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INFO EKSTRA

Paper 4

WRITING

Question 2
PRACTICE 1
Financial education should be introduced as a compulsory subject in schools.
What is your opinion? You should write at least 350 words. Illustrate your opinion with
examples.

Suggested Answer
I agree that financial education should be introduced as a compulsory subject in schools. Some
students believe that certain subjects taught in school are not beneficial in later life. Students want
to learn something that they can utilize in life. Therefore, financial education is indeed a good
subject to be introduced in schools.
Firstly, students will learn how to spend wisely. Students should learn how to save and spend
wisely even when they are in primary school. Some students are given a lot of pocket money as
parents are busy with their own agendas. Some parents do use money to compensate for lack of
time spent with their children and to show their love. However, young children may misuse the
money given to them. They may spend their money on junk food or other useless things as parents
are too busy to instill in their children the value of saving money and spending wisely.
Similarly, secondary school students with extra pocket money can afford to buy more expensive,
pricey items such as mobile phones and branded clothing. They have high spending, but not earning,
power. This can create the habit of spending without budgeting or planning. This is a situation that
certainly calls for financial education. Financial education will teach these students how to budget
or plan their expenditure, and how to make decisions on what to buy.
Other than that, financial education also teaches students the advantages of saving and investing
money. A healthy savings account will help students to be prepared for a financial emergency.
Today, many students do not seem to care too much about saving money. They would rather spend
it on having a good time. The subject of financial education could teach students how the money
spent could actually grow instead by accumulating interest if placed in a banking institution. They
are also exposed to how short-term or long-term savings accounts work in banks and the difference
between a simple savings account and a fixed deposit. The knowledge gained can be useful when
the students go out into the real or working world. Introducing this subject at a young age would
give them a strong foundation.
Finally, financial education can instill wise financial management among students. This can
help them to manage and overcome financial problems once they are in adulthood. For example,
problems such as bankruptcy and credit card debt, which point to poor financial management, are
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ACE AHEAD MUET Paper 4
Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. (008974-T) 2012

on the rise. If students learn about financial management, it can help to alleviate this phenomenon. At the same
time, students will also learn about insurance, unit trust funds, share markets and retirement plans which can
help them tremendously when planning their future financial life.
In conclusion, financial education provides important awareness on spending habits and helps individuals
in future. Therefore, I agree that financial education should be made a compulsory subject in schools.
Words in red to make a stand
Words in brown thesis statement what my essay is about
Words in green topic sentence what the paragraph is going to be about
Words in blue to conclude the paragraph
Words in pink to restate stand

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ACE AHEAD MUET Paper 4
Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. (008974-T) 2012

Question 2
PRACTICE 2
Studying abroad is better than studying in local universities.
What is your opinion? You should write at least 350 words. Illustrate your opinion with
examples.

Suggested Answer
Wealthy parents send their children to study abroad with the perception that overseas education
is definitely better. These parents lack confidence in the quality of education in local universities.
They are victims of the perception that overseas graduates are better compared to local graduates.
They are not aware that overseas education does not guarantee a high-paying job and the expenses
incurred are much higher than the potential earning power. They are more concerned with the social
status of sending their children overseas. I disagree with the idea that studying abroad is better than
studying in local universities.
Firstly, local universities produce quality graduates who are successful leaders. The quality
of education in local universities has improved tremendously. Malaysia is now known as the
education hub for higher learning. The Ministry of Higher Learning was set up to ensure the
quality of education in countless public and private universities. The number of foreign students in
these universities shows that foreigners trust our quality of education. We have qualified lecturers
conducting various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which are internationally
recognized such as the Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL) in University Malaya.
Most academic programmes in universities have received full accreditation from the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency, formerly known as the National Accreditation Council (LAN).
Overseas students come back with learned accents that may be impressive but do not mean
that they are better qualified or more competent than local graduates. Many successful teachers,
bankers, doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, entrepreneurs are from the local graduate pool.
Secondly, many people prefer not to study abroad due to cultural differences. It is difficult to
cope with ones studies and at the same time adapt to a foreign lifestyle and culture. Thus, those
who are less adaptable may be engulfed with anxiety and stress that will eventually take a toll on
their studies.
Furthermore, studying abroad means that students might lose certain crucial cultural values.
On the contrary, they are influenced by the Western culture and come back with new modern
values that contradict Asian family values. They are less understanding towards family customs
and traditions. This can cause feuds and conflicts within the family. Besides that, after years of
studying abroad, the family relationship is generally different. In contrast, studying locally ensures
that local and family values are maintained, and avoid the issues which overseas graduates face
upon their return to their homeland.
Finally, people prefer to study locally to save costs. Studying abroad requires high tuition
fees, expensive accommodation and transportation. High exchange rates that might fluctuate could
also create financial woes for some families. Other than that, students who study overseas often
feel homesick and this could lead to more money spent on travelling home during the holidays or
having their parents to visit them often. While the advent of the Internet and the latest technology
has alleviated this problem somewhat, nevertheless it is a fact that overseas education is many
times more expensive than local education.
Hence, many prefer to study in local universities where there is quality education minus the
financial woes and cultural differences. Undergraduates feel more secure and are more focused in
their studies. Local graduates have proved that they are as competent as overseas graduates in the
Malaysian workforce.
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Firstly, Secondly, Shows the logical order of ideas to support the writers opinion.
Finally
Such as

Provides an example to illustrate that programmes conducted by


universities are internationally recognized.

Furthermore

Links the idea of losing cultural values to the earlier idea on culture
shock.

On the contrary

Signals a difference in ideas: students lose their own cultural values


but came back with contradicting Western values.

Besides that

Adds a further reason as to why family relationships are looser.

Other than that

To link the new idea of hidden costs involved to the previous idea of
the high costs involved.

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ACE AHEAD MUET Paper 4
Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd. (008974-T) 2012

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