IELTS versus MUET

Hi readers! (sapu habuk dan sawang)

Okay ni betul-betul dah lama tak menulis. Lately, sis dapat banyak sangat dm dekat IG from you guys yang bertanyakan macam-macam perkara. Sorry kalau lewat balas, kadang-kadang tak perasan, kadang-kadang busy hehh. I am truly glad that I can help a lot of you guys. Dan sebab itu jugalah sis tergerak untuk update post kali ni.

I’m gonna switch to English now for this post.

Today’s topic, IELTS!

What’s that?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It is the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. Basically, it’s an English test that is a pre-requisite to entering international universities (mostly in the UK, Australia, NZ, USA and many others) or to migrate.

The test that I’m gonna talk about here is the one to enter universities which is the Academic IELTS.

So let me walk you through the process.

#1 Registration

I can’t remember exactly how much was the fee, but it was about RM800++. Refer the official website for the latest information. I registered myself on the official website 2 days before the test date that I chose. HAHAHA!

My advice is to apply early to ensure that there’s still a slot for you. Mind you, the slots are always full. I took the nearest test date because the other slots within the same month were already full. It is also important to keep in mind regarding the location of the test. I took my written test at Park Royal Hotel in KL and my speaking test at the British Council Exam Hall in KL. My speaking test was right on the next day after the written test.

Just follow the instruction on the official website for registration.

#2 Preparation

So I had 2 days to prepare. OMG. Hahaha. I have no books or classes whatsoever to prepare. But when you register, the British Council will give you access to like an online learning program. I referred to it to learn the format and do practices and all that. But you can also search online for test practices (there’s A LOT out there for free). Personally, I don’t think a book is THAT necessary to prepare for IELTS.

#3 Format

I don’t know about you but I’ve sat for MUET (Malaysian University English Test) before, so the format is actually similar.

There’s 4 parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The written tests (L,R,W) are exactly like MUET. For listening, you listen to recordings and answer questions given. Most of the questions would require short answers (less than 5 words). Read the instructions carefully because if you write more than asked, your answer will automatically be marked wrong. The only difference with MUET is that the recordings in the IELTS Listening test will only be played ONCE as opposed to MUET which plays twice.

For Reading, it’s basically just reading articles and answering questions. Some articles are longer than others. Question type could be multiple-choice, labelling, arranging and others. But the answers expected are just short answers. This is how it is different from MUET whereby MUET Reading test is fully multiple-choice.

For Writing, there’s 2 parts. Part A requires you to describe a given table/chart/diagram etc. Just a short write up, there’s a word limit for this but I can’t really recall (sorry) but probably around 150 words? In Part B you’ll have to answer an essay question. The essay is usually argumentative. The question I got was “Arts is as important as science for human development. Discuss.” Something like that, again, I can’t really recall (It has been 4 months).

The Speaking test is really different from MUET in which it is an individual test, not in group. The interviewer will ask a series of questions and you’ll be given a certain time limit to answer each question. The questions vary from one another but it sort of fit in one similar theme. You can sort of see in general what it’s about towards the end of the test.

#4 Exam day

Arrive, put your belongings in the provided safe room (you can’t bring anything inside except for your IC and the test slip. Pencil and eraser are provided. Water is provided as well), register yourself (your picture will be taken to be inserted in your result certificate), they will scan your body with a detector to ensure you don’t bring anything with you, enter the hall, find your table number (there’s a slip pasted on the table with your name and other details), test starts.

P/s it is super cold so wear something thicker. You can’t go to the washroom during the test. You can only go in between the papers which is super short amount of time. I suggest you go to the bathroom before the whole test starts.

The papers are a marathon, first would be listening, then reading and lastly writing. They will provide 1 answer sheet for listening (on the front page) and reading (on the back page) so make sure you don’t fill up your answer at the wrong side of the page. It’s of a different color so be alert.

For speaking, be there according to the time given to you. If possible, come earlier than given time because sometimes if the person before you starts earlier, you can go in earlier as well. The sooner it ends the better right? ;)

Oh and regarding attire, you can wear anything. You don't have to be formal or whatever. Some just came wearing a t-shirt. But for the speaking test you might want to dress up nicely because you will be facing your examiner. Just for good impression, it's always safe to dress up than dress down.

