Learn each subject term as a pair: the word in the language you think in, and the word the paper uses. Practise the pair until the exam-language term comes to you without translating in your head.
This resource is part of the student study resources. The BM and English terminology bridge on this site lists the terms side by side.
How do I build a term pair list?
Use three columns in a notebook: the exam-language term, the other-language term, and a short example in context. Add a pair every time a term trips you up in class or practice.
| Term in English | Istilah BM | Short example |
|---|---|---|
| Acceleration | Pecutan | Speed rises by 2 m/s each second |
| Mean | Min | Sum of values divided by the number of values |
| Photosynthesis | Fotosintesis | A plant makes glucose using light |
| Gradient | Kecerunan | Rise divided by run on a straight line |
What is a common confusion?
Some words look similar but mean different things. In Physics, speed is “laju” and velocity is “halaju”; the Malay pair differs by one syllable, and so does the meaning. A student who writes “laju” when the question asks for velocity may lose a mark.
For each pair you add, write the near-miss term beside it, so the difference is visible.
How do I practise both languages?
Cover one column and say the other aloud. Then put the term into a sentence from your own topic. Here is a worked example for Mathematics.
“The kecerunan of the line through (1, 2) and (3, 8) is (8 − 2) ÷ (3 − 1) = 3.”
The sentence mixes the languages on purpose, to train the link. On the exam paper, use one language throughout.
How do I choose my answer language?
Follow the paper. Check the paper’s language with your school, and note any subject that is set in one language only. Then do your practice papers in that language under timed conditions, so the terms come fast.
Understanding website language and teaching language explains the difference between what you read here and what a teacher uses in lessons.
What if the textbook is in one language and the teacher in another?
Ask the teacher to name the textbook term at each new idea. One sentence such as “this is called pecutan in BM” takes seconds and saves confusion later.
Parents can read understanding online one-to-one lessons when you prefer another language for how teaching language works in our lessons.
When might tuition help?
Lessons are in English or BM, depending on the subject, and the teacher can explain in English where it helps. The one-hour trial class (from RM50) lets you hear how a teacher handles the two languages, and the fee is agreed before the trial.