PT3 - Graphs : Major Exports of Country A

Sample Question

Based on the chart, write a report of about 100 words on the major exports of Country A.

Sample Answer

The pie chart shows the major exports of Country A. Country A has four major exports which are banana, palm oil and coconut. The biggest export of Country A is banana which is calculated at 52% from the total exports of the country.

The next largest export of 30% from the total export of Country A is palm oil. Coconut makes up 10% of the total exports, ranking it at the third place. The rest of the major exports are 8% of the major exports.

Graphs

A) Pie Charts

Guidelines

1) Observe the chart carefully to understand it.

2) Each segment of the pie chart represents a different item. You need to study each to see what it represents.

3) Use any notes given and relate each segment to the whole chart. Use words like ‘the least’, ‘the smallest’, ‘the biggest’, ‘the largest’, ‘the most’, ‘most of’, ‘the minority’, ‘the majority’, ‘some of’, ‘only a few’, etc.

4) Use the correct tense. Refer to the question to determine which tense to use.

5) Write your essay in orderly and clear manner. Once done, check for errors.

B) Bar Graphs

Guidelines

1) Study the bar graph carefully to understand it.

2) Read all the information given in the bar graph.

3) Refer to the key given to distinguish what each one bar represents.

4) Write your composition in correct order and tense.

5) Once done, check for errors. 

Pictorial Maps

Questions on pictorial maps usually ask for descriptions of a place or directions to a place.

Guidelines

1)  Carefully study the pictorial maps to understand what it is for. Look for:

- Starting point

- Route to the end point

- Landmarks to use in your writing such as buildings, rivers and etc.

2) Study the key given to be use in your answer.

3) Write short notes in sequence to describe what you saw and did from the starting point to the end point. Then expand the notes into meaningful actual composition.

4) Make sure to use the correct tense.

5) Once done, check for errors

Cloze Passages

In the cloze passages, you need to fill each blank which was numbered with one word. This will test your ability to understand what you read and complete passages with suitable words.

Guidelines

1) Read through the whole passage to have an overall understanding. Check the tense being use in the passage.

2) Re-read again and fill each blank with one word. Move to the nest blank if you’re unsure of your answer. You may return to it later.

3) Some blanks might have more than one answer. In this kind of situation, choose the best and suitable answer to fill the blank.

4) To help you guess the answer to fill in the blank, check the words before and answer each blank. 

SPM : Narrative Writing 1

Spm essay 

 Narrative Writing 

 Write a story in not less than 350 words with the following ending. 
 “...he closed the door quietly behind him and left.” 

 Model answer 

 James was always busy. In fact, he couldn’t remember that last time he could take it easy and slow down. Everything in his life moved at fast pace. If it wasn’t fast enough, James made sure it would be. The reason why he was like that was because he needed to support his family of five – a wife and four children.

From dawn ‘till dusk, James was as busy as a bee. He needed to make sure his company up and running smoothly. He was so busy that he spent most time at work and sleeping at the office. In fact, he missed most of his children’s important days such as birthdays, recitals and ceremonies as he didn’t have time to attend them.

His misses were frown upon by his children. They couldn’t understand why he never made time for them. After James missed the latest birthday, the children couldn’t take it anymore. The eldest asked their mother of the reason why their dad was hardly home.

“Your father works really hard to support us. He didn’t want us to grow up like him. Your grandparents were poor so your father suffered a lot. That’s why he works like there’s no tomorrow to ensure a better life for all of us,” explained his wife calmly.

The children now understood why their father was often busy, decided to do something if they want their father to spend more time with them. They tried to raise money with doing odd jobs, selling lemonade and saving. In a few weeks, they managed to raise a thousand dollars. They decided to hand over the money to their father. They wrote a letter and asked their mother to send it to their father’s workplace.

The next morning, James who arrived at work, noticed a small package on the briefcase. There’s a letter attached to it. He slowly opened it and read the letter.

“Dear dad, this money maybe not much but we hope it can pay for the time you need to leave work and come to Aaron’s birthday party tomorrow. We really hope you can come. We miss you.”

James read the letter over and over again. He never thought his children would miss him so much they would think to give him money to pay for his time needed to spend with them. He realized that he was always busy and neglected them. James decided that he need to speak to them and ensure them he really love them. James decided that he should take a break today to return to his love ones. He grabbed his suitcase. He closed the door behind him quietly and left.

Narrative Writing 3

Write a story in not less than 120 words with the following opening sentences.

“It was late at night and I was still awake…”

Model answer

It was late at night and I was still awake as I was studying for exam next week. All of a sudden, I saw a shadow from the Uncle Muthu’s roof. The shadow looked like a man tried to break in into Uncle Muthu’s house through the roof.

Quickly, I went to my parents’ room and woke them up. My father called the police and the Uncle Muthu to notify them. Not long after that, the police showed up and the robber was apprehended.

It turned out the robber was a man from the next village. He was caught before for the same crime and was seen around our neighbourhood yesterday.

The police thanked me for my fast action and so did Uncle Muthu’s family. I was delighted that I was able to help my neighbour when they needed them. 

Narrative Writing 2

Write a story in not less than 120 words with the following ending.

“...I realized I should have studied better.”

Model answer

Mathematics test will be held in another two weeks. I was busy with Drama Club that I didn’t have time to study properly. I was chosen to represent our school as one of the cast members at Inter-school Drama Competition. Mrs. Lee, my Mathematics’ teacher told us that any students who failed the test may have to take a repetitive test before school holiday and we would be banned from any club activities.

I was too assured that I would not fail the test. After all, I never did. My Mathematics’ score before showed an average of 50%. So, I did only a little revision before the test.

When the result came out, I only received 39% which was a fail grade. As a result, I was one of the students who failed the test.

I was dropped from the cast as the competition was held before the school holiday. If I passed the test, I would have joined them. I realized I should have studied better.