The best way to excel in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is to listen to one’s teachers and follow their guidance closely.
That is the advice of National Best MUET Student 2025 Jeremiah Selva, who credited his teachers for his success.
“Students often underestimate the importance of following teachers’ guidance.
“The only thing you really need to do is to listen to your teachers.
“Form Six students have teachers who are dedicated to teaching this subject, and these teachers know the best way to answer MUET questions,” the student from Kolej Tingkatan Enam Haji Zainul Abidin, Penang, said.
He added that many students worry about whether they are answering questions correctly, but teachers often provide specific formats and techniques that can help them avoid unnecessary mistakes.
“All we need to do is follow what they taught us carefully because even missing a small detail can cost us marks,” he said.
Jeremiah, who achieved a Band 5+ in his MUET assessment, was among the 18 national top performers honoured at the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) 2025 Outstanding Candidates Award Ceremony in Selayang, Selangor, on June 18.
Jeremiah said the achievement came as a surprise.
“I didn’t expect this at all, I was really speechless,” he said.
Challenging the perception that students need to be naturally fluent in English or speak the language regularly at home to excel in MUET, he said anyone can answer the questions well.
“Nothing is impossible.
“Immerse yourself in English through everyday activities such as reading articles, writing regularly and consuming English-language media,” he said, adding that jotting down unfamiliar words helps improve vocabulary.
On the MUET components, Jeremiah said listening and reading are the easiest to score in, provided candidates remain attentive throughout the examination.
“Students need to give their full attention. Sometimes the passages may seem a little boring and they may lose focus, but that’s where you’ll find the answers.
“Students who stay focused can perform well in those sections,” he said.
Delighted by the achievement, his mother Gloria Arulpakiam said the family was very proud of him, while his father, Leonard Selva, jokingly attributed part of his success to the many English debates they had at home.
“We had a lot of arguments in English, which was good,” he said, adding that exchanging opinions encouraged critical thinking and helped strengthen language command.
The top achievers feted at the event each received between RM500 and RM1,000, a certificate, a plaque and a one-year personal accident protection plan sponsored by Koperasi Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Bhd.
They will also receive undergraduate tuition fee scholarships from public universities whose vice-chancellors are members of the Malaysian Examinations Council – a first for the initiative.
