In MUET, all the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are tested.
It measures and reports candidates’ level of proficiency based upon an aggregated score range of zero to 300.
The scores correlate with a banding system ranging from Band 1 to Band 6, with Band 6 being the best achievement.
In 2015, a policy was implemented that stipulated the minimum band required for entry and graduation for specific courses, namely, Band 2 for entry and Band 3 to graduate for Arts and Social Sciences courses; Band 3 for entry and Band 4 for to graduate from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses; and Band 4 for entry and Band 5 to graduate from Law and Medicine courses.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) considers MUET scores or band an important indicator of a student’s ability to pursue academic programmes that are delivered in English.
While MUET is the key English language minimum entry requirement, UiTM director of academic development Professor Dr Nor Aziah Alias said UiTM has taken the initiative to align the institution’s English language requirements to other approved examinations or tests such as the English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL
“Thus students who have studied overseas or international students with appropriate grades or scores in such examinations or tests will have no problem fulfilling the entry requirement of their respective programmes,” she said.
For graduation, Nor Aziah said UiTM does not use MUET as a requirement but instead uses a home-grown English Exit Test (EET) for students to assess their ability and readiness for workplace communication.
Norlida Abu Bakar, Language Proficiency Division head at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Centre For The Advancement of Language Competence (CALC), said MUET bands (score) are among the criteria in the Special Programme Terms for each programme offered by the varsity.
Each programme has different MUET bands requirements with the lowest (Band 1) for entry into the Bachelor of Arts (Malay Language and Linguistics) programme.
“To help students cope better with their studies, CALC offers courses under the English Learning Experience Package (ELEx) which is compulsory for all students according to the English proficiency levels in their MUET (for local students) and TOEFL or IELTS (for international students results. UPM does not require MUET as a graduation criteria.”
Apart from IELTS and TOEFL, MUET is one of the language prerequisites for enrolment into degree programmes at Taylor’s University.
Prema Ponnudurai, head of Department of Liberal Arts and Humanities, said generally, the lowest MUET score to gain acceptance into a programme at Taylor’s is Band 4.
“However, it differs from programme to programme,” she said, adding that some programmes require only IELTS or TOEFL results .
To take MUET, matriculation and Form Six students usually register via their institutions while private or individual candidates can register for MUET online via the MEC website www.mpm.edu.my. A PIN ID costing RM101 can be bought from Bank Simpanan Nasional for registration purposes.
Apart from the three exam sessions conducted at MUET centres over a period of two days, candidates who cannot wait to queue for MUET seats can also sit the test via MUET on Demand (MoD) which is conducted at one sitting.
Available since June 2018, MoD takes a new approach whereby candidates are given the choice of taking the exam using Computer Based Test or conventional test at a specified location with results ready within two weeks’ time as opposed to the standard 60 days for sessions-based MUET.