#5 Result day

Results will be out about 2 weeks after the test. You will have to collect it at the British Council. You can also request for your result to be sent to your house but you will need to fill up a form AFTER YOUR TEST. So be alert.

#6 My opinion

I think what a lot of people are wondering about is how hard is this IELTS test right? Just to give a little perspective, I got a Band 4 out of 6 (6 being the highest) for my MUET (back in 2013), that was with a year of formal classroom learning mind you. But then again, I was taking STPM at the time hence my studies were conducted entirely in Malay.

For IELTS, I had 2 days to prepare, no formal learning at all and I managed to score a Band 8 out of 9 (9 being highest). So, my point is, it is not impossible to prepare within a short time. But it's probably also worth noting that I speak as much English as I do Malay in my university years. So, you judge your abilities alright? RM 800 is not cheap (at least not for me), so you better be sure you come well prepared.

That’s all that I have for now. If you’re taking the test anytime soon, good luck to you! If you’re thinking of taking the test, I hope my insights have helped you decide.

Bless y’all!

Misconceptions tentang Sarjana Muda Ekonomi, UM

Hai gais!

Dah lama tak menulis, tapi baru-baru ni ada pembaca yang bertanyakan soalan tentang kursus sis iaitu Sarjana Muda Ekonomi. Jadi, entri kali ini sis akan ceritakan dengan jujurnya macam mana kursus tersebut supaya mungkin boleh membantu anda membuat pilihan.

Asalnya sis merupakan pelajar aliran sains tulen semasa SPM, jadi sis tidak terdedah dengan subjek Ekonomi langsung. Selepas SPM, sis memang dah pasti yang aliran sains tulen is not for me. Jadi, sis pun sambung pelajaran di STPM dengan aliran kemanusiaan (Ekonomi, Perniagaan, Pengajian Am dan Sejarah). Sis belajar semuanya dari 0 sebab tak pernah belajar semasa sekolah menengah.

Dari situ muncullah minat dalam Ekonomi. Sis apply to UM as my first choice dan alhamdulillah diterima masuk. Tiga tahun setengah selepas tu (sekarang), sis pun berjayalah habiskan pengajian dengan First Class degree alhamdulillah. Jadi sekarang sis nak ceritakan secara amnya macam mana sarjana muda ekonomi di UM ni dan macam mana anda nak tahu anda sesuai atau tidak dalam bidang ni.

Mari bercakap tentang MISCONCEPTIONS about Economics Degree in UM:

#1 Tanggapan bahawa tidak melibatkan matematik atau kira-kira.

Okay, ini sebenarnya adalah tanggapan sis sendiri dan rupanya kawan-kawan sis pun sama. Semasa di STPM, sis memang tak ambil subjek Maths jadi dengan konfiden je ingat degree Econs pun takda Maths. SALAH! Sangat banyak subjek kira-kira hokayyy. Boleh dikatakan setiap semester akan ada subjek pengiraan.

·         Quantitative Analysis B

·         Statistics 1

·         Financial Management

·         Statistics 2

·         Intro to Mathematical Economics

·         Basic Econometrics

·         Maths in Micro and Macro courses

Hambik, banyak. Untuk seorang pelajar yang dah 2 tahun meninggalkan dunia Matematik, bagi sis memang sangat mencabar. Dan secara jujurnya sis tak minat/mahir dalam kira-kira. Tapi alhamdulillah lulus dengan jayanya. It is difficult but it is not impossible.

#2 Tanggapan bahawa Ekonomi lebih kurang sama dengan Business Admin dan Accounts courses.

SALAH! Lain gila huiii. Jika anda ambil Ekonomi, anda tidak akan belajar langsung Accounts atau apa-apa subjek dalam kursus Business. Ekonomi ni lebih kepada policy-making, national-level and working towards development, ada sikit Banking, Finance dan Analyst-inclined subjects. Anda tidak akan belajar Human Resource, Accounts, Marketing etc. Faculty of Economics and Administration but the Administration refers to Public Administration (pentadbiran kerajaan bukan business).

