Tak kenal maka tak cinta. Jom Kenali Universiti Awam (UA) Malaysia.
UIAM - UiTM - UKM - UM - UMK - UMP - UMS - UMT - UniMAP - UNIMAS - UniSZA - UPM - UPNM - UPSI - USIM - USM - UTeM - UTHM - UTM - UUM

Monday, January 26, 2015

Exclusive: Buy Cheap Bus Ticket Online Malaysia & Singapore Using Our Discount Codes

Have you bought your CNY holidays bus or train ticket? If not you better buy it online now to avoid disappointment. All bus and train tickets to all destinations are selling out fast now. Book your bus tickets now!

Do you know, you can now buy bus ticket online and purchase KTM train ticket online at discounted price without going to the counters at bus terminals like Pudu Sentral (Puduraya Bus) Terminal, KL and Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) at Bandar Tasik Selatan, KL?

Enjoy More Convenience, Buy Bus Ticket Anytime Anywhere

Gone are the days we need to go to the bus terminals or nearest coach agents a few days or weeks earlier to buy our bus tickets and then travel on another day because the bus tickets to popular destinations like Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Penang are usually sold out last minute and almost every weekends or during holidays like Chinese New Year (CNY). It is way more convenient to buy bus tickets at home anytime using your computer or anywhere using your mobile phones instead of going to the bus terminals, especially those bus terminals with touts and illegal bus operators. Mind you, it is dangerous to travel on buses operated by illegal operators as passengers are not insured. Furthermore, some bus operators allow you to choose your seat when you book your bus ticket online. Skip the long queues and buy bus ticket online!

Get Cheaper Ticket Using Our Exclusive Discount Codes

Even though it is more convenient and the online bus tickets are sold at same price as counter price, many of you are still reluctant to change your behaviour to buy bus ticket online. To help you Malaysian students save money and to encourage you to try to buy bus ticket online, we are offering exclusive discount codes or promo codes when you use the following three online bus ticket sellers. They are the top three online bus ticket sellers in terms of bus operators and popularity.

Compare Bus Ticket Prices Online Before You Purchase

Go to Buy Bus Ticket Online Malaysia to compare bus ticket fares online before you make your purchase. Different websites might have better deals for different routes, so better compare all three websites before you make a purchase since it is very convenient and fast. Apply the following discount codes for cheaper bus ticket fares!

BusOnlineTicket.com (link)

Bus Online Ticket
Purchase coach tickets to Malaysia and Singapore
Discount Promotion: 8% off with this Bus Online Ticket Malaysia discount code 2015
Discount Code: MALAYSIASTUDENT
Expiry Date: No expiry, report to us if it does not work

Easybook.com (link)

Easybook Malaysia
Singapore and Malaysia's largest bus ticketing site, also offering train ticket and car rental
Discount Promotion: Get up to 7% off with this Easybook Malaysia discount code 2015
Discount Code: MsiaS56x
Expiry Date: 31 December 2015

Discount Promotion: Get up to 10% off with this Easybook Malaysia discount code 2015
Discount Code: MsiaS42w
Expiry Date: 1 March 2015


CatchThatBus.com (link)

Catch That Bus Malaysia
Catch that bus to Malaysia and Singapore
Discount Promotion: Apply Catch That Bus discount code 2015 to receive 5% discount when you book any destination using its website or 10% discount if you book using its mobile app
Promo Code: MYSTUDENT10
Expiry Date: 28 February 2015

Which one offers the cheapest bus ticket online?

We compare the ticket prices of the same bus journey at these three websites using our exclusive discount codes. For the sake of comparison of these three websites we choose a trip offered by all of them. We choose return ticket (round trip) of Transnational coach from KL to Penang on 6:00PM 18th February 2015 and 10:30AM 23rd February 2015 for 1 pax to travel back to celebrate CNY. The Transnational bus trip is departing from Hentian Puduraya and arriving at Terminal Sungai Nibong.

