My MUET Journey

 

Leveling Up My MUET Game: From High Band 4 to Beyond!

Sitting at a comfortable and convincing Band in MUET feels good and safe, but the ambition for a higher Band 5, inching towards that coveted Band 6 (CEFR C2), burns bright! My preparation journey has been a mix of smooth sailing and navigating some choppy waters. It's both exciting and pressuring at the same time in a positive way.

Interestingly, I’ve found a rhythm with the listening paper, feeling confident in picking up key information. Decoding the text structures in the reading paper also comes quite naturally, and the distinction between crafting an argumentative versus a discussive essay, along with the trusty PEEL method, feels like solid ground. After months of learning MUET under the guidance of such an experienced teacher, the lessons helps me to feel more and more confident and ambitious.

However, the speaking test throws me a curveball. I'm aiming for high Band 4 and above but the struggle to speak fluently has been challenging. Conjuring relevant ideas and elaborations on the spot can be a real challenge for either the individual presentation or the group discussion. When it comes to argumentative essays, backing up my points with solid data and statistics often feels like grasping at air. I was told to come up with any logical names and datas, but I'm wary that it'd sound cringy and questionable. And let's not forget the reading paper's gapped texts and those intricately woven passages that sometimes leave me scratching my head. Going through a reading paper during the peak dry and humid hour had me easily feeling sleepy and confused under the influence of drowsiness.

To bridge these gaps, I've doubled down on my efforts. I'm actively devouring more articles and diverse texts to broaden my general knowledge and spark those on-the-spot ideas. I'm slowly turning the habit of essay reviewing as a part of my study routine, dissecting what works and identifying areas for stronger argumentation and evidence. Finally, I'm tackling more reading exercises, specifically focusing on those tricky gapped texts and complex analyses. I'm not going to lose myself against a few long passages of text and unable to grasp more marks for those parts.

The climb to a higher band won't be easy, but with consistent effort, I'm determined to reach that next level!