STPM is Difficult. Fact or Myth?

After completing SPM, many students are not always sure if they want to continue their studies. Most wonder which path, between Matriculation, Form 6, Diploma, or Foundation, is the shortest one to take to get a degree. Then again, lots of students claim that STPM is difficult and won’t always guarantee that you can apply for a job with your results.

Now, there are a few options to consider, and yes, they all have some setbacks. Maybe you can’t pursue your diploma at a public university because you got poor SPM results or you can’t go to a private university because the fees are just too expensive. You may also think that you can’t do a foundation program because you “don’t have the brains for it” or because most Asasi students are those who obtained excellent SPM results. Whatever it is, the real question is are these all facts or just myths?

Most SPM graduates have at least one of these questions in the back of their mind when they’re thinking of where to future their education and what method to use. So, let’s get down to the facts of STPM to really answer the question, is it difficult?

Is it true that STPM is really hard?

Well, did you know that most of the teachers in Form Six are STPM graduates? Also, in 2013, STPM was reformatted through rebranding and became one of the MOE’s initiatives in the Malaysian Education Development Plan (PPPM) 2013-2025. It’s format used to be the same as SPM.

Furthermore, most university students are Form Six graduates despite the fact that people say that STPM is difficult. These students got poor results in SPM and made up for that by obtaining excellent results in STPM. 

What are the eligibility requirements for Form Six?

Believe it or not, the entry requirements for STPM are actually easier than those for matriculation, diploma, and foundation. SPM students who got poor results can also appeal and be accepted into Form Six. Below are the conditions for admission to STPM:

• Finished SPM
• Meet the general and specific requirements of the stream taken
• Passed SPM with honours in Bahasa Malaysia
• For Social Science stream, the total number of unit points for the three best subjects should not exceed 12
• Science stream should not exceed 18 unit points
• Religious streams should not exceed 14 unit points

Usually Form Six offers are automatic if they don’t have any further studies offers. However, some may not get an offer because they may have other offers or they may have gotten poor SPM results. Not to worry, because you can still appeal online!

How long is the Form Six period of study? 

Form Six lasts for a year and a half and is divided into three terms. After completing all terms, you can continue to apply to public or private universities to pursue your higher education with your STPM results. Plus, you don’t have to take a diploma course first which saves time.

What streams are offered at the STPM level?

There are three streams offered; Social Science, Science and Religious Stream. Through these streams you can apply for any field at university which means unlike diploma or foundation students you have more opportunities. The STPM curriculum is as follows:

• Students must take 4 or 5 subjects only, including compulsory subjects such as General Studies and MUET
• Subject options according to the flow are Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic Literature in English, Malay Literature Communicative, Syariah, Usuluddin, History, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, Accountancy, Mathematics, Information and Communication Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sports Science, and Visual Arts
• All Form Six students are also required to be involved in co-curricular activities and the scoring of 10% on such activities is based on the calculation of the second highest marks in Clubs/Associations, Sports/Games, and Uniformed Societies. 

What is the assessment for admission into University? 

Assessments for admissions into university are done through term examinations are coursework. If a student fails an examinations, there are re-takes that they can sit for to improve their results. At the end of the year, the best marks from each examination term is collected are those are the marks that qualify you to enter university. Most STPM graduates are easily accepted to university despite their CGPA being lower than matriculation, diploma and other qualifications. 

Is the STPM certificate recognised?

STPM has received local and foreign recognition, namely from the Government of Malaysia, the Public Service Department (JPA), and Cambridge Assessment England. Students that obtain excellent STPM results are eligible to apply for further education at Institutions of Higher Learning (IPT) both locally and globally. Plus, STPM is the hardest exam in Asia and the 7th most difficult exam in the world. With regards to employment opportunities, STPM graduates can go straight to positions in civil service without continuing their studies at university since the certificate is equivalent to a Diploma. 

How much does it cost to take STPM, are there scholarships?

STPM does not charge any fees to students of government schools and government aided schools, and scholarships can be applied through your respective schools after receiving and an offer to study in Form 6. So, it is a cheaper option that taking a diploma as that will need an education loan. 

So, what can be concluded from all of this? Yes, STPM is difficult and requires you to learn a lot in a short time, however, if you want something that is cheaper than a diploma and will get you more opportunities, then it’s very worth it. 

If you want to read more then you can check out our UPUONLINE Application Update Guide & Tips for STPM/Equivalent Graduates or you can learn some Things You Must Check Before Accepting the UPU Online Appeal Offer. For more STPM advice look into our 8 Tips on How to Score Well in STPM and the 16 Things You Need to Know about Form 6/STPM. Want more? Head over to the Afterschool website and check out all of our articles!

Need further advice? You can schedule a personalized 20 minutes FREE counselling with Afterschool Expert Counsellors. Our counsellors will help you make the right choice according to your financial ability, interests and job prospects. 

Afterschool.my is Malaysia’s no 1 higher education website that provides helpful information on courses, institutions and scholarships for students transitioning from secondary school to university level.