Bus Online Ticket: RM75.67 after applying discount code (RM81.27 before applying discount code)
Buy Bus Online Ticket Malaysia & Singapore Buy Bus Ticket Online Malaysia Easybook
Easybook Malaysia: RM75.16 after applying discount code (RM77.40 before applying discount code)

Buy Bus Ticket Online Catch That Bus mobile app
Catch That Bus website: RM73.52 after applying promo code (RM77.40 before applying discount code)
Buy Bus Ticket Online Catch That Bus website
Extremely low price when purchase using Catch That Bus mobile app: RM69.66 (RM77.40 before applying discount code). Please take note that using the mobile app, you need to purchase KL - Penang and Penang - KL in two separate transactions as it does not support return trip selection yet.

Conclusion: Catch That Bus website offers the cheapest bus ticket fares for the time being (during the validity of the promo code) with clean and slick user interface. Buy bus ticket through its mobile app and apply promo code to get the cheaper than cheapest website price. Easybook Malaysia offers cheaper ticket fare compared to Bus Online Ticket (BOT) and Easybook also offers KTM train ticket and various other amenities such as attraction tickets, coach packages, hotel room booking and vehicle chartering services to customers within Malaysia and Singapore. After the 1st of March 2015 when the promo codes expire for both Catch That Bus and Easybook Malaysia, we recommend you to use Bus Online Ticket to buy cheapest bus ticket using our exclusive discount code.


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Friday, January 23, 2015

Challenges within the education sector in Malaysia

Guest post by John Kelly (Write a guest post and share your insightful opinions with us)

Introduction to Malaysian education

Malaysia is fast proving to be the destination of this world. It is one of the fastest growing Asian countries, with trade, tourism and economic growth all excelling to its fullest. Furthermore, higher education in the country is also spreading its wings, thick and fast. Top global universities are giving away affiliations and opening up their branches within the main city of the country. This has resulted in lots of opportunities for students, not only native and living there, but also abroad to benefit from the top quality education on a much affordable cost, in comparison to countries like the United Kingdom where the cost of education is really high. However, where Malaysia as a country might show a very bright picture, the education within the country still has to grow and evolve to a lot further extent, before it can globally be an attraction for top education and research as well. There are challenges and obstacles within the higher education system, making an impact on the overall progress of this industry and student satisfaction. The government of this country can take strong actions and make possibilities for this sector to prosper and grow.

Malaysia Education Sector Challenges

Just like most countries in the world, the education system within this country is structured between two strong pillars. The government and private institution, both seem to have their own distinct issues, but there are some which are found to be relatively common in both the sectors of the country. We will discuss four major and significant challenges that Malaysia currently faces within this education category.

Lack of research and development support

Most of the times, when we hear or talk about this country, we hardly ever relate to anything scientific or education related. This is because; there is no support when it comes to an educated research and development. The country seriously lacks infrastructure which is affordable and efficient enough to provide space for groundbreaking research and scientific breakthrough or opening of a global level research and education center.

The government needs to provide top infrastructure and subsidies, which can allow interest groups to develop their own research space and create opportunities for others, since the country has no issues with the talent. All it needs is the right direction in this regard. Once there is enough support and proper infrastructure developed to benefit from, Malaysian education will automatically start to find its wings and spread it across. There is a dire need of proper structure in place if the country wants its education sector to have the same popularity as its tourism destinations.

Lack of proficient educational leaders

Unfortunately, due to poor support in the development of education, the country has failed to provide top quality local academic and educational leaders who can lead the way and grow others with them. There is a serious gap between students and top teachers to guide them. Global universities rely on talent imported from their origin country, to establish the same standards of education in their branch in Malaysia.

In order to have proficient educational leaders, the government and the education sector can do two things. First, organize the proper trainings and talent exchange, through which native Malaysians can go and learn how educational leaders operate around the world and secondly give them enough opportunity to excel or dedicate their lives within this single category. This will not only promote the talent in Malaysia across the world globally, but will give the native educational leaders and professors a much needed exposure.

Lack of opportunities

There are no significant opportunities for students to look forward to. Be it getting international exposure, a chance to work with global brands or belonging to a top scientific institution. Lack of opportunities creates a negative impact on the overall education scenario of the country. If there are enough opportunities and attractions for students, just like other countries, then the growth in the education sector will quickly pick up the pace.

