Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), or the Malaysian Certificate of Education, is a national examination taken by all fifth-form secondary school students in Malaysia. It is the equivalent to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Nationals 4/5 in Scotland; and GCE Ordinary Level in the Commonwealth of Nations. It is the leaving examination of the eleventh grade of schooling.
SPM is the penultimate examination sat by secondary school students before entry into sixth form or technical education. The examination is set and examined by the Malaysian Examinations board (Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia). For those who attend international schools, the equivalent exam they sit for is the International General Certificate of Secondary Education exam. On the other hand, the Unified Examinations Certificate is equivalent to Advanced Level.
History
The SPM is equivalent to the British GCSE, and provides the opportunity for Malaysians to continue their studies to pre-university level. Up to 1978, the examination was handled by UCLES, which still advises the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate on standards. The English paper is separately graded by the national examination board and UCLES, and both grades will be displayed on the statement slip. On the actual certificate, only the national examination board's grade is listed. The minimum requirements to obtain the certificate is to pass both Malay language and History.
Generally, the SPM is taken at the age of 17, though students who attended pre-secondary school class would take it at the age of 18. Previously, students who successfully passed their Penilaian Tahap Satu (PTS) examination at Primary Three and chose to skip a year of primary school education would take their SPM a year earlier, at the age of 16. This was discontinued in 2000. Students who are home schooled generally take the SPM at the end of their secondary education as well.
Subjects
Compulsory subjects
Certain subjects are made compulsory for students. These are:[1][2]
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1103 | Bahasa Melayu | Malay Language | Malay |
| 1119 | Bahasa Inggeris | English Language | English |
| 1223 | Pendidikan Islam[a] | Islamic Studies | Malay |
| 1225 | Pendidikan Moral[b] | Moral Education | Malay |
| 1249 | Sejarah | History | Malay |
| 1449 | Mathematics | Mathematics | English or Malay |
| 1511 | Science[c] | Science | English or Malay |
| a Compulsory for all Muslim students except for students in Islamic Science stream, who are required to take their respective electives in lieu of this subject. |
| b Compulsory for all non-Muslim students. |
| c Compulsory for students in the Commerce, Literature and Arts streams only. Students in the Pure Science, Islamic Science, and Humanities Science streams are required to take their respective Science electives in lieu of this subject. |
Science and Mathematics
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3472 | Additional Mathematics | Additional Mathematics | English or Malay |
| 4531 | Physics | Physics | English or Malay |
| 4541 | Chemistry | Chemistry | English or Malay |
| 4551 | Biology | Biology | English or Malay |
| 4561 | Additional Science | Additional Science | English or Malay |
| 3765 | Information and Communication Technology | Information and Communication Technology | English or Malay |
In 2003, the medium of instruction for the science and mathematics subjects was switched from Malay to English. Due to this transition, students taking science and mathematics subjects can choose to respond in the examinations in either English or Malay.
