KUALA LUMPUR: There was no visible difference in the number and percentage of candidates answering their Science and Mathematics papers in English for the 2012 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM).

Around 98.13% of candidates opted to answer in English for Science and Mathematics subjects last year compared to 98.11% of candidates in 2011.

The total number of candidates who opted to use English for these papers, however, reduced to 25,503 in 2012 from 25,993 candidates in 2011.

STPM candidates can opt to answer their papers in either Bahasa Malaysia or English for seven subjects – Mathematics S, Mathematics T, Further Mathematics T, Computing, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin said the difference was statistically negligible.

“We found that the achievement of candidates in these subjects is equal regardless of the language they use in the examination,” he said after announcing the 2012 STPM results yesterday.

Prof Mohd Noh added that the overall student achievement for the November 2012 session of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) had also improved.

“A total of 36.2% (or 75,589 candidates) scored a Band Three or above compared to 23.9% (or 60,558 candidates) for the July 2012 session of MUET,” he said.

MUET is carried out three times a year in March, July and November.

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