If there are enough opportunities, then the country will obviously attract both local and foreign talent. It is up to both private and government sectors to create space and those opportunities that people are looking for. Just like tourism, they need to promote this category, just like tourism and other economical areas.

Lack of innovative teaching methods

This country seems to rely mostly on contemporary and traditional ways of learning. There are no new mechanisms or structures in place to enhance learning and introduce creative ways of transferring information through the use of social media and technology.

The easiest solution to this is to arrange enough trainings and experts from abroad who can train into developing and introducing top of the line innovative teaching methods. New and improved teaching ways will help increase learning and make transfer of knowledge much more interesting, seamless and interactive.

John Kelly is a famous author, who manages different websites and keeps a keen eye for education scenario globally. He actively contributes to the website Write Essays by GetEssayDone and provides useful information and consultancy on academia.


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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

10 Reasons Why MBA in Malaysia is Perfect for International Students

Guest post by Trisha Mukerjee (Submit your guest post and get published here)

Malaysia has always been one of the most coveted tourist destination in South East Asia. People from all over the world come here for their honeymoons, family outing, to explore etc. Today, Malaysia is not just a tourist spot anymore. It has slowly become one of the best study abroad destinations. Plethora of business course aspirants come here to pursue world class education degree at a fraction of the cost.

Study MBA in Malaysia University College

Here are 10 reasons why Malaysia makes a pretty good higher education destination.

1. High quality education system: The higher education system in Malaysia is of international standards. The Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia has a vision to turn Malaysia into a Center of Excellence for higher education.

2. Ability to get a foreign degree qualification: This country has many universities that are associated with top universities in Australia, US, UK etc. They are offering a foreign degree; plus some of the universities have also opened their foreign university campuses here. If you want to get an international business degree from London School of Commerce, Westminster International College, Edinburgh Business School, Monash University, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton etc. – you don’t need to all the way to Australia, UK, US etc. all you need to do is come to Malaysia.

3. High quality of life: Malaysia is a newly industrialized country. They are miles apart in terms of development from their counterparts. Their infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology and world Class University and educational structure – is definitely a catch.

4. Low expenditure: Compared to other international destinations – Malaysia is definitely has a lower expenditure rate. Both living and studying is easy and manageable. Apart from getting an international degree, studying in Malaysia also proves to be extremely light on your pocket. The entire expense for a year including tuition, living costs – you would only spend $9000 per year. Which is lower than half what US, UK and other international destinations cost.

5. Easy immigration procedure: Malaysia is definitely much easier to get visa than most western nations. They have an easy and straightforward immigration process. Once you have applied for a course and have received the acceptance letter, you have to apply for a student pass with the Malaysian Immigration Department.

6. Safety: Malaysia is one of the most political stable and safest countries in the world. It also has a relatively low crime rate. All these factors adds to be one of the best countries to live in.

7. Diversity: Malaysia is home to diverse cultures. Anyone who comes here, feel right at home. You could be from any ethnicity, you would find yourself at home here. Students who come here would have the exposure to learn and adjust to a variety of cultures. This quality makes them better and well-rounded human begins. Malaysia is truly a multi-racial culture. Anyone who comes here is bound to fall in love with this country.

8. Amazing food: Malaysian cuisine is one of the best; apart from that, Malaysia is truly a global destination. It has all the world famous cuisines here from Starbucks to Mc Donald’s – everything is available here.

9. Top travel destination: No one can deny the fact that Malaysia is most definitely a global tourist spot. People from all around the world come here. Being a student here, would definitely give you the opportunity to live in a country that offers you everything along with top class education. From traveling to diverse culture – Malaysia is one stop destination for a perfect life.

10. Easy communication: English is as widely used as Malay. But apart from that, there are a wide range of languages spoken in this country like Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, FooChow, Hainanese, Malayalam and many more.

Trisha Mukerjee
Living and studying here is definitely something all MBA aspirants should look at. MBA in Malaysia is at par with any top international destination. So if you are keen for studying abroad - make Malaysia your preferred destination.

