SPM 2021 English Format [CEFR]

P1 Reading and Use of English

Number of items 40
Number of parts 5
Task types 3-option multiple choice (short texts)
4-option multiple-choice cloze
4-option multiple-choice (longer text)
Gapped text
Matching and information transfer
Input Total reading input is approximately 2000-2200 words
Time allowed 1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting 25% of overall exam score

Part Task Type Number of Task Format

1 3-option multiple
choice (short texts)
2 4-option multiple
choice cloze
3 4-option multiple
choice
4 Gapped text
5 Matching and
information
transfer
Items
8 Eight short texts of no more than 90 words
per text, each followed by one 3-option
multiple-choice item
10 Extended text (250-300 words) with 10 items
removed, with four possible options for each
item.
8 One extended text (650 – 700 words)
(e.g. extract from a novel or magazine) with 8
4-option multiple-choice items
6 A text (350 – 450 words) from which 6
sentences have been removed and placed in
jumbled order after the text. Candidates
decide from where in the text the sentences
have been removed.
8 Various input types with a total word count of
no more than 370 words. Tasks could include
completion of notes, diagrams, matching tasks
and short answer questions.

Sample Q for Part 1 & 2

Summarised by : Shafika Ameera Salleh @shfksyfq

SPM 2021 English Format [CEFR]

Writing
Number of parts 3
Task types Short communicative message (email)
Guided writing (essay)
Extended writing task (choose one from 3 options)

Part Task Type Task Format

1 Short communication message
(email)
2 Guided writing (essay)
3 Extended Writing task
A short response (about 80 words) to an
informal message
A longer text (125 – 150 words) based on
a text stimulus
A choice of 3 questions – candidates
choose one of: an article, review, report
or story and write 200 – 250 words.

Summarised by : Shafika Ameera Salleh @shfksyfq

SPM 2021 English Format [CEFR]

Speaking
Number of parts 3
Format In pairs
Task types Interview
Individual long-turn
Discussion task

Part Task Type Number of Task Format

1 Interview
2 Individual long-turn
3 Discussion
Items
3 – 4 min Interlocutor asks questions about
familiar topics, e.g. school; home;
routine
3 – 4 min Candidate A speaks for 1-2 minutes
for both on a given topic. Candidate B answers
candidates a short question on the same topic.
Candidates then swap roles.
4-5 min Candidates discuss a topic in pairs,
and must then come to a decision to
answer a given question.

Finally, each candidate is given a

broader question on the same topic
to answer.

Listening
Number of parts 4
Task types 3-option multiple-choice (short and long texts)
Matching
Note completion
Input Total input is approximately 1800 – 2000 words. Each
audio track is heard twice.

Part Task Type Number Task Format

of Items
1 3 – option 7 7 short, unrelated dialogues or monologues.
multiple choice There is one 3-option multiple-choice question per
extract (60-70 words each)
2 3-option multiple 8 A longer narrative or informational monologue
choice (350-400 words) with 8 multiple-choice items
3 Matching 5 5 short monologue texts of approx.. 50 words with

Summarised by : Shafika Ameera Salleh @shfksyfq

SPM 2021 English Format [CEFR]

7 options given
4 Note completion 10 A neutral or informal dialogue (interview) of 600 –
650 words. Candidates complete gapped summary
text with one word per gap.

Summarised by : Shafika Ameera Salleh @shfksyfq