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When you have the test paper before you, read the instructions and skim the test paper
quickly to have a general idea of the test format and test items.
Use Contextual Clues and Background Knowledge
Do not worry if the question or a passage is on unfamiliar topic. Remember that in most
cases, answers are obtained from the passage. For passages that do not provide
answers directly, be confident to evidence of suggestions, hints and contextual clues in
the passage together with your background knowledge to infer the answers.
Read the Passage Carefully
Read the passage first before the questions. Concentrate when you read and try to
understand the contents as much as you can on the first reading. If you feel the need to
read more than once to understand the content, then you should continue reading it until
you are confident that you have understood it well enough to tackle the questions.
Another important thing you have to remember is that questions can be tricky, thus, you
need to understand the ideas very clearly.
Question yourself continuously as you read from first paragraph to the last paragraph.
Read purposefully by using WH-questions (What/Why/Who/When/Where/How) to guide
you to ask yourself some important and relevant questions.
Some questions are:
(a) What is the topic and/or subject?
(b) What kind of writing does this paragraph or passage reflect? Analytical? Descriptive?
Persuasive? Argumentation? Narrative?
(c) How is the information organized? Cause/effect? Comparison/contrast?
Problem/solution? Argumentation? Narration? Description?
(d) What is the focus of the question? Comprehension? Application? Analysis?
Synthesis? Evaluation?
Write effective notes alongside the paragraph or passage in the margins of the paragraph
or passage to help highlight the main idea and supporting details. Refer to the example
Refer to the example of ‘Population Growth’, on pages 99 to 100.
( Adapted from : Helen Chuah, Celestina Paul-Evanson & Dr Fatimah Dinna. (2014).
Malaysian University English The Complete Text & Guide MUeT. Kuala Lumpur : Global
Mediastreet Sdn Bhd. )