The two types of SPM in Malaysia are the standard SPM, taken annually in November, and the SPMU (SPM Repeat), held in June for improving grades.
Table of Contents
SPM (Standard)
Overview
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or the Malaysian Certificate of Education is a standard national examination taken by all fifth-year secondary school students in Malaysia. This examination is a crucial determinant of students’ qualification for further educational paths in various institutions and streams. In general, this examination is taken at the age of 17. The overall SPM consists of 12 subjects which are compulsory and a few additional options, divided into their respective “science” and “art” streams. Basic subjects in the standard SPM are Bahasa Melayu, English, Islamic Education or Moral Education, History, and mathematics. Students, however, have to decide for an additional stream between Science and Arts. Science students’ additional subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Additional Mathematics, while those in Arts streams take Business, Economics, Geography, and Art.
Analysis
The best way to approach the examination’s impact on student’s life paths is through a rather practical example of the above-mentioned requirements to further study. In the case of Malaysia, if a student plans to become an engineer in any institution of the country, one has to have a great result in Mathematics, Add Math and Physics. In most cases, this result or at least alludes it is a significant condition of access to a scholarship. Furthermore, scholarships, especially prestigious ones, may demand no less than 8As in the examination, with certain results required for the critical subjects necessary for the specialized program.
The impact of SPM examination does not only influence the educational path of the examined but the career one as well. At the lowest levels of employment, especially for governmental secure positions, the minimum requirement is an SPM qualification. The results are important for determining the starting salary, which can vary amongst some industries by hundreds of ringgits accordingly to the number of distinctions. Preparation for the examination is also costly, as many students unable to achieve proper results invest in extra classes and materials that can amount to RM 1,000 – 3,000 a year, depending on the available resources and frequency of tutoring. Overall, the analysis of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and its impact indicate a stressfully competitive nature of further educational and work-related opportunities in Malaysia.
SPM Ulangan (SPMU)
SPM Ulangan, most commonly known as SPMU, is an opportunity for students who want to make their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia better. Although some students take their SPM in order to attend particular pre-university courses, some might not have sufficient grades to be eligible for their preferred choices. In addition, there are students who faced health conditions during the SPM period who were forced to attend re-sits for unavailable exams. Most of these exams were tough and required outstanding performance in order for the student to pass the specific exams. In addition, most students who underperform in the main exam are often expected to perform exemplary in the resits, thus the exams tend to be tougher than the main SPM exams.
The most significant added advantage of this exam is that it is usually done in June. This in turn eases the process of applying for pre-university course quickly without having to take another year of waiting for the other scheduled exams. Furthermore, considering that students are given chances to take courses that require particular grades of subjects like the mandated distinct pass of credit low grade for Science and particularly for Mathematics, they will be able to acquire better grades, which will help the students to join the university or pre-diploma school of their preference. Finally, one can decide that one wants to join a diploma in electrical or computer engineering course, which needs an entry requirement score of a B for Mathematics. So, if a student had received a C in the previous year, they might take SPM Ulangan in order to get a distinction, which in turn will enable one to join the first year class, which translates to no wasting of money on the time taking short courses. Each resit exam of a paper can cost RM 50-100 and a student can spend a maximum of RM 600 when retaking multiple subjects.