Trisha is a professional writer and has been writing on a variety of topics. She also guides students who want to go to one of the top study abroad destinations. She is an ardent reader, a traveler and a passionate photographer. She wants to explore the world and write about whatever comes across her way.


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Saturday, January 17, 2015

SPM Tips By Subjects

Guest post by Sulwen

To keep things simple, I would like to classify the subjects in SPM according to their categories.

Languages – Bahasa Malaysia and English

Sciences – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Math- Modern Maths, Add Maths

General Knowledge/ Culture- History and Moral

There is no shortcut to Languages as you will be evaluated based on your skills to project your thoughts and maintain your proficiency throughout the entire essay and other various sections such as comprehension, summary and so forth. I would strongly urge each and everyone to take interest in mastering Languages as these subjects are the key skills in communication, that will lead you to getting a job and enhance the quality of your life.

To start the ball rolling, one should get some books to practice on your skills. If you are short of time to prepare for the next exam, practice harder on the skills that you are lacking. Keep doing questions on comprehension, summary, forming sentences (BM). As for comprehension and summary in both subjects, keep referring to the title/question asked. Write down the points in point form and rationalize if it relates to the title/question. After much practice, you should be able to easily spot the points in the passage. However, do not be over-confident. Remain calm and careful, screening through the text for any extra points. As for summary in English, you may use your own words to replace a single word in the passage. Be careful not to alter the meaning of the passage and keep count of the number of words written. For example, "Fifth Harmony is a popular band in America.", "Fifth Harmony is a famous band in America." You may also alter the structure of the sentence if you are good enough. As for forming sentences (bina ayat) in BM, refer to the meaning of the word in a Malay Dictionary (Kamus Dewan is preferable) and try to form your own sentence. Then, refer to the answers to get a better understanding of the word. You may also ask your school/tuition teacher if you sentence is grammatically correct.

Essays regardless in Bahasa Malaysia or English might be a tougher aspect for most students due to the common issues like getting penalized for inaccurate usage of words, incorrect spelling, lack of ideas on what to write and the inability to finish both essays in time. Start by brainstorming before writing your essay in point form. If it helps you, write down the idioms (peribahasa) or phrases that you might want to use in your essay. Don't worry if you do not have the entire essay planned out. Make a draft out of the first few ideas/plots first and start writing. As I have mentioned earlier in a comment, try to stand out and be original. This gives the examiner a good impression of your writing. Instead of common sentences like "It was a dark and frightful night", "During the holidays, I spent time with my cousins.", start with intriguing sentences like, "Being on higher ground did not make me feel safe as I tried to ignore the realization of my fear of heights.", "I was slowly slipping into unconsciousness as I saw a hand reach out towards mine, igniting my body with this unsual heating sensation." For factual essays, avoid common ones like "Recently, the crime rates has reportedly increased nationwide." or  "Nowadays, students hold no regard in respecting their elders due to their lack of morality" Opt for, "The lives of local residents of Taman X are jeopardized due to the rise in crime rates that ceases to have no end." or "Respect is a two-way street whereby it is earned and not obtained through fear. However, generation Z has a different approach and mindset when it comes to respecting their elders." For BM essays, start with unique openings and good endings with a solution instead of 'Pada masa ini'.