Languages and Literature
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2205 | Literature in English | Literature in English | English |
| 2215 | Kesusasteraan Melayu | Malay Literature | Malay |
| 2361 | Bahasa Arab | Arabic Language | Arabic |
| 6351 | Bahasa Cina | Chinese Language | Standard Chinese |
| 6354 | Bahasa Tamil | Tamil Language | Tamil |
| 6355 | English for Science and Technology | English for Science and Technology | English |
| 6356 | Bahasa Iban | Iban Language | Iban |
| 6357 | Bahasa Kadazandusun | Kadazandusun Language | Kadazandusun |
| 6358 | Bahasa Semai | Semai Language | Semai |
| 6401 | Bahasa Jepun | Japanese Language | Japanese |
| 6405 | Bahasa Jerman | German Language | German |
| 6406 | Bahasa Korea | Korean Language | Korean |
| 6407 | Bahasa Cina Komunikasi | Communicative Chinese Language | Standard Chinese |
| 9216 | Kesusasteraan Cina | Chinese Literature | Standard Chinese |
| 9217 | Kesusasteraan Tamil | Tamil Literature | Tamil |
| 9303 | Bahasa Perancis | French Language | French |
| 9378 | Bahasa Punjabi | Punjabi Language | Punjabi |
Economics & Business
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3754 | Pengajian Keusahawanan | Entrepreneurial Studies | Malay |
| 3766 | Perniagaan | Commerce | Malay |
| 3756 | Prinsip Perakaunan | Principles of Accounting | Malay |
| 3767 | Ekonomi | Economics | Malay |
Social Sciences & Religion
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2280 | Geografi | Geography | Malay |
| 5226 | Tasawwur Islam | Islamic Worldviews | Malay |
| 5227 | Pendidikan Al-Quran dan Al-Sunnah | Quran and Sunnah Studies | Malay |
| 5228 | Pendidikan Syariah Islamiah | Islamic Law Studies | Malay |
| 5301 | Hifz Al-Quran | Quran Recitation | Arabic |
| 5302 | Maharat Al-Quran | Quran Studies | Arabic |
| 5401 | Usul Al-Din | Islamic Studies | Arabic |
| 5402 | Al-Syariah | Islamic Law | Arabic |
| 5403 | Al-Lughah Al-'Arabiah Al-Mu'asirah | Arabic Language | Arabic |
| 9221 | Bible Knowledge | Bible Knowledge | English |
Arts and Health
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2611 | Pendidikan Seni Visual | Visual Arts Education | Malay |
| 2621 | Pendidikan Muzik | Music Education | Malay |
| 4572 | Sains Sukan | Sports Science Knowledge | Malay |
Technical and Vocational
| Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3729 | Pertanian | Agricultural Science | Malay |
| 3759 | Lukisan Kejuruteraan | Engineering Drawing | English or Malay |
| 3760 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal | Mechanical Engineering Studies | English or Malay |
| 3761 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Awam | Civil Engineering Studies | English or Malay |
| 3762 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Elektrik dan Elektronik | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Studies | English or Malay |
| 3763 | Reka Cipta | Invention | Malay |
| 3768 | Asas Kelestarian | Basics of Sustainability | Malay |
| 3769 | Sains Rumah Tangga | Home Science | Malay |
| 3770 | Sains Komputer | Computer Science | Malay |
| 3771 | Grafik Komunikasi Teknikal | Technical Communication Graphics | Malay |
| 7101 | Pembinaan Domestik | Domestic Construction | Malay |
| 7102 | Membuat Perabot | Furniture Making | Malay |
| 7103 | Kerja Paip Domestik | Domestic Plumbing | Malay |
| 7104 | Pendawaian Domestik | Domestic Wiring | Malay |
| 7105 | Kimpalan Arka dan Gas | Arc and Gas Welding | Malay |
| 7106 | Menservis Automobil | Automobile Servicing | Malay |
| 7107 | Menservis Motosikal | Motorcycle Servicing | Malay |
| 7108 | Menservis Peralatan Penyejukan dan Penyamanan Udara | Air-Conditioning Servicing | Malay |
| 7109 | Menservis Peralatan Elektrik Domestik | Domestic Electrical Appliances Servicing | Malay |
| 7201 | Rekaan dan Jahitan Pakaian | Design and Tailoring | Malay |
| 7202 | Katering dan Penyajian | Catering Service | Malay |
| 7203 | Pemprosesan Makanan | Food Processing | Malay |
| 7204 | Penjagaan Muka dan Dandanan Rambut | Facial and Hair Care | Malay |
| 7205 | Asuhan dan Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak | Infant Care and Early Childhood Education | Malay |
| 7206 | Gerontologi Asas dan Perkhidmatan Geriatrik | Geriatic Services | Malay |
| 7301 | Landskap dan Nurseri | Nursery and Landscape | Malay |
| 7302 | Akuakultur dan Haiwan Rekreasi | Aquaculture and Pets | Malay |
| 7303 | Tanaman Makanan | Food and Crop Cultivation | Malay |
| 7401 | Seni Reka Tanda | Signage Design | Malay |
| 7402 | Hiasan Dalaman Asas | Basic Interior Decoration | Malay |
| 7403 | Produksi Multimedia | Multimedia Production | Malay |
| 7404 | Grafik Berkomputer | Computer Graphics | Malay |
Results
The evaluation scheme is fully exam-based. The examination for SPM usually takes place around November and lasts for more than 3 weeks. Papers are also scheduled in June for students who wish to resit for examinations they failed the previous year, but only for the compulsory subjects.
