PETALING JAYA: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results are expected to be released on March 22.

“The date is in our management calendar, but the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (MES) will confirm this nearer the date,” an Education Ministry official said yesterday.

A total of 468,808 candidates sat for the SPM examination at 3,533 centres nationwide from Nov 14 to Dec 14, last year.

Education director-general Datuk Seri Abd Ghafar Mahmud had said that the 2010 SPM results were the best in four years.

He attributed this to the move to cap the number of subjects that a student is allowed to take.

This could be seen from the results based on the grading system, where 363 candidates from government schools and another 40 students from private schools, or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects compared with 214 in 2009.

He said 9,239 candidates obtained distinctions, a combination of A+, A and A- last year, compared with 7,987 candidates in 2009.

Abd Ghafar said 2010 was the second year that the ministry had used the new grading system, with students graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G as compared to where the grades were from 1A to 9G.

He also said students took between eight to 12 subjects last year, with most opting to take 10.

The maximum number that students are allowed to take for SPM was capped at 12.

These are Bahasa Malaysia, English, Islamic Education or Moral Studies, History, Mathematics and Science and the rest elective subjects.

The move was to allow students to be more focused on their studies.

Meanwhile, 3,996 candidates who sat for the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examination last year have obtained their certificates.

They passed the examination with a minimum grade of at least the “Maqbul” (Pass) in all 10 subjects, reported Bernama.

MES director Dr Na’imah Ishak said the students comprised 326 candidates who obtained “Mumtaz” (Excellent), 529 with “Jayyid Jiddan” (Good), 1,602 Jayyid (Satisfactory) and the remaining with “Maqbul”.

STAM is equivalent to Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM).

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