Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
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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 of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Nationals 4/5 of Scotland, and the GCE Ordinary Level (O Level) of 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 further studies in foundation, STPM, matriculation or diploma. 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. All SPM examination papers are considered official secrets and are protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972 of Malaysia.[1]
Starting from the year 2021, the Malaysian Ministry of Education introduced a new SPM format for the new KSSM syllabus, replacing the old SPM format for the old KBSM syllabus.[2] Also for the English subject, the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) syllabus is implemented for the English Paper and the result statement will be handed out with the SPM Certificate.[3]
History
The SPM provides the opportunity for Malaysians to continue their studies to pre-university level. Originally there is two version of SPM, one known as MCE (Malaysian Certificates of Education) taken by student studying in English school and SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) taken by student studying in national school. Both examination was introduced in 1964. The difference between SPM and MCE are SPM was conducted using the national language (Bahasa Melayu) while MCE was conducted using English language. There is also the visual difference on how the certificate would look like. The MCE would use University of Cambridge Coat of Arm while SPM would use the Malaysian Government Coat of Arm at the top of the certificate. The MCE was discontinued in 1976 when the Ministry of Education took over the examination from UCLES and merged it with SPM. The predecessor of these exam were SPPTM (Sijil Pelajaran Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Started in 1962) and FMC (Federation of Malaya Certificate. Started on 1957) before the formation of Federation of Malaysia.[4]
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 the pre-secondary transition class (commonly known as "remove 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. They are:[5][6]
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 Education | Malay |
1225 | Pendidikan Moral[b] | Moral Education | Malay |
1249 | Sejarah | History | Malay |
1449 | Matematik | Mathematics | English and Malay |
1511 | Sains[c] | Science | English and 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. |
Elective subjects
Science and Mathematics
Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
---|---|---|---|
3472 | Matematik Tambahan | Additional Mathematics | English and Malay |
4531 | Fizik | Physics | English and Malay |
4541 | Kimia | Chemistry | English and Malay |
4551 | Biologi | Biology | English and Malay |
4561 | Sains Tambahan | Additional Science | English and 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 | Kesusasteraan Inggeris | 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 |
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 | Business | 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 |
5228 | 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 Skills | Arabic |
5303 | Turath Al-Quran dan Al-Sunnah | Quran and Sunnah Classics | Arabic |
5304 | Turath Dirasat Islamiah | Islamic Studies Classics | Arabic |
5305 | Turath Bahasa Arab | Arabic Language Classics | Arabic |
5401 | Usul Al-Din | Foundational Islamic Theology | Arabic |
5402 | Al-Syariah | Islamic Law | Arabic |
5403 | Al-Lughah Al-'Arabiah Al-Mu'asirah | Arabic Language | Arabic |
5404 | Manahij Al-'Ulum Al-Islamiah | Islamic Logic | Arabic |
5405 | Al-Adab Wa Al-Balaghah | Arabic Literature and Rhetorics | 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 | Malay |
Technical and Vocational
Code | Subject (Official name) | Subject (English name) | Examination language |
---|---|---|---|
3729 | Pertanian | Agricultural Science | Malay |
3759 | Lukisan Kejuruteraan | Engineering Drawing | Malay |
3760 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal | Mechanical Engineering Studies | Malay |
3761 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Awam | Civil Engineering Studies | Malay |
3762 | Pengajian Kejuruteraan Elektrik dan Elektronik | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Studies | 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 Penggayaan 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 | Produksi Reka Tanda | Signage Design | Malay |
7402 | Hiasan Dalaman | Interior Design | Malay |
7403 | Produksi Multimedia | Multimedia Production | Malay |
7404 | Reka Bentuk Grafik Digital | Digital Graphic Design | Malay |
Old/Terminated subjects
Due to the switch from KBSM syllabus to KSSM syllabus in 2017, some subjects have been terminated and switched to a fully new syllabus. The list does not include courses that have minor changes in name only.
Old subject name | New subject name |
---|---|
3775 Perdagangan | 3766 Perniagaan |
3757 Ekonomi Asas | 3767 Ekonomi |
3758 Ekonomi Rumah Tangga | 3769 Sains Rumah Tangga |
3764 Engineering Technology | 3768 Asas Kelestarian |
3765 Information and Communication Technology | 3770 Sains Komputer |
3728 Sains Pertanian | 3729 Pertanian |
4571 Pengetahuan Sains Sukan | 4572 Sains Sukan |
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 Bahasa Melayu, Sejarah and Mathematics.
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.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] The Kepujian (Pass-With-Credit) grade are equivalent with UK GCSE Pass-With-Credit grade as stated on the back of the certificates.
The table below shows the comparison between previous grade system and the current one.
2000 – 2008 | From 2009 | Grade Value | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | A+ | 0 | Cemerlang Tertinggi (Super Distinction) | Cemerlang
Pass-With-Distinction |
A1 | A | 1 | Cemerlang Tinggi (High Distinction) | |
A2 | A- | 2 | Cemerlang (Distinction) | |
B3 | B+ | 3 | Kepujian Tertinggi (Super Credit) | Kepujian
Pass-With-Credit (UK GCSE Equivalent with said category) |
B4 | B | 4 | Kepujian Tinggi (High Credit) | |
C5 | C+ | 5 | Kepujian Atas (Upper Credit) | |
C6 | C | 6 | Kepujian (Credit) | |
D7 | D | 7 | Lulus Atas (Upper Pass) | Lulus
Pass |
E8 | E | 8 | Lulus (Pass) | |
G9 | G | 9 | Gagal (Fail) | Gagal (Fail) |
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Ulangan (SPMU)
SPMU was introduced for a student who failed or got a low passing grade in certain core subject in SPM to retake it back. SPMU usually held on July in a normal circumstances hence the examination are also known as SPM July Paper. Originally there is only one July Paper, which is Bahasa Melayu as it was the first and the only compulsory subject to pass in SPM to be qualified to be awarded with the SPM Certificate until 2010.
Bahasa Melayu (BM) was slowly dosed into the national school system beginning 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 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%. To solve this problem, the July Paper was introduced so that students would be given a second chance to retake the paper.[10]
As the time pass, there is a lot of changes in education policy and the higher education institution standpoint. On 2010, Sejarah (History) subject becoming the second compulsory subject to pass in SPM to be qualified to be awarded with the SPM Certificate. Making student required to pass both Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah to be qualified with the SPM Certificate. Also many university required student to achieved at least C in their Mathematics or at some college to achieve at least Passing Grade. Because of this change and demand the Examination Syndicates announce that the Sejarah and Mathematics paper are also available to retake along with Bahasa Melayu paper in SPMU.[11]
References
- ^ "Taklimat OSA" (PDF). Official Website of Legal Affairs Division of Prime Minister Department. Retrieved 9 March 2022. (in Malay)
- ^ Berita Harian (in Malay) (4 March 2020). "SPM Will Use A New Format Next Year (Malay: SPM Guna Format Baharu Tahun Depan)". bharian.com.my. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Assessment Format for English Aligned for CEFR" (PDF). Examination Syndicates, Ministry of Education, Malaysia. Retrieved 9 March 2022. (in Malay)
- ^ Ministry of Education Malaysia. "Secondary School Examination, Education Standpoint (In Malay: Pendidikan Sekolah Menengah, Hala Tuju Pendidikan)". Ministry of Education Malaysia. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
- ^ Astro Awani (in Malay) (1 November 2017). "Fail BM Issue: It may hard to achieve A but is it so hard to pass? (in Malay)". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Informasi UPUOnline (in Malay) (10 May 2022). "How to Retake SPM (in Malay)". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
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