General knowledge/culture requires a lot of extra knowledge that are not in your usual textbooks or school-related books. To do this, you may read materials like the local newspapers or internet articles. Try not to spend so much time on social media as there are hardly any beneficial knowledge that comes from it. If you find the newspapers boring, look for other sections in it that interests you such as technology, feedback from the readers, style, or sports. Grasp the way the sentences are written and how the words are selectively chosen and used in either language. Go a little out of the way to look up for the unfamiliar words because this widens your vocabulary. As for History, you have to like it to do well. Buy reference books that consist of mind-maps or other creative ways of studying if you find the textbook too mundane. Re-tell the story to your friends and make short acronyms to remember the factual evidence. Try not to think of it as a task but an extra subject that you were given the pleasure of learning. One's mindset is extremely important hence, it is vital to stay optimistic and think of the good that comes from learning. As for Moral, all you have to do is memorize the name of the values (nilai) and keywords (kata kunci) to do well. Follow the method that your teacher has taught you to answer. Mine has taught me to answer structural questions according to their marks. Give one answer for 2 marks (kata kunci and elaboration) and two answers for 4 marks ( 2 kata kunci and 2 elaboration). Write according to W.K.S (Watak, kata kunci, situasi) for that particular question. This is where the values come in handy, you memorize them so you can answer well. Although the format has changed, memorizing will still benefit you in case you run out of ideas on what to write. If you have extra time, do all three Moral essays to stay safe. Use the format, N.K.P (nilai, kata kunci, penerangan) and write 4 values with their 'kata kunci' and 'penerangan' to stay safe. Also, you may visit my blog for a link to some effective Moral notes that will help you to answer every question, regardless KBAT or not with ease.

The secret formula to Math is 'practice makes perfect'. Get a suitable book to practice on Math according to your own level. The best is to start with Past Year SPM books as this familiarizes you with the current SPM format for Maths. When you have mastered those questions, move on to tougher questions like KBAT questions or books from Pelangi. First and foremost, understand the concept before practicing. Keep practicing different questions until you can solve them and redo those you have tried a few weeks before. Refresh your memory on Math by looking through the questions you have completed. The same idea applies to Add Maths, which requires a lot more practice. Spend at least 30 minutes or more doing Math each day if you want to be good/ score A+ in exams. Buy books that have the entire working and answers for you so that you don't have to waste time finding out the working of the answer. As for Add Maths Section C, you are given the option of choosing four topics ( 2 in Form 4 and 2 in Form 5), I would suggest you master both topics in Form 4 (Solution of Triangles and Index Numbers) and use one of the Form 5 chapters as your back-up plan if you have extra time.

Lastly, the trickiest and hardest subjects of all to score, in my opinion : Biology, Chemistry and Physics. To score well, one has to have a balanced score in all 2-3 papers of your exam. (Not sure if  you still have Paper 3 for Science subjects as there might be hands-on to test your skills) It is not necessary for you to read each and every fact in the Science books as not all of it will be tested. Focus on Past Year Questions and the questions asked in the subjective paper. As for Paper 1, as long as you score 40 and above/50, you are in the safe zone. Keep trying harder to score 40 and above to those who are unsuccessful. After much practice, you will realize the questions are slightly similar and are based from particular parts of the syllabus. As for Paper 2, focus on the longer parts in the syllabus where it requires a lot of explaining. Remember the definition of the terms (Speed, Momentum, Elasticity, Newton's Second Law) for Physics, (Molecular Formula, Strong Acids ) for Chemistry. More emphasis for the definition are placed on Physics so you know what to do. Master the calculations for Chemistry according to the Past Year Questions book. For Biology, remember to spell the term right and use acronyms to remember the sequence of the process. For example, High Blood Makes All People Suffer. H stands for hypothalamus, B for Baroreceptors, M for Medulla, A for Parasympathetic Sytem, S for SA Node. Memorize the important subtopics like Menstrual Cycle and make sure you know how to explain it according to the points awarded. Spend time on understanding the concept for Physics, how and why the process works for Biology and how the topics (Chemical Bonds, Periodic Table, Acids and Bases) relate to other topics (Carbon Compounds) and use your skills to apply the knowledge. Spend MOST time on practicing trial questions -which you can print online from the link in my blog- but make sure they are complete with answers and any other books that you have. Practicing is most important because it teaches you how to answer the questions and the way you are supposed to tackle the question. By understanding why and what the question wants, you know the type of questions your teachers set or how SPM questions will be like.

Sulwen
Hi, I'm Sulwen. I graduated from secondary school in 2014 and I'm currently waiting for my SPM results. Throughout my preparation for SPM, I have visited many blogs and entries online regarding others' experiences for their exams. I found most of the advice online repetitive hence, I was inspired to write of my own experience in detail. As for hobbies, I have always loved reading as a kid and that developed into an intelligence known as Linguistic Intelligence whereby a person is able to use language to express or understand feelings. Hence, writing comes naturally easy to me. Feel free to visit my blog for more tips and links that are beneficial to you: https://coeuretlame.wordpress.com.


