SPM English 1119 Past Year Paper

Essay Topics - Categorised

DESCRIPTIVE
2014 - (1) Describe an important family celebration and how
you felt about it. (2) 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.'
Describe how a friend helped you in difficult time.
2013 - 'Truly Malaysian.' Describe what this means to you.
2012 - Describe an outing with your friends.
2011 - A famous person you admire.
2010 - Describe the most popular student in your school.
2009 - Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on
your way home from school.
2008 - Write about a person who has succeeded in life.
2007 - Describe an embarrassing experience in your life.
2006 - Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced.
2005 - Describe the biggest challenge in your life.

2004 - Describe a festival celebrated in your area.

2002 - Describe a favourite teacher who had a great influence
on you.
2001 - Describe how you spend a free day when the weather
was very bad.
2000 - My Hero
1998 - Describe a day at school when you were very unhappy.
1997 - (1) Imagine your were moving to a new house.
Describe the last day in your old house. (2) Describe the scene
at a crowded bus or railway station.

ARGUMENTATIVE
2014 - There is a lack of freedom given to teenagers today.
Do you agree?
2013 - Is tuition necessary? Discuss.
2012 - Should parents give children more freedom? Discuss.
2011 - Should school students have part-time jobs?

2010 - "The Internet is mostly a good thing." Do you agree?

Support your opinion.
2009 - School children should not have long holidays. Do you
agree?
2008 - Examinations - good or bad?
2007 - 'Teenagers today are only interested in entertainment.'
Do you agree?
2002 - Good results in school do not guarantee success in the
future. What is your opinion?
2001 - Some people think the legal age for driving should be
increased from 17 to 19. What do you think?
2000 - "More land should be used for agriculture than for
industry." Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons to support
your opinion.
1999 - The computer - is it really an advantage?
1998 - Parents do not spend enough time with children
nowadays. What is your opinion?
1997 - Do you think games are an important part of school
life?

FACTUAL / EXPOSITORY
2014 - Why are animals important to human beings?
2013 - Reality shows
2012 - Saving money for the future.
2011 - The best things in life are free.
2010 - What can we do to save the environment?
2009 - My favourite day of the week.
2007 - My early years
2006 - How can television help students in their studies?
2005 - How to keep oneself healthy.
2004 - How can we help promote tourism in Malaysia?
2003 - An invention you cannot live without.
2002 - How I can help to make the world a better place to live
in.

2001 - (1) How do you think the media has influenced you
and your family? (2) Large families make happy families.
2000 - (1) Life in Malaysia in the new millennium. (2) Things
that I like about my life.
1999 - Education - what it means to me.
1997 - Being young.

NARRATIVE
2014 - Write a story about a fisherman beginning with: "The
wind blew strongly. Out at sea, ..."
2013 - (1) Write a story about being alone. (2) Write a story
that ends with: "... and so I became a better person."
2012 - Write a story beginning with: "The teacher walked into
the classroom. It was the first period ..." (For another model
answer, click here:Model Answer 2)
2011 - Write a story that ends with: "... They looked at each
other and smiled meaningfully." (For another model answer,
click here: Model Answer 2)
2010 - Write a story beginning with "It had been raining all

day...".
Model Answer 2
Model Answer 3
2009 - Write a story that ends with: "... We said our goodbyes
and went our separate ways."
2008 - Write a story ending with: "... Now I realise the value
of a true friend."
Model Answer 2
Model Answer 3
2007 - Write a story beginning with: "Kim was nervous when
the door opened...". (For another model answer, click
here: Model Answer 2)
2006 - Write a story ending with: "If only I had been more
careful, that wouldn't have happened." (For another model
answer, click here: Model Answer 2)
2005 - Write a story with the title: "An Unexpected Visitor".
2004 - Write a story ending with: "... We had never laughed
so much in our lives."
2003 - (1) Write a story that ends with: "... If only I had
listened to his/her advice." (2) A day I wished had never
happened. (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)
2002 - Write a story beginning with: "Is it really you? Where
have you been all these years?"

2001 - Write a story of an old man returning to his home he

left many years ago.
1999 - The day I lost my temper.
1998 - Write a story beginning with: "I could tell by his face
that he was angry...
1997 - Write a story with the following title: A Narrow
Escape. (For another model answer, click here: Model Answer
2)

ONE WORD / OPEN ESSAY

2012 - Cleanliness
2011 - Peace
2010 - Home
2009 - Beauty
2008 - Stars
2007 - Tomorrow

2006 - Food
2005 - Music
2004 - Clothes
2003 - Friends
2002 - Colours
1999 - Memories (For another model answer, click here: Model
Answer 2)
(Although this essay with the same title is a bit long, you can
get some ideas too.)
1997 - Water

IMAGINATIVE
2008 - My perfect future husband or wife
2006 - What changes would you like to see in your life in the
next ten years?
2005 - If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would
you want to be and why?

2004 - My ideal school

2003 - You have been given a chance to visit a country of your
choice. Which country would you choose and why?
2000 - If you were able to choose a time in history that you
could visit, which time would it be and why?
1999 - My Dream Car