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Many students and parents mistakenly believe that achieving 8A's or more in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination guarantees admission to public universities (UA), but the selection process is heavily influenced by a merit-based system
According to Dr Mohd Syaubari Othman, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Human Development at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, the merit system acts as a competitive benchmark that combines 90% academic achievement with 10% co-curricular marks, as reported by Berita Harian.
Academic scores are calculated based on SPM grades, with A+ holding the highest value, while co-curricular points are derived from participation in societies, sports, uniformed bodies, and leadership roles.
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Image via Barha/PexelsImage via Image viaCandidates must understand that not all subjects hold equal weight in merit calculations
For specific courses, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, subjects like Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are given higher importance.
This explains why a student with 4A's and 4B's might secure a higher merit score than a student with 8A's if the former achieved high grades in critical subjects required for the specific course.
Furthermore, the selection of a subject package that aligns with the intended field of study significantly enhances a student's chances of admission, as the merit system evaluates the suitability of a candidate for a chosen programme rather than general excellence alone.
Mohd Firdaus Zakaria, Head of Admissions at Universiti Putra Malaysia, suggests that many parents and students remain unaware of how these modern selection systems operate, continuing to view the number of A's as the final benchmark
He emphasised that merit calculations differ based on the entry channel and institution, and urged parents and educators to disseminate accurate information to students early in their secondary school years to avoid unfavourable results during the application process.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Higher Education plans to implement a 'single window and single offer' system, which aims to unify currently separate application systems and optimise university placements based on merit and programme suitability.
