New Format & Free Syllabus for STPM & MUET in 2012

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Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong announced in April that from year 2012 onwards, new modular system will replace the existing terminal system for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). He also announced that there will be no change made to the STPM syllabus.

The current STPM system, known as the terminal system which is similar to PMR and SPM, assesses STPM candidates in one major STPM examination at the final of the one and a half year of Form Six studies. The new modular system, which is similar to Malaysian Matriculation (Matrikulasi), will test sixth-formers continuously over three semesters.



Finally, after 29 years of terminal system since STPM inception in 1982, STPM is set to undergo a massive facelift next year. In fact, the government has announced the change to happen in STPM 2011 back in 2009. Now, it has been confirmed that the new system will be implemented from STPM 2012 onwards.

As a former STPM student, I welcome the change whole-heartedly. This is because it will lessen the burden of STPM students and better prepare them for tertiary education which is using the modular or semester system. The assessment weightage of the new modular or semester-based system is based on 20% coursework and 80% continuous assessment.



It is also confirmed in the news report that the content of MUET and STPM syllabus (sukatan pelajaran STPM dan MUET) will remain no change. Previously, student who wish to get the STPM syllabus will need to pay to order it from Malaysian Examinations Council (Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia). The good news is the MUET and STPM exam calendar and syllabus are available online for download free of charge.

Another related announcement by Malaysian Examinations Council was starting next year, MUET will be held three times per year, in March, July and November. The test fees will also increase to RM100 from current RM60.

Download MUET and STPM syllabus (sukatan pelajaran STPM dan MUET) now!

• MUET Syllabus
• STPM Syllabus:
  900 Pengajian Am
  910 Bahasa Malaysia
  911 Bahasa Cina
  912 Bahasa Tamil
  913 Bahasa Arab
  920 Literature In English
  922 Kesusasteraan Melayu
  930 Syariah
  931 Usuluddin
  940 Sejarah
  942 Geografi
  944 Ekonomi
  946 Pengajian Perniagaan
  948 Perakaunan
  950 Mathematics S
  954 Mathematics T
  956 Further Mathematics T
  958 Computing
  960 Physics
  962 Chemistry
  964 Biology
  966 Sains Sukan
  970 Seni Visual

Recommended: Free MUET Tips & 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy This MUET Guide (Panduan MUET) written by MUET teacher & examiner at RM30!

► Read more on New Format & Free Syllabus for STPM & MUET in 2012

My Life in BATI - USM Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Translation and Interpretation

Editor's note: In Malaysia, only Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) offers translation course at three levels - first degree, masters degree and PhD. We all learnt that translation is very important especially during the Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Malaysia in April this year.

Lost in translation: The offending backdrop during the welcoming ceremony for Wen at Putrajaya. Source: The Star Online

When we talked on this incident, c.h.tay commented "The Wen Jiabao incident just showed that Malaysians really don't appreciate our expertise. Every Malaysians think that they can translate, really!"

Written by c.h.tay ► Share your university life with us and get published here!

At first when I was offered Bachelor of Arts (Translation and Interpretation) from University Sains Malaysia (USM), my former boss yelled, "Does any university in Malaysia offers this course?!" Apparently, this course is not widely known.

I came to register this course as a white paper, as I have not known any seniors that enrolled into this course from my school. And I had changed stream from biology STPM to arts Degree. First day, we met our PA (Penasihat Akademik or Academic Advisor, AA), some sorts of your class teachers in secondary life. Your PA advises you on what class you should take to fulfil the minimum university requirement to graduate. BY THEN, every semester you need to take at least 16 units to graduate. Some universities count units as credit hours. Maximum is 20 units.

First semester, less units = more relax. I had more time to walk around the campus, to stick in the library during interval between classes, and to make a lot of friends, from my own course and other courses as well. I enjoyed free movies offered by foreign language week, e.g. Spanish Language Week, Malay Language Week, Korean Language Week and Japanese Language Week. We even had fiesta or exhibition about the origin country of the foreign language. They cooked their delicacy, show you how to make small crafts, etc. As for USM Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Translation and Interpretation (Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sastera (Kepujian) Terjemahan dan Interpretasi) students, you get priority in taking foreign language course as your minor. Minor courses offered are Japanese, Chinese (for non-primary Chinese students) and Arabic. I took Japanese as my minor and even keep learning Japanese till now.

