Lecturers’ guidance leads to success
STUDENT Eo Shao Dong, 19, who scored 3As in the recent Cambridge A-Level examinations, attributed her success to critical thinking skills inculcated by her lecturers at KDU.
Receiving the “Top in the Country Award” for History at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards presentation ceremony held recently, Eo said: “My history teacher showed me that learning history was not just about memorising facts, but also about analysing and understanding the implications of events.” That insight changed how she studied and helped her a lot.
She added that her classes have less than 20 students – a close-knit group that received individual attention from lecturers.
“They are experienced – some have been teaching for more than 25 years – and they are familiar with the best approach to preparing for the A-Levels.”
Eo was one of several high-performing A-Levels students from KDU College who achieved outstanding results in the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Levels (A-Levels) and Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Levels).
The group of 32 were feted at the KDU Excellence Awards and Farewell Tea, an annual event that brings together students, parents and teachers to recognise their achievements at the A-Levels and AS-Levels October/ November 2014 examinations.
The event also provided KDU College management team and faculty a chance to bid the students farewell before they moved on to tertiary education.
Eo also took home the award for “Best Overall Student in Arts”, while Cheok Koon Hean emerged as the “Best Overall Student in Science” awarded by KDU based on the results of the Cambridge A-Level examinations.
They were joined by Siti Rahil Shahril, 20, who also achieved 3As in Accounting, Economics and Mathematics.
Siti, who has enrolled in a Finance and Economics degree course in the United Kingdom, said she would be forever grateful to her lecturers for their tremendous help.
Her father Shahril Hj Awang also praised KDU, saying the institution’s lecturers instilled good values in its students, which was one of the reasons he had chosen to send Siti there.
Kim Suh, 19, who completed her Pre-Law A-Levels studies with 2As, said she learnt a lot from her lecturers, who were always ready to answer her questions,
“They always took time to help, even after their working hours,” she added.
KDU University College’s School of Pre-University places strong emphasis on academic pastoral care.
Students have individually assigned academic advisors, who place great emphasis on inculcating critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students receive personalised attention as there is a strict limit to class size.
Close rapport with parents through regular engagements is also established to ensure the students’ success.
A total of 72 candidates from KDU sat for the examinations in November last year.
The passing rates for the examination were 83% and 96% for the A-Levels and AS-Levels respectively, while 30% of the students achieved three to four As for both levels.
To find out more about KDU College’s Cambridge A-Level programme as well as other programmes under its School of Pre-University Studies, join the Open Day on March 7 and 8, and March 14 and 15 from 10am to 5pm at KDU University College, Utropolis, Glenmarie and KDU College, Damansara Jaya.
For enquiries, log on to
or call 03-5565 0538 (KDU University College, Utropolis, Glenmarie) or 03-7953 6688 (KDU College, Damansara Jaya).