#3 Tanggapan bahawa anda tiada peluang pekerjaan.

SALAH! Antara peluang pekerjaan untuk anda:

·         Banking Industry

·         Analyst (Finance, Investment, Risk)

·         Researchers in research institutes for example Khazanah Research Institute (KRI), IDEAS etc.

·         Public sector (policy-making in government bodies)

·         Politician

·         Insurance industry

·         Academician

·         Consultant

Banyak je kalau anda pandai mencari peluang. Semua course pun sama je, kalau anda bijak mencari peluang akan sentiasa ada kerja untuk anda. Cuma kena rajin join events yang inclined to your industry. Jangan belajar je, banyak program, forum, conference, summit, competitions yang diadakan mengenai ekonomi dan lain-lain di UM dan luar UM, jadi join ye.

#4 Tanggapan bahawa kursus ni sangat mudah.

Fuyooo, mungkin yang menganggap kursus ni mudah ni kategori pelajar genius kut. Tak mudah gais. Mencabar. Tapi kalau minat tu ada, usaha tu akan lebih. Kalau tak minat, tolonglah jangan ambil kursus ni sebab nanti jadilah golongan yang group assignment tak function and individual assignment tiru orang. Buat kursus yang anda minat, kerja tu akan wujud. I mean, kerja-kerja yang wujud dalam pasaran sekarang ni pun, tak terfikir dek akal 10 tahun yang lepas kan?

#5 Tanggapan bahawa kursus ni susah nak masuk

Honestly, sis pun ingatkan macam tu jugak. Sis masuk dengan pointer 4.0. Lepas masuk tu tanya kawan-kawan yang lain pun macam tu la pointer diorang, 3.7 above gitu. 4.0 ramai gila. Tapi kan, pointer masuk dengan selepas dah masuk tu sangat diverted. Pelajar sama yang masuk dengan 4.0 lepas sem 1 result 3.0 pun tak sampai. So, pointer pre-U tu tidak menjamin apa-apa. It’s a totally new beginning for everyone. Sejak dua tahun lepas, UM ambil ramai gila pelajar setiap kali kemasukan. Sampai ada yang second-intake and third-intake. So, mungkin taklah susah sangat nak masuk kursus ni. Kalau nak tengok syarat kemasukan and blablabla tu boleh check post sis yang lepas. KLIK DISINI.

#6 Tanggapan bahawa kursus ini diajar dalam Bahasa Malaysia.

SALAH! Ye, di SPM, STPM dan Matrikulasi belajar ekonomi dalam Bahasa Melayu tapi di UM, oh tidak. Pembelajaran sepenuhnya dalam Bahasa Inggeris (buku teks, bahan kuliah, assignment, tutorial). Tapi, ada lecturer yang baik hati benarkan juga pelajar hantar kerja atau jawab exam dalam Bahasa Melayu (tanya dahulu pensyarah anda). But trust me, kalau dah belajar dalam Bahasa Inggeris, macam mana nak tahu terma-terma ekonomi dalam Bahasa Melayu? Lagi susah jadinya. So, my advice is to brush up your English. It is REALLY CRUCIAL!

#7 Tanggapan bahawa lebih banyak kira-kira dari pembacaan.

SALAH! Sebenarnya banyak teori dan graf yang memerlukan pemahaman dan pembacaan yang mendalam. Kira-kira dan penggunaan software untuk statistic juga ada tapi tidaklah sebanyak pembacaan (itu pun kalau anda baca la :p). Kalau nak lebih ilmu, bacalah lebih dari sekadar nota kuliah, banyak gila benda yang boleh anda pelajari.

#8 Tanggapan bahawa anda tiada banyak pilihan dalam kursus Ekonomi.

Batch sis je ada 10 pengkhususan (majoring) to choose from. Hambik. I chose to major in Political Economy, a majoring which is really not popular amongst Econs students. Batch terbaru ni rasanya dah digabung jadi 4 pengkhususan untuk dipilih oleh pelajar. Boleh semak post sis yang terdahulu untuk details. KLIKSINI.

 #9 Tanggapan bahawa kursus ini sangat susah kerana persaingan dengan bangsa lain yang ramai.