The course itself focuses on the history of translations, Bahasa Melayu (BM) and English language system, variety of translating methods to be used in different discourse and even machine translation (computerized translation). We even had to learn about basic computer knowledge from using Microsoft Office to developing your own flash using Adobe Flash. We learnt a bit of everything.

This course would be a piece of cake for those who are fluent in English and BM. They only have to learn about the translating methods. But for me, I needed to brush up my language skills and also enriched my vocabulary in both languages. See, translating is never an easy job!

I like Sociolinguistic this class the most. We got to analyse the language used by all walks of life and found a way to explain why they used that kind of expressions. I also like Malay and English Grammar & Editing Strategy. We could role-play as editor and told our friends what mistakes they made. In exchange, we got the same harsh critics from our friends too! I am weak in Consecutive Interpretation. I stumbled a lot. All of those interpretation classes I think I did not do well. I was lack of confident to speak in English. Till now, English speaking still kills me.

Of all those pains and gains, I really love this course. SO, I'm hard selling to those who love languages and want to be as cool as Nicole Kidman in The Interpreter!

► Read more on My Life in BATI - USM Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Translation and Interpretation

Exclusive: On Changing Course or Transferring into Another Local Public University (IPTA)

Posted by Chong (Submit Your Post and Get Published Here)

Important dates:
July 21: Dateline for all successful candidates to confirm acceptance of the offer by the public universities (seven days after the official result announcementor before July 22).

July 24: Closing date for the unsuccessful candidates who did not receive any offer can submit their electronic appeal through the ministry website (10 days after the official result announcement).

September 3 or 4: The registration of new students into public universities is on the first week of September.

Now that UPU/STPM results for IPTA 2011/2012 intake are out, while some jump for joy for getting their first choice or any of their eight choices, many are depressed by the fact that they are offered a random course out of their eight choices or they are not even offered any course. This post is dedicated to answer those who wish to appeal or change course.

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Interesting facts and figures according the BERNAMA news:

• A total of 41,267 applicants were successful in obtaining places to undergo first degree programmes for the 2011/2012 academic session at 20 public universities out of the 64,073 who applied and from the 53,216 who were eligible.
• The intake was a 1.9 per cent increase compared to the 2010/2011 academic session which had 40,506 candidates.
• As in the year before, the number of female students was higher than male students, where 27,001 were females constituting 65.4 per cent while 14,266 or 34.6 per cent were males.
• From the aspect of applicants being offered places according to ethnicity, 29,838 out of 39,998 Bumiputra applicants were successful or 74.6 per cent, 9,457 out of 10,677 Chinese applicants were successful or 88.6 per cent, 1,511 from 1,813 Indian applicants were successful or 83.3 per cent and 461 out of 728 candidates of the other races were successful or 63.3 per cent.
• The policy of intake and selection for entry into public universities with STPM/Matriculation or Equivalent qualifications is based on the principle of meritocracy by applying 90 per cent academic marks and 10 per cent on co-curriculum marks to determine the merit value of each candidate.
• From the 41,267 successful applicants, 21,954 or 53.2 per cent were for science stream and 19,313 or 46.8 per cent were in arts stream.
• There were 6,294 outstanding candidates in eight types of competitive courses namely Medicine 983 candidates (Malays 581, Chinese 339, Indians 50 and others 13); Dentistry 174 candidates (Malays 91, Chinese 77, Indians 4 and others 2); Pharmacy 283 candidates (Malays 151, Chinese 125, Indians 7); Chemical Engineering 919 candidates (Malays 648, Chinese 217, Indians 45 and others 9).
• In Electrical and Electronic Engineering, there were 1,163 candidates (Malays 923, Chinese 209, Indians 18 and others 13); Mechanical Engineering 1,601 candidates (Malays 1,251, Chinese 311, Indians 20 and others 19); Law 367 candidates (Malays 221, Chinese 105, Indians 37 and others 4); and Accounting 804 candidates (Malays 509, Chinese 269, Indians 18 and others 8).
• There were 38 Orang Asli, 49 disabled and 990 state and national sports personalities who were also offered places in public universities in line with the government's desire to produce holistic graduates capable of realising the national agenda and vision.
• 3,108 outstanding candidates with Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.0 had already been placed in 20 public universities that is 2,045 candidates in 19 public universities while the balance in USM which is an APEX university.

