Analysis of questions in the SPM examination and in workbooks based on "The Pearl"

This study investigated the relevance of the usage of workbooks and their significance in preparing students for the SPM examination in teaching the novel part of the literature component in the Form Five English language syllabus. The teaching of a novel is a compulsory part of the English language paper in the SPM examination. Teachers and students throughout the country have turned to the usage of supplementary workbooks. Publishers have come out with numerous workbooks to help teachers and students prepare for the literature component in their exam. It is the purpose of this study to find out if these books comply with the English language curriculum specifications lined out by the Education Ministry of Malaysia . A total number of 20 books were analysed using Bloom’s taxonomy of question levels. . The study revealed that most of these books did comply with the curriculum specifications