The education ministry has announced the postponement of two major secondary school examinations, SPM and STPM, as well as the cancellation of the Year 6 Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3). 

Postponement of SPM and STPM 

  • SPM is Malaysia's Year 11 equivalent national examination. It has now been pushed to Q1 of 2021, from Q4 of 2020. 
  • STPM is Malaysia's Year 12 equivalent national examination. STPM Semester 2 examination date has been changed to August 2020, while the Semester 3 examination will be held in the first quarter of 2021.
  • Change of SPM schedule will affect recruitment of Foundation students. Whereas the change of STPM schedule will affect universities' intake. 
  • Following the changes, Malaysia public institutions willl postpone their enrolment schedules. Enrolment into matriculation and diploma programmes will happen in July or August 2021. Enrolment into degree programmes at Public Universities will happen in September or October 2021.

Cancellation of UPSR

  • UPSR is a Primary School Year 6 assessment. 
  • Cancellation of UPSR might affect UK Schools' recruitment plan in Malaysia. The ministry has not released full details, but is confident that the cancellation will not affect the students’ evaluation as evaluations can be carried out through various other methods.

Other relevant notes

  • Schools and universities in Malaysia are still closed as the movement control order (MCO) has been extended to April 28. Universities are encouraged to move their teaching and learning to digital channels.
  • On 28 March, the local higher education institutions were advised to plan and commence the second semester of the current academic year between 27 April and 1 June 2020.