Ibnu Sina Residential College (Sixth College), University of Malaya


So before we start discussing the practical or known ways to apply to change course, we shall look at why this situation happens. During your IPTA application with your STPM results, there is a compulsory crucial question that you will need to answer – Do you agree to accept a course offer out of your eight choices?

If you answered yes, then if you do not get any of your eight choices, you will be offered a random course. You will not be able to appeal even if you do not like the random course being offered. You can accept the course and either be grateful that you are offered a place in local public university or apply to change to another course only after you have registered at the university being offered.

E-RAYUAN is only for those who failed to get any offer not for switching course. If you have already been offered a course, you cannot appeal through E-RAYUAN even if you do not like the course being offered.

DASAR RAYUAN
Hanya CALON GAGAL mendapat tawaran IPTA sahaja yang boleh mengemukakan rayuan melalui Aplikasi e-Rayuan yang diselaraskan oleh BPKP JPT dalam tempoh 10 hari selepas keputusan permohonan kemasukan ke IPTA diumumkan.

If you answered no, then if you do not get any of your eight choices, you can choose to appeal online through the official E-RAYUAN by ten days from the UPU/STPM results release date. When you appeal, you will be able to select two choices. The appeal results usually are available in about three weeks from the closing date of appeal. There will be risk that you are not offered any course even after appealing if you put highly competitive courses as your appeal choices.

How to change course? Although the whole process might not be smooth and easy, there are four known and proven ways to change course successfully.

Transfer to a Different University and Course
Send an appeal letter to the dean of the faculty of the university that you want to transfer to. Let say you are offered course A at university Z, you can actually apply to transfer to course B at university Y by writing letter with all the supporting documents to the dean of the course B faculty at university Y. If the dean of the course B faculty at university Y replies yes, you can straight away register at university Y skipping the registration at university Z. It does work. Amazing isn’t it?

Another way is to wait till March next year when the IPTA intake 2012/2013 application open for STPM 2011 and you should apply using the same STPM 2010 result you got under the category Diploma (not current STPM 2011). But of course this time you should be more careful with your eight choices. This is possible and does work. Unbelievable isn’t it?

Zaba Residential College (Seventh College), University of Malaya


Change to a Different Course at the Same University
Unlike the above, the following two ways require you to accept whatever course being offered and register at the university before you apply to change to another course at the same university. Let say you are offered course C at university X and you want to change to course D at the same university.

The first way is after your orientation week (known as Minggu Haluansiswa at University of Malaya), immediately send an appeal letter with all the supporting documents to the dean of the course D faculty. To get a higher chance, although optional, get a supporting letter from the dean of the course C faculty approving you to change to course D.

The second way is after you have studied course C for one semester, submit application letter together with your first semester result to the dean of course D faculty. This way is the most common and highest chance among all possible ways. If you fail to get it, try the same way next semester. The downside of this way is that you will waste at least one semester (some even two semesters or one academic year) studying a course that you do not like.

At the same time, as an additional effort, it certainly doesn't hurt to get some help from those in the corridors of power - political parties. Fill up the appeal forms which can be downloaded from the parties' official websites, meet those politicians in person, ask for supporting letters etc.

► Read more on Exclusive: On Changing Course or Transferring into Another Local Public University (IPTA)

Differences between Malaysian Matriculation (Program Matrikulasi) and Form Six / STPM

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Malaysian Matriculation Programme (Program Matrikulasi Malaysia) 2012/2013 intake is open for application from July 1 till October 10, 2011. Starting last year, all Matrikulasi application (permohonan program Matrikulasi) must be done online. SPM candidates this year can apply to enroll into Jurusan Sains (M001), Jurusan Akaun (M003) or Aliran Teknikal (M007) available in Program Matrikulasi.

