As SPM leavers, what can you do during this period to make the most of your youth without letting time slip away? As for those who plan to further their studies, what are the things you should seize the moment to act quickly? Which Chinese universities accept Malaysian students with SPM test results? In this article, I will answer you one by one. (The university requirements will be adjusted every year, so the article is only for reference. Updated: Jul 2, 2024)

What is Malaysian SPM?

SPM is one of the key nodes of the Malaysian Education Diploma. The full name in Malay is Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), also known as the Malaysian Education Diploma. SPM has the same effect as the international common o-level. The Malaysian National Unified Examination is hosted by the Malaysian Examinations Authority and supervised by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. It is also the last national unified examination in secondary education in Malaysia. It aims to assess the academic performance, qualifications, and grades of Form 5 (the equivalent of Senior 2 in China) students over their five-year secondary school career.

The Main Subjects of the Examination

The syndicate has made Malay language (Bahasa Malaysia), English (Bahasa inggeris), Islamic studies, moral studies, history science, and math reading compulsory for the students. Islamic studies subject is compulsory for Muslim candidates. And moral studies are compulsory for non-Muslim candidates. Science is common and compulsory for all students.

The Examination Mode and the Results

The medium of instruction for both teachers and students in English. The students, however, can choose between English or Malay as the medium for their communication. The evaluation of the exam is done based on the exam. The exam commences around November and lasts for more than a period of three weeks. The results are announced in the form of grades. No rankings are awarded to the students.

What to do after SPM?

After your SPM, you’re faced with one of the two paths:

1. Take a break/gap year to re-focus.

A gap year should be nothing for you to be ashamed about. You won't be couch-sitting during this time, contrary to what your parents may believe. Instead, you’ll be making something of yourself. Use the gap year as a refresher course for your future, and you’ll come out anew with a clearer direction. There's no right or wrong here; whichever path you choose, it should be suited for you.

2. Start your tertiary level studies - Foundation or Diploma.

Continuing your studies at university or college right after SPM is a good option too - after all, the sooner you earn your degree or diploma, the sooner you can enter the workforce to begin building a life of your own.

List of Chinese Universities Accept Malaysian Students with SPM Test Results

The list only contains some Chinese universities, we will keep updating it according to the latest policies of the universities.

1. Northeast Forestry University

2. Nanjing University of Science and Technology

3. China University of Petroleum (East China)

4. SIAS University

5. Zhengzhou University

6. Northwestern Polytechnical University

7. Shenzhen University

8. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

9. Xi an Jiaotong University

10. Beijing Language and Culture University

11. Beijing Institute of Technology

12. Xiamen University

13. South China University of Technology

14. East China University of Science and Technology

15. Zhejiang Normal University

16. Shanghai Ocean University

17. Tianjin University

18. Soochow University

19. Tianjin Foreign Studies University

20. Beijing Foreign Studies University-International Business School

21. Ningxia Medical University

22. Chengdu Technological University

5 Must Know Strategies to Score Straight in SPM

1. Set a Schedule

l  Highlight the subjects that you’ll be taking and take note of the date and time to help you identify which subjects come first

l  Set your academic goal so that you can prepare sufficiently for the subjects (for instance, if you plan to score an A for Biology, it makes sense to add an extra slot for Biology in your timetable)

l  Remember to schedule time each week to make your weekly study timetable because following the same timetable for weeks can be very boring and might demotivate you

l  Keep your timetable in a place that you will see or access every day - this way you don't have an excuse to not follow it!

2. Mentally Prepare to Enter the Exam Hall

Take deep breaths and pray before you even step in, remember that no good will come out of worrying now, and relax while focusing on doing your best is the best step you can take.

3. Know Your Plan During Exams

Different students tackle papers differently, so figure out what strategy suits you best, you need to set up accordingly. Some students answer questions from the last page first, others encircle questions they don’t know and come back to them later. Who cares if your strategy isn’t the most popular, as long as it works for you, and it produces results, stick to it!

4. Take a Break Every 30-40 Minutes

We know, the measuring stick for attitude in school was always how long a student could sit still for a single study session. But research has shown that studying in 20, 30-minute sessions is much more effective compared to one 10-hour session. Essentially, studying in spurts helps your brain create synapses better, and would be a sure-fire way to get your study mode on!

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Almost any SPM student will tell you that arguably, the best method to prepare for the big day is by constantly completing past year and forecast papers. Equation after equation, essay after essay, the thirst of a model SPM student for more questions can never truly be slaked.

Whether you have already earned an SPM or are planning to take the tests in the future, we hope all your hard work paid off by getting the results you wanted. Whether you’re a straight-A student or barely passed, there are plenty of options for each one of you.