Teacher guide · UASA English Form 1 to 3

UASA English writing paper format, explained for teachers

What the UASA Bahasa Inggeris writing paper (12/2) asks Form 1 to 3 students to do, how long each answer should be, and how to mark both parts on the four criteria.

The paper at a glance

The UASA (Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik) writing paper for English, Bahasa Inggeris 12/2, lasts 1 hour and carries 40 marks in two parts of 20. This is how the Form 2 and Form 3 papers we have seen for the 2025/2026 session are laid out:

UASA papers are prepared by schools, so prompts, word targets and timings can differ from one school to another. Form 1 papers follow the same two parts and the same four criteria; check the word target on your own paper.

Part 1: the email

Students read a short email from a friend who asks for advice, for example which transport to use for a weekend trip, or which outdoor activity to take up to get healthier. The email usually offers two or three options and adds "or something else?". Students reply with their advice in about 70 to 80 words.

A strong answer:

• Has the email conventions: a greeting, a short opening line, and a friendly sign-off.
• Answers what the friend actually asked: picks an option (or suggests a different one) and gives a reason.
• Sounds like a friend writing to a friend, not a formal letter.
• Stays close to the word target. Much shorter usually means missing content; much longer usually means losing control.

Part 2: the guided essay

Students write an essay on a topic the class has been discussing, such as a favourite social networking site or a favourite Malaysian traditional food, in about 100 to 120 words. The question gives notes that students must use.

• Use every note. Each note is a content point. Skipping one caps Content, however well the rest is written.
• Develop the notes, do not just copy them. A sentence of explanation or an example for each note is what lifts Content and Organisation.
• Paragraph it. An introduction, a paragraph per main idea and a short conclusion is plenty at this length.

How each part is marked

Both parts are marked on the same four criteria as SPM English Paper 2. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5, so each part totals 20:

For how bands 0 to 5 work in detail, see the SPM English Paper 2 marking scheme guide. The bands work the same way; the task is simply shorter and pitched lower.

Mark for communication, not perfection

These are lower secondary ESL learners, so the bar is set by how well the writing communicates, not by native-speaker accuracy:

• A script can score full marks on Language with small grammar or spelling mistakes, as long as the meaning is clear straight away.
• Simple, slightly unnatural sentences are normal at this level. Mark down for language that forces the reader to stop and reread, not for every awkward phrase.
• Mark each criterion on its own. A student with weak grammar can still score well on Content if every point is covered.

Marking a class set consistently

• Anchor first. Agree the marks for one strong, one average and one weak script before marking the rest.
• Mark all the Part 1 answers first, then all the Part 2 answers. Your sense of each band stays steadier.
• Record the four scores, not just the total. It makes feedback specific and moderation with colleagues faster.
• Re-check your first few scripts at the end. Most teachers drift harder or softer as the pile goes down.

Related guides: SPM English Paper 2 marking scheme, explained for teachers · CEFR writing levels, explained for Malaysian English teachers

Sources

• School UASA papers, Bahasa Inggeris (12/2), Tingkatan 2 and Tingkatan 3, sesi 2025/2026
• Lembaga Peperiksaan, Kupasan Mutu Jawapan SPM 2024, 1119/2 (the same four criteria)

This guide is based on real school UASA papers and the SPM marking criteria. UASA papers are set by schools, so always follow your own school's paper and marking scheme. It is not an official Kementerian Pendidikan document.