TEXT TYPES (YEAR 2000 – 2017)

No Type SPM (Year)

1 Article 2014, 2008, 2001, 1997

2 Formal letter 2013, 2003, 1998

3 Informal letter 2012, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2000

4 Report 2017, 2009, 2004, 1999

5 Talk 2016, 2007, 2002

6 Speech 2015, 2011

TOTAL MARKS FOR DIRECTED WRITING

Aspects Marks

Format 3

Content 12

Language 20

TOTAL 35

PAST YEARS’ QUESTION (1997 – 2015)

DIRECTED WRITING (35M)

YEAR FORMAT TASK

1997 An article for school newspaper To inform students about the nature club and
persuade them to join.
1998 A format letter to the Manager of a factory To request a visit for your school consumer club.
1999 A report to the principal To inform the principal about the poor condition and
services or the library.
2000 An information letter to your mother To ask for some money to buy a birthday gift for your
 brother.
2001 An article for your school magazine How to cope with stress
2002 A talk to other students Road Safety
2003 A formal letter to your teacher To state the choice made by your class on a trip after
the end-of-year examination and give reasons for the
choice.
2004 A report for the principal To write on matters in your school which could be
improved.
2005 A letter to a friend (informal letter) To describe your experiences at a three-day outdoor
camp.
2006 A letter to a friend (informal letter) To give reasons why he/she would
make a good Head Prefect
2007 A talk to students To give a talk on a reference book that is useful for
secondary students
2008 An article for a school magazine To write an article about your friend.
2009 A report to the principal To give reasons for the lack of interest in sports and
provide suggestions to overcome the problems.
2010 A letter to your cousin To tell him/her about the benefits of the National
Service Programme and to encourage him/her to go.
2011 A speech to Red Crescent Society members To inform them on how to manage a sprained ankle.
2012 A letter to a younger sister To advise her on how to spend her money wisely.
2013 Formal Letter – A letter of complaint to the Town To complain about the poor condition of a
Council Recreational Park
2014 An article for a school magazine How to ensure safety in the neighbourhood.

2015 A farewell speech For a retiring English teacher.

2016 A talk to classmates To persuade classmates to choose one of the two

trips.
2017 A report to the Principal A survey to find out why the students in your school
often late.

DESCRIPTIVE
YEAR QUESTIONS
2003 A day you wished had never happened
2004 Describe a festival celebrated in your area
2005 Describe the biggest challenge in your life
2006 Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced
2007 Describe an embarrassing experience in your life
2008 Write about a person who has worked hard to succeed in life.
2009 Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your way home from school.
2010 Describe the most popular student in your school.
2011 A famous person you admire.
2012 Describe an outing with your friends
2013 Truly Malaysian.’ Describe what this means to you.
2014 Describe an important family celebration and how you felt about it.
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’. Describe how a friend helped you in a difficult time.

2015 Describes what makes you happy and explain why.

‘Honesty is always the best policy.’ Describe an experience when this was
true to you.
2016 Write a story about a time in someone’s life when music played an important role.

SPM ENGLISH PAST YEAR QUESTIONS – 1119/1 CONTINUOUS WRITING

OPINION / ARGUMENTATIVE

YEAR QUESTIONS
2003 You have been given a chance to visit a country of your choice. Which country would you
choose and why?
2004 How can we help promote tourism in Malaysia?
2005 If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would you want to be and why?
2006 How can television help students in their studies?
2007 Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment.’ Do you agree?
2008 Examinations – good or bad?
2009 School children should not have long holidays. Do you agree?
2010 “The Internet is mostly a good thing.” Do you agree? Support your opinion.
2011 Should school students have part-time jobs? – Discuss

2012 Should parents give children more freedom? Discuss

2013 Is tuition necessary? Discuss.
2014 There is a lack of freedom given to teenagers today. Do you agree?
2015 Social networking has caused a lot of problems. How far do you agree?
2016 Some people believe that all students in Malaysia should learn at least three languages. What
do you think?
2016 What is the best way to help teenagers to stay fit and healthy?