What are the major differences between Malaysian Matriculation Programme (Matrikulasi) and Form Six / STPM?
Both of the Malaysian Matriculation Programme and Form Six / STPM leavers can apply to enroll into local public universities. However, Form Six / STPM results are recognized worldwide and can be used to apply overseas university enrollment whereas Malaysian Matriculation Programme result can be used for application into local public universities only. Update: Matriculation results can be used to apply for admission into foreign universities. Read our complete guide to matriculation (matrikulasi) for more info on this.

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One major benefit of Malaysian Matriculation Programme (Matrikulasi) compared to Form Six / STPM is shorter duration since Program Matrikulasi Satu Tahun (PST) is just one year while Form Six / STPM is one and a half year. So those who finish Malaysian Matriculation Programme will enroll into the local public university one year earlier than those taking Form Six / STPM, which is a great advantage in terms of graduating with Bachelor degree one year faster amongst those with the same age.

Other than that, Matrikulasi is arguably much easier to score than Form Six / STPM. In other words, the percentage of those getting straight-A (CGPA 4.00) in Matrikulasi is way higher than Form Six / STPM. As a result, those taking Matrikulasi often get into competitive university courses like medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, law, accounting, business, actuarial science and engineering at prestigious universities like University of Malaya (UM).

What are the minimum requirement and program prerequisites (syarat program Matrikulasi dan kelayakan minimum)?

Applicants must be Malaysian bumiputera and not more than 20 years old on January 1 next year 2012. Malaysian Matriculation Programme (Program Matrikulasi Malaysia) is open mainly for Malaysian bumiputera but non-bumiputera can apply also though the quota for non-bumiputera is around 10%.

Applicants must also be sitting for SPM examinations this year 2011 and taking the specific subjects:

• For Science Stream (Jurusan Sains) M001:
  Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan, Kimia dan Fizik atau Biologi.
  
• For Accounting Stream (Jurusan Perakaunan) M003:
  Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan dan mana - mana dua mata pelajaran daripada Prinsip Perakaunan, Ekonomi Asas, Perdagangan, Pengajian Keusahawanan, Sains, Sains Tambahan, Fizik, Kimia, Biologi dan Mata Pelajaran Teknik (Pengajian Kejuruteraan Awam / Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal / Pengajian Kejuruteraan Elektrik & Elektronik / Teknologi Kejuruteraan / Lukisan Kejuruteraan).
  
• For Technical Stream (Aliran Teknikal) M007:
  Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Inggeris, Matematik, Matematik Tambahan, Kimia, Fizik, dan mana-mana satu mata pelajaran daripada Pengajian Kejuruteraan Awam / Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal / Pengajian Kejuruteraan Elektrik & Elektronik / Teknologi Kejuruteraan.

Kolej Matrikulasi Pahang, KMPH


How to apply (Permohonan Matrikulasi)?

1. Give your full name, IC number and pay RM6.00 to the school teacher or counselor responsible for Malaysian Matriculation Programme online application (Permohonan Kemasukan Matrikulasi). The school teacher or counselor will then purchase the PIN code from Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) in a batch.
   
   Alternatively, for those Wadiah BSN or GIRO account card holders, you can purchase the PIN number directly from BSN auto teller machine (ATM) directly.
   
2. Get your receipt with PIN number (5-digit PMI number) from the school teacher or counselor / ATM if you use BSN card to purchase. The 5-digit PMI number is printed on the receipt.
   
3. Visit Aplikasi Permohonan Melalui Internet Program Matrikulasi Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia at http://www.moe.gov.my
   
4. Log in to the registration page with your IC number and the 5-digit PMI number.
   
5. Fill in the registration form online. Done!

How to check Matrikulasi result (semakan keputusan permohonan ke program Matrikulasi)?
You can check the Matrikulasi intake status (semakan keputusan Matrikulasi KPM) usually around one month after the release of SPM exam results. You can appeal (permohonan rayuan) if you are not selected. The appeal result (semakan keputusan rayuan Matrikulasi KPM) will be available around one month from the date of Matrikulasi intake status announcement.

