Despite Studying-From-Home, SPM Candidates’ Results Are The Best Since 2016

By Karissa Lund  •  10 Jun 2021 in News

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Over 400,000 students who made up the first cohort of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination (SPM) candidates to sit for their papers during the Covid-19 pandemic have achieved the best National Grade Average (GPN) index in the past five years.

Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin in a special briefing ahead of the official results this morning said the GPN index for SPM 2020 was at 4.80 which is better compared to 4.86 for SPM 2019.

According to Malay Mail, roughly 88.68 per cent of 401,105 candidates nationwide were eligible to receive their certificate, an increase of 1.96 per cent from the previous year (86.72 per cent).

“Core subjects which showed improvement in the 2020 results were Mathematics, Science, History, Moral Studies and Islamic Studies, whereas core subjects which recorded a decline were Bahasa Malaysia and English.

“The GPN of 4.80 is the best we have achieved since 2016,” he told reporters today (10 June).

Radzi also said the results showed that 43 out of 83 subjects recorded an improvement in performance, while 39 subjects recorded a decline; and one maintained the status quo.

He noted that candidates’ performance in both urban and rural areas has improved with the GPN in urban areas at 4.68 compared to 4.70 last year, and rural areas at 5.06 compared to 5.14 in 2018.

ICYMI, the SPM 2020 cohort – including teachers and supporting staff, had all faced unprecedented challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The examination was initially scheduled to be held from last 5 Oct until 19 Nov but was eventually postponed three times due to school closures under various stages of the movement control order since last 18 March. SPM 2020 was finally held from 22 Feb until 25 March this year.