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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

The Benefits of Studying and Working Abroad

Guest post by Tina Jindal

From a very young age we dream of going abroad for higher studies. The allure of a foreign degree stems from the age old cliché of better job opportunities and a higher standard of life. Patriotism aside, several students strive relentlessly to obtain specific qualifications required to attain admission in a university abroad. Some of them come back, some don’t. The piece that completes the picture is acquiring a job. Becoming a part of the international workforce is considered highly lucrative, and is the ultimate feather in one’s cap of success. The benefits of both these practises are many. Here is a snapshot of why you would want to study and work in a foreign country:

Benefits of Studying and Working Abroad

1. Exposure

Perhaps the best aspect of visiting a foreign country – studying abroad will give you an opportunity to see the world first-hand. When you live in another country, you can participate in the daily life of the residents and learn the customs and practices of a different culture. Furthermore, a stint abroad need not be restricted to a particular location. For example, if you go to Germany you can definitely travel and see other regions of Europe as well. On the work front, you get to meet established businessmen from all the over the world who can always teach you a thing or two. Communicating with international clients will broaden your horizons, making you more open-minded with an ability to think outside the box.

2. Language skills

English is not the main language of communication in every country. If you are lucky, your decision to study abroad could be beneficial in honing your communication and language skills. Apart from conversing with fellow students, you could enrol in a proper language course to acquaint yourself with the local dialect. Imagine studying in China and becoming fluent in Mandarin. What a future you could have!

This will directly affect your employment opportunities as well. To be able to converse in different dialects scores a great positive on your resume. Being bilingual will make you an important part of an organizations growth strategy, which includes expanding to other countries or entering new markets on a national level.

3. Networking

You will meet people from different countries and make friends with individuals of varied ethnicities. In addition, you may form professional contacts as well. The course-work in countries like USA, UK, etc. is comparatively light as compared to countries in Asia. Use this opportunity to volunteer, intern, or work part-time while you are studying. Coming back to your own country with a gamut of connections will only make life easier in the long run.

For professionals, working abroad will give you an opportunity to forge international connections so that when you get back to your country, you can continue to nurture these relationships and incorporate them in your current job. For example, if you are an Indian working in Europe as a scientist, coming back to your country and working as a faculty member or a researcher will give you an added advantage over others because of the connections you made outside. Inviting esteemed scientists for a guest lecture will now be a piece of cake.

4. Adaptability

As a student you will have to adapt to different teaching methodologies, people, terrain, and the general mode of life. Relationships abroad could be very different from what you know back home. This in turn is a reflection of the cultural difference that is prevalent from one country to another. However, showcasing high levels of adaptability will only make you stronger, and your stint abroad – easier.

Working professionals on the other hand will have to abide by a different set of mannerisms, values, and customs in the workplace. And they will have to learn fast. For example, Americans prefer to talk to the point, but being blunt with a co-worker in Mexico might just get you fired.

5. Travel prospects

A student living abroad has lots of opportunity to travel around. Use this chance to be adventurous, explore the unknown, and try your hand at different activities that were out of reach in your home country. For example, India can teach foreign nationals about spirituality, meditation, yoga, and, prayer.

Working professionals have a greater chance of exploring new territory – that too for free. As an employee of a leading firm, you will be expected to travel for business from one country to another. If you are working in Berlin, you could be expected to travel to Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Florence, etc. over a weekend. These experiences will only broaden your horizon.

study abroad scholarships

Conclusion

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, personal development, extraordinary amounts of experience, an adventurous lifestyle, extreme sense of independence and superior management skills are some other qualities that can be readily acquired when residing in a foreign country. When planning to migrate overseas, take the opportunity to travel, study, and learn about new cultures with no commitments in order to make this experience like no other.

Tina Jindal
Tina Jindal is a professional content writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate, and education. She has been involved with renowned publications and has tried her hand at editing works on Cookery, Gardening, Pregnancy, and Healthcare. With a background in pure sciences, she gives advice to faculty members for job opportunities as well.