Batch sis majoriti pelajar berbangsa Cina. Ye menurut pemerhatian sis, bangsa Cina memang tidak dinafikan kerajinan dan ketekunan mereka belajar. Jadi tak peliklah kalau diorang berjaya kan? Tapi ni tak bermakna Melayu tak boleh berjaya. Kalau anda pandai berkawan, mereka sebenarnya akan bantu anda jika anda juga bantu mereka. Kalau anda expect mereka je nak supply anda dengan jawapan memang mereka akan boikot anda. Haha. Siapa-siapa pun akan boikot anda k.

Sis sangat ramai kawan berbangsa Cina di UM. Some of them I can say are my best friends who are always there for me through ups and downs. They are amazing. We help each other grow and learn. Semangat mereka belajar tu buatkan sis juga bersemangat. Persaingan memang sengit tapi kalau anda nak duduk je di zon selesa, anda tidaklah sebagus yang anda sangka. Bagi sikit statistik la, untuk batch sis, dean’s list terdiri daripada lebih kurang 20-25 pelajar Cina, 2 pelajar Melayu dan 1 atau 2 pelajar India. Nilah kebiasannya setiap semester. Hard but possible.

#10 Tanggapan bahawa kursus ini bosan.

Kalau ini tanggapan anda, sudah pastinya anda tak minat bidang ini.

Okay, there you go. Ada apa-apa lagi misconception yang bermain di fikiran anda? Sila tinggalkan comment di bawah ye.

 Bye!

History of Economic Thought

Heyya!

Here I'd like to share my final exam notes for History of Economic Thought which I took with Dr Roza during my undergraduate studies. She is an incredible lecturer and I have indeed learnt a whole lot from her. My buddy requested for these notes but I figured that if it could benefit more people, why not share it with everyone right?

The notes include:

Adam Smith & David Ricardo on Future of Prosperity.

Adam Smith's Natural Vs Market Price and Productive Vs Unproductive Labour

Alfred Marshall on Increasing Returns to Scale

Cantillon Effect & Price Specie Flow Mechanism

Ricardo & Malthus on Corn Laws

Shift of Feudalism to Capitalism

J.B Clarke on Fair Income Distribution

Menger & Jevon's Refute Labor Theory of Value

Possibility of Gluts

Product Exhaustion

Ricardo's Falling Profit

The link is here.

Hope it helps!

Peta Minda Ekonomi Sukatan Pelajaran 2017 SPM

Hai semua, Selamat Tahun Baru 2018! Tahun baru semangat baru okay?

So, dari akhir tahun 2017 lagi, sis ada buat kelas tuition one-to-one dengan pelajar tingkatan 4 untuk subjek ekonomi. Mula dari batch 2017 katanya sukatan pelajaran untuk ekonomi telah ditukar dan nama pun telah ditukar dari Ekonomi Asas kepada Ekonomi. Sis tak berapa tahu lah apa yang beza sebab sis sendiri tak pernah ambil Ekonomi semasa SPM (menyesal).

Jadi, bila dah masuk tahun 2018 ni sis akan move on la mengajar pelajar tersebut tingkatan 5 pula. Untuk memudahkan pelajar sis tu untuk ulangkaji nanti, sis pun sediakanlah peta minda yang merangkumi keseluruhan syllabus tingkatan 4. Tetapi, disebabkan buku teks dah dipulangkan, jadi sis buat peta minda ni berdasarkan buku rujukan. Maaflah kalau ada yang tidak lengkap. Ada banyak ruang kosong lagi tu kan? Bolehlah anda tambah sendiri nota anda.

Peringatan: Ini hanyalah peta minda yang akan membantu anda untuk melihat skop keseluruhan setiap bab. Kegunaannya adalah untuk setelah anda selesai belajar secara terperinci, anda boleh refer peta minda ini dan cuba untuk huraikan setiap cabang2 dahan tu. Kalau anda dah boleh hurai semua, maksudnya anda dah faham dengan baik.

Harap bermanfaat!

P/s Disebabkan ini dalam format gambar, jadi kurang jelas. Jika nak yang scanned version, you can click the link HERE.

Have a great day!