SUGGESTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Read magazines, novels, e-book and other reading materials to improve your general knowledge and command of the language.
2. Read model essays to see how good writers organize and develop their ideas and follow this up with writing parallel essays.
3. Have a notebook to jot down interesting vocabulary items, expressions and accurate terminology.
4. Engage in journal writing and also social correspondence with pen-pals from English-speaking countries.
5. Focus on paragraph development and unity in paragraph and learn how to write topic sentences and supporting details.
6. Practise sentence writing with emphasis on using interesting expressions. However, if you are weak, you should start from the basic, short and simple sentences.
7. Read and understand the rubrics before answering the question so that you have a clear idea of the task requirements.
8. Remember to plan your work and work your plan.
9. Familiarize yourself with the respective themes

ANSWERING TECHNIQUE PAPER 1 (SECTION B)

1. Read and understand the rubric/instruction carefully e.g. write a report, review, description
2. Choose the given method and write P for every content points (eg. : P1, P2, etc). This will enable you to identify every single content points and comparison points stated in the rubrics, whereas if you left one points, your essay band will mark down to Band C.
3. Complete realisation of task is required where you have to state the method chosen with detail elaborations and justify it by referring to scientific information. It is advisable to give strong ideas of science information or just give a simple justifications reflecting our daily life activities and environments. Follow the instructions below :

Write a report in the report format.
Make a choice from the given methods.
Identify all the points and elaborate them [giving reasons].
Analyses and justifies all comparison points [giving reasons]

If the question is a Descriptive Essay, you need to understand the sequence of the descriptions. Elaborations can be done by giving extra informations related to the rubric. It can be examples, extanded ideas of processes, causes and effects of a process and etc. Avoid from giving any examples related to time, size, or any incorrect scientific informations. This can leads you to get lower band.

4. Do not hesitate to write more than 300 words. There is no limitations of words but to score A, you need to write add least 400 words with a very good language expressions and strong explanations.

ANSWERING TECHNIQUE PAPER 1 (SECTION A)

1. Read and understand the given text carefully.
2. Underline words or main ideas of the topic.
3. Understand the given graphic organizer or table. Look for main clauses.
4. Identify the keywords of the questions.
5. Be more precautious on spelling. Do not misspelt. Correct spelling of keywords is mandatory.
6. Write only words or phrases and not a full sentences lifted from text. No overlifting from text. Partial lifting is accepted. Can construct own sentence but it should be correctly in meaning as given in the text.
7. Do not write more than one answer for one space. Be careful of singular and plural rubrics.
‘or’ means one answer. ‘and’ means two answer.
8. Do not add up any answers options below the given bulleted questions.

THEMES

Themes covered in the syllabus.

1. Nature / Environment
(Pollution,acid rain, earthquake, tsunami, weather)
2. Technology /Communications
(Information Technology, software, fax, mobile phone)
3. Energy / Matter and mass / Force and motion
(Gravity, Principle of motion)
4. Man and Living Organism
(Virus, diseases, vaccines, medical research)
5. Natural Resources / Industrial processes
(Solar energy, bio fuel, recycling, process and procedures of products)
6. Universe / Astronomy /Aerospace
(Planets, stars, comets, telescopes, launching of satellite
7. Nutrient / Food / Health / Human body
(Healthy diet, vitamins and mineral, exercise, managing stress, parts and function of human bodies)

FORMAT OF THE SPM ENGLISH FOR SC. AND TECHNOLOGY

PAPER 1
1¼ hours
3 subjective questions

SECTION A
30 minutes
Part 1
Tabulation of Information/ Graphic Organiser
Part 2
Graphic Organiser/
Tabulation of Information
2 questions

SECTION B
45 minutes
Essay
1 question


PAPER 2
1 hour
30 objective questions


SECTION A
50 minutes
Multiple choice questions
25 questions


SECTION B
10 minutes
Rational close
5 questions

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES

• Read and understand different text types in science and technology
• Understand and process information from various sources
• Process and present information in the written form using the appropriate register
• Analyse and justify viewpoints pertaining to science and technology
• Use appropriate language to communicate ideas, views and opinions
  effectively
  

OBJECTIVES

• Obtain information by reading and understanding different text types in science and technology in English
• Process information obtained from the internet and other electronic and printed media
• Present information on science and technology at an appropriate level in written form
• Think critically and give points of view on issues pertaining to science and technology

INTRODUCTION

The English for Science And Technology Syllabus aims to provide students with the language to help them understand materials based on science and technology. And also give them the confidence to express ideas and opinions in English.