STPM

Just got your SPM result? Is now spoilt with choices and can't decide which route to take?

Well, there are many options out there: A-Levels, Diploma, Foundation, Matriculation, Maktab (IPG) and STPM.

I cannot tell you much on these courses, and I have actually only one advice: Unless you are a genius, are extremely confident of getting all As, or have absolutely no other options, then go for form 6. Make form 6 your last choice.

Trust me, because it's an advice based on personal experience. The modular system of STPM is in no way easier than the terminal system. Why? Let's see

Why people say terminal system is tough 
1. Too much to study for one sitting.

2. Marking scheme ridiculously strict.

Why I say modular system is tough
1. Too little time to study so many things in 5 months (not half a year as it sounds so nice)

2. Too little preparation time for one paper that assumes you have mastered all knowledge

3. Too short time to answer the exam paper (only one and a half hours for 15 obj, 2 struc, 2 essays for science; 7 ques for maths; 15 obj, 4 struc, 2 essays for PA, and for economics papers it ain't any easier either). You may have enough time to complete the paper, provided that you truly have mastered all topics and are confident of your answer as you do not have sufficient time to recheck your answers.

4. Too short time for wide syllabus. In that half a year, your teacher will only be busy in teaching, there's not much and almost none tutorial time.

5. Assignments and projects that are much more taxing. It would be quite easy to do if there weren't so many stringent rules on how you should do them. Nevertheless, introduction of PBS is very burdening, plus it involves presentations and viva, reducing your teacher's already meagre teaching time.

6. Marking scheme ridiculously strict.

7. Full marks for one paper is either 60 or 80 depending on what papers you take, sciences are 60 and economics may be 80, and they'll scale it to 100 and from then a grade is given. So basically if you lost 12 marks out of 60, you don't have your A. Whereas for the terminal system, two papers contain a total of 180 marks, and it'll be scaled to 100. See the difference? For the terminal system, a slight mistake is not that damaging to your total grades. For the modular system, a lost in one mark is extremely painful and there's not a single tiny space for errors.

You may have less things to study for one paper under the modular system, but believe me with the time given you hardly could finish the syllabus in that one semester.

Unless you really like challenges and are confident of scoring the exam, I'll say go for other options. If you love challenges, then go for form 6. There really are so many for you to face.

The "legend" is true, and it still holds even after the change in system - form 6 is only for the bravest.