REFLECTIVE

YEAR QUESTIONS
2003 An invention you cannot live without
2004 My ideal school.
2005 How to keep one self-healthy
2006 What changes would you like to see in your life in the next ten years?
2007 My early years.
2008 My perfect future husband or wife
2009 My favorite day of the week
2010 What we can do to save the environment?
2011 The best things in life are free
2012 Saving money for the future.
2013 Write a story about being alone.
2014 Why are animals important to human beings?
2015 Why is having good neighbours important?
2016 There are many things to do after your SPM examination. Write about your plans for the next three
months and the challenges you might face.
STORY TELLING / NARRATIVE

YEAR QUESTIONS
2003 Write a story that ends with: If only I had listened to his/her advice
2004 Write a story ending with: “We had never laughed so much in our lives.”
2005 Write a story with the title: An Unexpected Visitor
2006 Write a story ending with: “If only I had been more careful, that wouldn’t have
happened.”
2007 Write a story beginning with: Kim was nervous when the door opened
2008 Write a story ending with: “Now I realize the value of a true friend.”
2009 Write a story ending with: “...We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.”
2010 Write a story beginning with:“It had been raining all day...”
2011 Write a story that ends with: "...They looked at each other and smiled
meaningfully."
2012 Write a story beginning with: “The teacher walked into the classroom. It was the
first period…”
2013 Write a story that ends with: “…and so I became a better person.”
2014 Write a story about a fisherman beginning with: “The wind blew strongly. Out at
sea…”
2015 Write a story about someone you know who took a big risk and a good result. Begin your
story with: “Everybody said that the plan would never work. It was far too risky…”
2016 Write about your experience helping Puan Ramlah, an elderly lady who lives
alone. E n d y o u r s t o r y w i t h : “ … I l e a r n t a l o t a b o u t m y s e l f b y h e l p i n g
Puan Ramlah.”

ONE-WORD
YEAR QUESTIONS
2003 Friends
2004 Clothes
2005 Music
2006 Food
2007 Tomorrow
2008 Stars
2009 Beauty
2010 Home
2011 Peace
2012 Cleanliness
2013 Reality shows
2014 -
LITERATURE
POEMS / SHORT STORIES
2005 32. si tenggang’s homecoming
33. Looking for A Rain God
2006 32. The Road Not Taken
33. The Drover’s Wife
2007 32. si tenggang’s homecoming
33. The Lotus Eater
2008 32. If
33. The Sound Machine
2009 32. Monsoon History
33. The Necklace
2010 32. There’s Been a Death in the Opposite House
33. The Drover’s Wife
2011 32. In the midst of hardship

2012 32. Nature

2013 33. He had such quiet eyes

2014 32. In the midst of hardship

2015 32. Are you still playing with the flute?

2016 32. What Has Happened to Lulu?

2017 32. A Poison Tree

NOVEL

2005 34. ‘Love is important in a family’. How is this shown in the novel you have read? Support
your answer with close reference to the text.

2006 34. The writer describes the main character as a very determined person. Using the details
from the novel that you have studied, write about:
 some instances that show the character’s determination
 how the determination affects his/her family
2007 34. ‘It is important to have a person you look up to in your life’. From the novel that you have
read, write about one character that you look up to. Give reasons why you choose him/her.

2008 34. Using the details from the novel that you have studied,
 describe what happens at the end of the novel
 explain why you find the ending either happy or sad
2009 34. Using the details from the novel that you have studied, write about a difficult decision
made by one of the characters. With close reference to the text, do you think this was the right
decision?

2010 34. Based on the novel that you have read, write about an important incident that you
 remember. Give reasons why you remember the incident.

2011 33. Which part of the story do you like most? Give reasons for your choice with close
reference to the text.

2012 33. Based on the novel you have studied, write about an event that makes you angry. With
close reference to the text, give reasons why the event makes you feel this way.

2013 33. Write about an important decision made by one of the characters. With close reference to
the text, explain how it affects the other character(s).

2014 33. “One has to struggle to improve one’s life.” With close reference to the text, how far is this
true of the novel you have read?

2015 33. Suggest one character in the novel you have read who you think is a good role model for
teenagers. Briefly describe the character and give reasons for your choice with close reference
to the text.

2016 33. Based on the novel that you have studied, describe a scene that makes you either happy or
sad. Give reasons why the scene makes you feel happy or sad, with close reference to the text.

2017 33. Based on the novel that you have studied, write about a value that is important to one of the
characters in the story. Give reasons why it is so, with close reference to the text.