Tips for making the grade in SPM
Why scoring for the exam improves scholarship and career prospects
AS a course and scholarship matching platform, Uni Enrol has seen many students miss out on opportunities to save on tuition fees because they are short of an A.
This is because the majority of private colleges and universities award bursaries and scholarships based on the number of As obtained in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
As an online platform that enables students to match with hundreds of scholarships by inputting their exam results, Uni Enrol has introduced the SPM Masterclass to help students score more As.
The SPM Masterclass online workshop is not a tuition or intensive class but is designed to complement students own preparations and tuition classes.
The classes focus on answering techniques which is the right way to answer questions based on exam schemes so that students can get the maximum scores allocated for the question.
The Masterclass will also include analysis of exam trends as well as discussions of popular and challenging questions students may face in the SPM.
Most students only sit for the SPM once. Having an added advantage can make a significant difference.
Why As in the SPM are important: > Qualify for scholarships
Top grades are crucial for scholarship awards. If students are aiming to enter higher private institutions (HEIs), getting that one extra A can sometimes be the determining factor of whether a scholarship is awarded.
Many private higher education institutions provide scholarships and bursaries for students with at least 5As and above. In many scholarship schemes offered by private institutions, the scholarship amount offered is exponentially higher the more As a student achieves.
While there are special rebates or bursaries given if students achieve 3As to 5As, the difference between 7As and 8As can mean an additional RM10,000 or more in savings for certain institutions.
> Qualify for courses of interest
Scholarships aside, students should be aware that achieving excellent academic results is crucial in determining the types of programmes and the fields of study they qualify for. For example, to do a foundation course, which leads to a degree, students must have at least five SPM credits.
A minimum of three credits is needed for diploma studies, otherwise, students will need
to start from the certificate level.
For the medical field, students must achieve at least a B for certain science subjects and at the very minimum, a credit in
Mathematics, if they are keen on architecture or computer science courses.
These are requirements laid down by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).
> Make an impression on prospective employers
SPM results have an impact on a student’s future prospects. Many employers still look at SPM results as part of the employment evaluation process.
Most of the time, employers are not fixated on academic results but are using the results as a gauge of the candidates character.
While a candidate’s involvement in extra-curricular activities is looked at to evaluate his or her social skills, consistent and high academic achievements may be a reflection of the individual’s perseverance, work ethic, ability to learn and adapt, and level of discipline.
The SPM Masterclass will be held next month. Slots for the unienrol. com/spm- masterclass are filling up fast. To avoid disappointment, register now at unienrol. com/spm- masterclass. Use the promo code SPMMASTERCLASS10 to get a 10% discount or call 03-5613 7225 (Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 6pm).