When releasing the results, only the letter grades (and not the actual scores) are made known to the candidates. Candidates may request a remarking (regrading) if they suspect errors in the original marking. Although no list of rankings is released to the public, the names of the top ranked students in the country and in each state are released to the press. These students may achieve the level of temporary celebrities, and may even be approached by companies to advertise their products.[3] Politicians usually visit some of these top ranked students a day before the official results to congratulate them. Because the SPM examination is the final nationally standardised examination taken by the majority of Malaysians, many scholarships are awarded based on SPM results.
Since 2010, however, the Ministry of Education has imposed a 10-subject limit on every candidate, while lowering the minimum number of subjects from 8 to 6. Students are allowed to take 2 additional subjects (comprising Arabic, Chinese, Tamil, Iban, Kadazandusun languages and Bible Knowledge) but they will not be taken into consideration for government scholarships.[4]
Prior to year 2011, the Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships are given to students who scored excellent results in the SPM examination for their studies in universities. However, at June 2011, the Public Service Department announced that starting from the year 2012 onwards they will no longer offer scholarships to SPM leavers, instead they will only offer scholarships to leavers of STPM and A-Level. Later, at 23 March 2012, the Ministry of Education of Malaysia announced that starting from the SPM 2011 batch onwards, students who obtained 9A+ or above in the SPM are eligible for bursaries given by the ministry which will cover costs for pre-university programmes such as A-Level, International Baccalaureate, etc. In addition, the top-50 SPM candidates in the whole country can still be offered the Public Service Department scholarships based on National Scholarship Programme.
Grade system
Candidates are assigned grades based on their scores in each subject. The exact grading scale used every year has never been made public.
Since 2009, grading system used has a range from A+ (the highest grade) to G (for "gagal" or fail; F is not used). The previous system assigned a grade point and a letter to each range, with 1A ("1" being the grade point and "A" the letter grade) as highest range and 9G the lowest.[5]
The table below shows the comparison between previous grade system and the current one.
| 2000 – 2008 | From 2009 | Grade Value |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | A+ | 0 |
| A1 | A | 1 |
| A2 | A- | 2 |
| B3 | B+ | 3 |
| B4 | B | 4 |
| C5 | C+ | 5 |
| C6 | C | 6 |
| D7 | D | 7 |
| E8 | E | 8 |
| G9 | G | 9 |
Bahasa Melayu July Paper
Bahasa Melayu (BM) was slowly dosed into our national school system from 1960 but it was only made a compulsory subject in 1970 (i.e. to pass the Malaysia Certificate Education exam, a pass in BM is a must). Furthermore, a weak credit in BM is essential in order to secure a seat in sixth form. One of the many problems associated with this change is that many "good" students were unable to continue their post-secondary education because of their examination result in BM. In 1972, for instance, the BM failure rate was nearly 40%. And to solve this problem, the July Paper was introduced so that students are given a second chance to retake the paper.
References
- "Apa itu SPM?". MyExam.com. Retrieved 22 November 2011. (in Malay)
- "Secondary School Subjects". Ministry of Education, Malaysia. Retrieved 22 November 2011. (in Malay)
- Stamp of approval
- "Languages and Bible Knowledge as electives". The Star Online. 25 December 2009.
- http://www.moe.gov.my/cms/upload_files/circularfile/2009/circularfile_file_000489.pdf