Poor SPM Results? What’s Next?
So, the day of reckoning is over and you’ve gotten your SPM results.
If your results aren’t as you expected, or if you fell short on some subjects that you thought you could have scored, it’s okay to feel gloomy or guilty that you didn’t utilise more of your time to study.
But after a week of being down in the dumps, it’s probably time for you to pick yourself up again. After all, SPM is just a small test in the grand scheme of things. Chances are, no one is going to harass you about it before the year ends.
So instead of crying about it, here are 5 things you can do if your SPM results are not as good as you anticipated.
#1. Appeal your grades
If you are seeking to meet the entry requirements for your desired pre-university course, or if you think your grades are right below the borderline to a higher grade, you can try getting your paper marked again.
With a fee to part with (RM100 per subject), you can have your papers remarked and hopefully (fingers crossed!), you will be able to attain a higher grade that will open doors to various opportunities.
To submit an appeal, you will need to fill up a form called Borang Permohonan Penyemakan Semula Keputusan Peperiksaan/Kes T, which is on the Board of Examination Malaysia (Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia) website. You can also find it at any of these places:
- Your school
- Assessment and Examination Unit / Sector (Sektor / Unit Penilaian dan Peperiksaan)
- State Department of Education (Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri)
- Examination review counter in the Board of Examination Malaysia in Putrajaya (Kaunter Semak Semula Lembaga Peperiksaan Putrajaya)
You need to make sure that your form reaches the Board of Examination Malaysia’s office within 30 days after SPM results are announced or else it will not be processed. Your reviewed results will be posted to you 2 months after the appeal deadline. Ensure that you attach the following required documents:
- 1 verified copy of your official SPM 2019 results
- A verified certificate or copy of your pentaksiran berdasarkan sekolah (PBS) or school-based assessments by your school principal or Pegawai Kerajaan Kumpulan A
*Incomplete forms will not be processed.
#2. Retake your subjects
If you are not confident that having your papers reviewed will improve your grades, or if you want to aim for a higher grade, perhaps you can choose to resit your papers.
For a step-by-step guide on repeating your SPM subjects, click here.
Do note that for SPM Ulangan in June, there are only 3 subjects that you can register for. These include:
- Mathematics
- Bahasa Melayu
- Sejarah
If you’d like to retake papers for other subjects, you will need to register as an SPM private candidate and sit for the papers with the rest of the present year SPM students in November / December.
You will need to consider this option thoroughly as it will take another year for you to obtain better grades. By then, your peers may have already completed a year of their pre-university studies so be sure to make it count!
Resitting papers is usually for students who are looking to enter specific pre-university or degree courses. So if you are looking to study a foundation course and you’re just shy of one credit, this is an option you can consider!
#3. Pursue diploma or certificate courses
If you’re missing a couple of credits from your SPM slip, you can also consider other pathways, such as pursuing a diploma or certificate. After all, they can still lead you to selected degree courses.
For a start, a diploma only requires 3 credits at SPM. Upon completion, you can then progress to the second year of a relevant degree. This makes your total study duration similar to taking a foundation then a degree.
Certificate courses, on the other hand, typically require only 1 credit, as long as you pass Bahasa Melayu and History. Completing a certificate will allow you to progress to a diploma and subsequently a degree.
So if you think retaking your papers will not change your grades, you may consider these alternatives, provided that you meet the entry requirements.
#4. Pursue skills/TVET certificate & diploma courses
If you don’t have enough credits but intend to pursue an academic diploma, some University or University Colleges also accept Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) as an entrance requirement.
No worries, if you don’t have any credit or worse still, failed in your SPM (parents force you to complete SPM despite your interest is in skills based programs), you can always pursue your interest in skills/TVET courses.
Remember, pursuing skills/TVET courses should not be your last resort but must be your interest. Studies has shown that graduates with skills are much more employable – 80 to 90 per cent of them are able to get a job after six months upon graduation (vs graduates from academic background. Those taking cert/diploma/degree in business studies, marketing, information technology, social science courses will find it hard to land a job, unlike those who take Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) courses.
#5. Contact us (Finding TVET course despite poor SPM results)
If you are undecided on what course or where to pursue your TVET/skills courses, you can get in touch with us here or call us at +6012 3123430. We will be happy to help!
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if your SPM results are good or bad because it’s not the end of the road yet. There are still plenty of things you can do to secure your future. Many have managed to become successful, even without a string of As.
Credit: https://eduadvisor.my (Points 1-3 are from them)
