately, I've been feeling all shaky and stuff about the results; I didn't know how I would go on with life if I didn't get what I'd wanted. I don't expect a band six, but reading your entry has taught me how to handle it. I will no longer suffer writers' block if I get a non-expected band! ^.^
Thank you -so- much again!
~Emmelyn Cindy
# posted by 
: 7:03 pm
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