PETALING JAYA: It was hard enough not knowing when the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2021 exams would be held and then having it scheduled nearly three months later than originally planned.
For some of the exam candidates, the situation became more frustrating when they contracted Covid-19 or were placed under quarantine and had to postpone taking their exams.
Now, the day has finally come for these candidates to sit for the exams they missed in March with the SPM 2021 Second Session beginning today.
Nur Alia Irdina Rosdi said it was exasperating for her when she could not sit for some of her papers last month as she had been infected by the virus.
Still, the SM Sains Tuanku Aishah Rohani student said she is trying to see the silver lining in this situation.
“Now that I’ve sat for the other subjects, I can focus more on these three subjects (Islamic Education, History and Mathematics) since during the actual SPM period, I had to divide my focus between other subjects too,” she said.
She said she contracted the virus a few days before the Islamic Education paper and could not sit for the others due to the quarantine period.
She also said that about half of her school’s SPM candidates have to resit at least two papers.
Sharifah NurMirrah Syed Mudzhar, also from SM Sains Tuanku Aishah Rohani, said only a small number of candidates from her school had finished the national examination.
“I am grateful to have more time to study before I sit for the exam,” she said, adding that she would also be sitting for Islamic Education, History and Mathematics.
SMK (P) Sri Aman, Petaling Jaya student Chin Jing San said although she is sad she could not complete it at the same time as her friends, she is grateful that she managed to “escape” the Additional Mathematics paper.
“I feel grateful because from what I heard the exam was extremely tough and I have no confidence that I can score well if I had gone for it (then) as I was unprepared,” she said, adding that she would now be taking the exam on May 11.
Her schoolmate Heidi Khalisah Azwari said she is waiting for SPM to be over as she is “exhausted” by how long it has dragged on.
“I can’t wait to be done with it,” she said, adding that she only has to sit for the Additional Mathematics paper which she missed when she became a close contact and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
She confessed to being envious of her friends.
“They can now rest, focus on university applications and do part-time jobs while I still have to study for my last paper,” she added.
Last week, the Education Ministry said the oral exams will begin today while the written exams will begin on April 11 and go on until May 19.
The ministry’s Examination Board said in a statement that the second exam session is for SPM candidates who could not sit for the speaking and listening tests for Bahasa Melayu and English subjects, as well as the Science practical and written tests that were held from Feb 8 to March 29 this year.
“This includes those who tested positive for Covid-19, were placed under quarantine as directed by the Health Ministry, affected by floods or other special cases that were approved by the Examination director,” it added.
