More than 9,600 SPM 2021 candidates score straight As

There is also slight improvement for last year’s GPN, education DG says

by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / pics by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

SOME 9,696 or 2.53% of last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates obtained straight As, a slight increase from the previous year’s 9,411.

In 2021, there were a total of 407,097 candidates who sat for the examination, which was 1.49% increase from 2020’s 401,105 candidates.

As for the national average grade (GPN), SPM 2021 showed a GPN of 4.86 compared to SPM 2020’s 4.80. According to Education DG Datuk Nor Zamani Abdol Hamid, a smaller GPN value indicates better candidate achievement.

At the 2021 SPM results announcement today, she said 88.09% of the candidates were eligible to be awarded the SPM certificate while 55.29% passed all subjects.

Nor Zamani noted that SPM 2021 candidates were the first cohort of students who sat for the examination using the new Standard-Based Curriculum for Secondary Schools (KSSM) and exam format.

KSSM was aimed to equip candidates with knowledge, skills and values to meet the country’s future needs in line with the aspirations of the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2013-2025.

“KSSM also emphasises mastering 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, as well as critical and creative thinking,” Nor Zamani said.

Nor Zamani is glad that the SPM 2021 candidates managed to sit through the exams smoothly as it was not easy to prepare for such an important examination with limited face-to-face learning

In line with the implementation of KSSM, SPM 2021 offered 95 subjects with a total of 180 exam papers. The candidates also sat for oral tests for Bahasa Malaysia and English which uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, as well as a practical science test.

Nor Zamani also acknowledged that the SPM 2021 candidates had gone through a very challenging learning process due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We admit that it was not easy to prepare for such an important examination with limited face-to-face learning.

“However, with mental, physical and emotional strength as well as support from all parties, they managed to sit through the exams successfully,” she added.

Candidates can check their SPM results on myresultspm.moe.gov.my or via SMS by typing “SPM <MyKad> <NumberRoll> <Number>” and send to 15888.