Two points are the same idea when knowing one tells you everything the other says. Passages restate the same idea in new words, so this lesson gives you a quick test.
It is part of rumusan decisions with competing evidence and extends the earlier lesson on selecting without repetition.
What is the swap test?
Replace one sentence with the other in your rumusan. If the paragraph loses nothing, they carry one idea. If something goes missing, they are two.
Do this with the subject, the action and the result in mind. Two sentences about the same subject and action, with the same result, are one point.
Worked pairs from an original passage
The passage is about a library that extended its opening hours. Test each pair.
| Pair | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| “Perpustakaan dibuka sehingga lapan malam” / “Waktu operasi perpustakaan dilanjutkan hingga malam” | Same idea | Both say the hours are longer |
| “Murid boleh belajar selepas kelas tambahan” / “Murid mempunyai lebih masa untuk mengulang kaji” | Different | One gives the moment of use, the other the benefit |
| “Buku rujukan ditambah” / “Koleksi bahan bacaan diperluas” | Same idea | Both say the collection grew |
| “Koleksi diperluas” / “Komputer disediakan untuk murid” | Different | Books and computers are separate resources |
The second pair looks alike because both talk about students studying. Yet the first tells when, and the second tells what the extra time allows.
The mistake that costs marks
The error goes two ways. Some students treat similar wording as the same idea and drop a real point. Others treat different wording as different ideas and keep a duplicate.
In both cases the cause is comparing words instead of meaning. Always restate each sentence in your own short phrase first, then compare the phrases.
Try a rewrite
Write each sentence as a four-word phrase before comparing. “Perpustakaan dibuka sehingga lapan malam” becomes “waktu buka dipanjangkan”. “Waktu operasi dilanjutkan ke petang” becomes “waktu buka dipanjangkan”. The phrases match, so the idea is one.
This habit takes seconds and works on any passage. It also prepares you for the next step, where you rewrite a point concisely.
Check yourself
Are these one idea or two? (a) “Kantin menaikkan harga nasi lemak.” (b) “Pelajar membayar lebih untuk sarapan.”
Answer
They are closely linked but not identical. Sentence (a) states the canteen’s action, and sentence (b) states the result for students.
If the question asks for sebab students complain, the price rise may be enough and (b) repeats it. If the question asks for kesan on students, (b) is the point and (a) is the cause. Decide with the focus word, as in the lesson on separating cause from effect.
What to study next
Go on to rewriting a selected point concisely, or test yourself on the section practice.
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