What’s next after SPM?

Over the next few weeks, a common dinner-table question may be ‘what’s next after SPM?’. This is likely as 395,870 students across the country wrote the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations earlier this year, and the results have just been released.

Recently, I asked about the plans of my good friend's 17-year-old daughter, now that she has received her SPM results. She replied, “I think I’ll take a gap year”. Generally, this means taking a break, typically a full year between school and college or university studies. Well-designed gap year programmes with opportunities for volunteering, job shadowing, or interning can help students discover their strengths and interests. However, the converse may mean just a long break.

The SPM and SVM (alternate vocational pathway) are important milestones for Malaysians as they denote the completion of national school education. This article focuses on SPM but parallels can be drawn for SVM as well.

When students say they have an 'SPM certificate' or 'passed SPM', it means they have taken at least six subjects and obtained passing grades in Malay language and history. SPM grades are presented as distinctions (A-, A, A+), credits (B+, B, C+, C), pass (D, E), or fail (G). Students with three or more SPM credits have various post-SPM options available, while those who fall short of three SPM credits can pursue certificate level programmes to continue their education and bridge any gaps.

Generally, one observes two categories of SPM graduates – those who are certain about what careers they want and wish to get started immediately, and those who want to explore different fields and keep their career options open. Diploma programmes are excellent pathways for the former category because diploma graduates can either enter employment directly or progress to university. There is a wide range of diploma programmes available, including accounting, business, computer science, fashion design technology, hospitality, and many more.

Most diploma programmes require students to have at least three SPM credits. However, certain professional diploma pathways may impose higher requirements like the diploma in nursing, which requires students to have credits in five SPM subjects. Another popular vocation-oriented option for SPM graduates is the professional accountancy pathway leading to the ACCA and ICAEW qualifications. SPM graduates should have at least five SPM credits to begin the ACCA foundation level programme, and to commence the ICAEW certificate level programme, one needs five SPM distinctions.

Students wanting an ‘open passport’ to higher education and career opportunities would take the pre-university track. A wide range of pre-university programmes avail, such as the Malaysian STPM, Cambridge GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career-related programmes, Australian matriculation (AUSMAT), Canadian matriculation (CIMP), and local and foreign universities’ foundation year programmes. To enrol into pre-university studies, students require at least five SPM credits. Certain pre-university or foundation programmes may have additional requirements, such as credit in English language or mathematics. Students wishing to further their studies in medicine, pharmacy, or law in Malaysia are advised to check on additional SPM requirements set by relevant professional councils or regulatory boards.

With many pre-university options available, students should consider their learning styles, subject choices, and assessment methods because these aspects affect students’ pre-university results. Subjects like mathematics, economics, biology, chemistry, and physics are commonly offered as they are important and widely accepted by universities for admissions. Additionally, students should also look for contemporary subjects like computer science, food technology, drama, globalisation, and world issues which expand students’ readiness for university studies.

Students should research the types of undergraduate programmes and the entry requirements that universities ask for such programmes. As universities select whom to enrol based on pre-university results, students should continue subjects in which they perform well. Mathematics is a subject to keep if one is good in it, and universities welcome students who are good in maths. When choosing which pre-university programme, students should also think about the assessment methods and how these allow them to do their best.

It would be remiss to not mention that SPM graduates can go directly into undergraduate studies by USA universities. This pathway, commonly known as American degree transfer programme (ADTP), is open to students with five SPM credits. Usually, ADTP students complete two to three years of a four-year American programme at a Malaysian institution, and the fourth or final year is completed at the USA university partnering with the Malaysian institution.

The wide range of post-SPM options available can be daunting to students. It is natural to not know what to do after SPM. To determine which pathway to take, some may advise students to consider their interests, while others may recommend career tests. Given the rapid advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, and related fields, it's often recommended that our SPM graduates attend expert talks to gain insight into future possibilities. My good friend’s daughter has decided that she will attend Sunway Education’s open days on 8 and 9 June to find out more. Asides attending the talks, she will ask about scholarships and student accommodation and check out the campus!

Written by Cheng Mien Wee, PhD
Executive Director, Sunway International Schools and Director of Pre-University Studies, Sunway College