Congratulations: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (centre) with award recipients at the Top STPM Students Award Ceremony. – FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
UNDERSTANDING the syllabus by attempting past year exam papers is key to scoring in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) exams.
This was the top success tip shared by best friends Tong Jing Yen and Chung Lian Zhi, who were among the nation’s top students this year.
“It boils down to a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Jing Yen, 20, an aspiring software engineer.
Lian Zhi, who wants to be a doctor, advised future STPM candidates not to be worried about talk of the exams being difficult.
Having patience and initiative helps make learning easier, he said. The duo from SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, were speaking to reporters after the Top STPM Students Award Ceremony in Selayang on July 13.
The science stream students said they owed their success to the support they received from each other and to the guidance from their peers and teachers.
Shafique Anuar, 20, the nation’s top Malaysian University English Test (MUET) scorer, said watching English movies, shows and sitcoms can boost one’s language proficiency.
“My favourite was the sitcom Friends.
“My peers often ask me for help in their MUET studies and I didn’t mind because I love sharing my knowledge,” the aspiring nurse said.
Ooi Xie Lam, 20, who was among the high achievers under the special category (Autism), attributed his good results to proper time management as it allowed him to revise his lessons more effectively.
The former student from SMK Telok Air Tawar, Butterworth, Penang, dreams of becoming either an economist or a geologist as both careers are “interesting”.
“I was surprised when I found out that I scored straight As. My eldest brother is my role model. He achieved a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 too and I aimed to follow in his footsteps to honour my family and school,” he said. Despite his disability, Muhammad Amir Faris Mohd Firdaus, 20, who lost his vision at age six due to a tumour in his nose, scored 3As and an A-.
The St. John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur, former student who was presented with a learning aid by the Malaysian Association for the Blind during the event, said he never used his disability as an excuse not to achieve his goals in life.
“I tell myself to be brave and to never be afraid of moving forward to explore opportunities,” said Muhammad Amir Faris, who has four siblings.
“I hope to enrol in Universiti Malaya and major in Malay language studies.
“It is not impossible to achieve your goals. Perseverance is key. Never give up,” he said.
