The last step in a listening task is the one students skip: reading each answer again against its question. This lesson gives a three-point check that takes a few seconds per answer.
It is the final lesson in the cluster on listening comprehension. It follows taking short notes.
What are the three checks?
Read each answer once, asking these questions in order.
- Does it answer the question word? A Siapa question needs a person, not a place.
- Is each word spelt the way it is written in Malay? Check the words you only heard.
- Does the figure carry its unit or label? An amount needs ringgit, a time needs a.m. or p.m., a length needs its unit.
Worked example: three answers
The script and questions are original.
Script: Pertandingan memasak ditangguhkan kerana hujan lebat. Ia akan diadakan semula pada hari Sabtu di perpustakaan sekolah.
| Question | Student answer | Check | Better answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mengapa pertandingan ditangguhkan? | Pertandingan ditangguhkan | Repeats the question, gives no reason | Kerana hujan lebat |
| Di mana pertandingan akan diadakan semula? | perpustakan sekolah | Spelling slip in “perpustakaan” | perpustakaan sekolah |
| Bila pertandingan akan diadakan semula? | Sabtu | Correct already | Sabtu |
The third answer needs no change. Leave an answer alone when it is already right.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is to answer with the words of the question. “Pertandingan ditangguhkan” sounds close to the script, so it feels safe, but it only repeats the question.
When a question asks Mengapa, the answer must contain a reason. Look for “kerana” in the script and start from there.
Check yourself
Apply the three checks to this answer and write a better one.
Script: Bas akan tiba di stesen pada pukul lapan malam. Penumpang perlu membayar tambang sebanyak dua belas ringgit.
Question: Berapakah tambang bas? Student answer: 12
Answer
The number is right, but the answer has no unit. The better answer is RM12 or dua belas ringgit.
The question word Berapa needs an amount, and an amount of money needs its currency. The time of arrival, 8 p.m., is a detail for a different question.
What to study next
Test all four skills with the listening practice set. Spelling habits are covered further in correcting spelling and punctuation without over-editing.
Record each lost mark in the mistake log and paper-error review. For a teacher to check your answers against the questions, see online one-to-one Bahasa Melayu tuition.