By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 14: Eight candidates in Sarawak scored straight A+ in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2018 examination.
Alvin Soo Qwan Zhou of SMK Bintulu, Bintulu, and Nur Izzah Athirah Abdul Samat of SMK St Teresa, Kuching, were named the best students, scoring 10A+.
The 9A+ scorers were Constance Wong Chia Yi (SMK Sg Maong, Padawan), Muhamad Hazim Isa (SM Sains Kuching Utara, Padawan), Nazmi Ahmad Nizar (SM Sains Kuching Utara, Padawan), Muhamad Maziz Azri Maznan (SM Sains Miri, Miri), Allister Daniel Linggong (SMK Merbau, Miri) and Kevin Yok (SMK Merbau, Miri).
The SPM 2018 results were announced at the State Education Department by state deputy education director Abang Mat Ali Abang Masagus today.
He informed that overall, the results showed that 23 secondary schools had at least 10 candidates scoring a minimum of A- in all the subjects they sat for.
“SMK Methodist, Sibu, had 40 candidates scoring at least A- in all the subjects; followed by SMK Sacred Heart and SMK Elizabeth in Sibu (25); SMK Lutong, Miri, SMK Tung Hua, Sibu and SMK St Anthony, Sarikei (21); SMK Green Road, Kuching (19); SMK Chung Hua, Miri (18); SM Sains Kuching Utara, Padawan (17); SMK Batu Lintang, Kuching and SMK Bintulu, Bintulu (16); SMK Sg Maong and SMK Kuching High in Kuching (15).
In addition, he revealed that 19 secondary schools in Sarawak successfully achieved school average grade (GPS) of 4.0 and below.
SM Sains Kuching Utara was named the number one school in Sarawak in last year’s SPM with GPS of 1.94, followed by SM Sains Miri (2.30), SMK Sacred Heart, Sibu (2.65), SMK St Elizabeth, Sibu (2.70), Kolej Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah, Kuching (2.91), SMK Methodist, Sibu (2.93) and SM Sains Kuching, Padawan (2.97).
Abang Mat Ali said Sarawak recorded a slight drop of 0.02 in state average grade (GPN) from 5.17 in 2017 to 5.19 in 2018.
“A total of 27,792 candidates or 85.21 per cent from out of 32,617 candidates of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) obtained the credential after having passed at least Bahasa Melayu (BM) and History,” he said.
“They were among the 33,259 SMK candidates who sat for the examinations that took place from Nov 13 until Dec 12 last year.”
A total of 36,144 candidates across the state registered for SPM last year.
Out of 60 subjects taken by Sarawak candidates, 57 subjects (or 95 per cent) recorded a pass rate of 80 per cent or above. Of the total, 26 (43.33 per cent) subjects recorded 100 per cent pass, 23 (38.33 per cent) recorded 90 to 99.9 per cent pass and eight (13.33 per cent) recorded 80. 89.9 per cent pass.
Architecture Drawing topped the improvement chart with 91.49 per cent pass, compared to 84.52 per cent in SPM 2017.— DayakDaily