Kolej Matrikulasi Perlis, KMP


Visit the Bahagian Matrikulasi Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (BMKPM) official webite for more information on online registration guide (panduan mengisi boring), programmes and majors offered (program dan pengkhususan)  and minimum requirements (syarat kelayakan minimum).

► Read more on Differences between Malaysian Matriculation (Program Matrikulasi) and Form Six / STPM

UPU/IPTA 2011/2012 Intake Results for STPM Leavers

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Helpful: When and how to apply PTPTN?

UPU/IPTA 2011/2012 intake application results for STPM-leavers (Semakan Keputusan Permohonan Kemasukan ke IPTA Lepasan STPM / Matrikulasi / Asasi / Setaraf Sesi 2011/2012) will be available on July 15, 2011 (Friday) from 12PM onwards as confirmed by a link on Universiti Utara Malaysia website.

1. LEPASAN SPM/SETARAF SESI AKADEMIK 2011/2012
2. LEPASAN STPM/SETARAF SESI AKADEMIK 2011/2012 [Semakan boleh dibuat mulai 15 Julai 2011(Jumaat) mulai jam 12 tengahari.]
3. LEPASAN SPM/SETARAF (KES RAYUAN) SESI AKADEMIK 2011/2012
4. LEPASAN STPM/SETARAF (KES RAYUAN) SESI AKADEMIK 2011/2012 [Semakan boleh dibuat pada tarikh yang akan dikemaskini kemudian]

Check UPU results online and confirm acceptance
Visit any of the following websites and enter your MYKAD number to check

• Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) http://upu.mohe.gov.my
• Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) http://www.jpt.uum.edu.my
• Universiti Teknology Malaysia (UTM) http://www.jpt.utm.my

If you are offered a course in IPTA, you will need to confirm the your acceptance by 7 working days and print out the offer letter from the MOHE website.

For those not getting a place in varsity, you can appeal through the MOHE website by 10 working days from July 15, 2011. Please take note that you can appeal only if you ticked 'no' at accepting course out of your eight choices during IPTA application (permohonan IPTA). You can check the status of UPU/IPTA appeal result (semakan keputusan rayuan IPTA/UPU) at the same website.

Check UPU results by SMS
Type: UPU[space]RESULT[space]Identity Card (IC) Number and send to 15888

Check UPU results by Call
Hotline : 03-8883 5858 (10 lines)

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Tuanku Kurshiah Residential College (Third College), University of Malaya


What's Next?
Inside the official FAQ by UPU, it is clearly stated that you are not allowed to change IPTA or course after you click accept to confirm the offer.

11. Adakah saya dibenarkan menukar program pengajian yang telah ditawarkan oleh sesebuah IPTA?
TIDAK DIBENARKAN.

12. Adakah pemohon dibenarkan menukar IPTA setelah menerima tawaran?
TIDAK DIBENARKAN.

This is, however, not entirely true. It is true that you are not allowed to change university but transferring to another course offered in the same university is possible.

In most of the local public universities, you can apply to change to another course of your choice only after you have finished the first semester. Of course, your application will be rejected if you do not have valid reason or poor result in the first semester. Even if you manage to transfer to the course of your choice, you will be at least one semester behind your course-mates of the same batch. So, there is risk to consider when you decide to change to another course. The good news is, there are some successful cases for the determined ones.

Please take note that first year students' intake registration day is September 3 (Saturday) or 4 (Sunday), 2011 and will need to attend an one week orientation. For second year and above, the new semester term commences on September 11 (Sunday) or 12 (Monday), 2011.

Ungku Aziz Residential College (Eleventh College), University of Malaya


There are some huge differences between school and university. So, be prepared and learn some things you should know before stepping into university!

Trivia: UPU stands for Unit Pusat Universiti which has been upgraded and renamed as Bahagian Pengurusan Kemasukan Pelajar (BPKP) since January 1, 2005. However, it is still widely known as UPU among students even until today. UPU is responsible for the IPTA intake and appeal results checking (semakan kemasukan dan rayuan ke IPTA).

► Read more on UPU/IPTA 2011/2012 Intake Results for STPM Leavers