Virtual Booth

The Malaysian University English Test (MUET) assesses the English proficiency of tertiary-level students for academic purposes.  It comprises four components: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Recent findings and reports from the Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) highlight challenges faced by ESL undergraduates, particularly in the Writing component. These challenges include limited vocabulary, weak sentence structure, a lack of maturity in ideas, and writing anxiety. Moreover, the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013–2025 emphasizes the need for technology-integrated learning materials. To address these issues, MUETProMax was developed as an accessible and interactive instructional blog for MUET Writing Task 2. Grounded in the Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI) model, the blog incorporates three core activities: reading, writing, and discussion to foster cognitive engagement and collaborative learning. MUETProMax features structured writing tasks, model essays, grammar tips, and AI tools such as ChatGPT to assist with idea generation and feedback. It also integrates a live newsfeed from the New Straits Times to encourage students to engage with real-world issues and improve content knowledge. MUETProMax enhances learner autonomy, critical thinking, and writing competence while providing teachers and other educational stakeholders with a reliable supplementary learning tool. The integration of AI and digital media aligns with national education priorities, offering a student-centered, innovative approach to MUET writing preparation.  In conclusion, MUETProMax addresses critical gaps in MUET writing preparation by leveraging technology and cognitive instruction to create a student-centered, interactive learning environment.

Keywords: (MUET, MUET Writing Task 2, WeCWI, WeCWI-enabled instructional blog, ESL