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Friday, January 09, 2015

What's Next After SPM? What to Study After SPM?

Guest post by Sulwen

Most students find it challenging when deciding what they want to study and what they plan to pursue in college. This is because:
a) most do not have a specific interest
b) they face financial issues
c)are still unclear on the courses that are offered by the colleges.

To overcome this issue, one should :

1. Identify your strengths

The most common question post-SPM students get is “What do you plan to study after SPM?” Questions like, “What do you like to do?” or “What are your hobbies?” are questions that are general and sometimes, us, students don’t have hobbies that lead us directly into jobs. It is well-noted for a fact that your interests and hobbies are not necessarily something you are good at but, something you enjoy doing. Hence, to get a better measurement of your actual skills, start by looking at your previous exam results. You can also look at the entire year of exam results to get an accurate measurement of your skills according to the consistency of your results. The subjects that you thrive in are your strengths.

2. Reflect and study offered options

Some questions to ask yourself :

1. Do you prefer a 100% exam based course (like SPM), 50% exam 50% coursework (quizzes, projects, short test) or 70% coursework 30% exam?
2. Do you plan to pursue your studies overseas?
3. Are you still unsure of what you intend to study hence, you want a course that offers broader options and admission into a different college/uni?

If your answer is :
100% exam based course – you should go for A-levels.
50% exam 50% coursework-Foundation programmes
70% coursework 30% exam- Canadian Pre-U programmes
Going overseas to study- you should do A levels/American Degree Programme/AUSMAT/SAM
Unsure of what to study but want broad options- A-levels/AUSMAT/SAM
Want to study locally- Foundation Programmes/STPM/ Malaysian Matriculation/AUSMAT/SAM/A-Levels
Already know a specific course you want to take up-Diploma

3. Make lists

Although you are clueless or unable to decide which course to take up, you would know what job you would want or would not want to do. Cross out the unpreferred jobs. This leaves only the jobs you want to do and enables you to choose which course to take up in college according to your preferences.

4. Work from the end to the front

The best solution is to know what degree you want to study before entering a Pre-U programme. Work from the end by finding the right university that offers you the desired course and you can choose whether to join the Pre-U programme offered by the same college/uni or, choose another one whereby you can transfer to that course. All in all, look for courses that suit you and your needs/interests. An example will be subjects offered by the college.

5. Consider the time factor

Consider the duration of the programme you have chosen. Look at the intake of the Pre-U programme and the intake of the desired degree. Let’s say the intake for your foundation programme is in January and it ends in December. The intake for your degree is in February. This leaves you two months of break before heading back into your studies. Another situation would be if you choose to go for the March intake for your foundation programme. The intake for your degree is either in March or August for the following year. Hence, you’re only left to choose August as your option. What then are you going to do in the 5 months of your break? All these options need to be put into consideration so that you make the right decision.

6. Visit the Admission Office

There are counsellors in various colleges and universities who are willing to help you. I would suggest that you visit the respective college/university’s website and do some research of your own before visiting the Admission Office. This is because, you would be clearer on what you’re going into and you would be able to make decisions faster and easier. Don’t rush it, though. Take time to think carefully because it’s the place you’re going to be studying for the next four years. Don’t stress out too much either. College/university is just a ticket to getting your job and to provide you with the skills and knowledge required for your job.

Related post: Life After SPM? You Wouldn’t Want To Miss These!

Sulwen
Hi, I'm Sulwen. I graduated from secondary school in 2014 and I'm currently waiting for my SPM results. Throughout my preparation for SPM, I have visited many blogs and entries online regarding others' experiences for their exams. I found most of the advice online repetitive hence, I was inspired to write of my own experience in detail. As for hobbies, I have always loved reading as a kid and that developed into an intelligence known as Linguistic Intelligence whereby a person is able to use language to express or understand feelings. Hence, writing comes naturally easy to me. Feel free to visit my blog for more tips and links that are beneficial to you: https://coeuretlame.wordpress.com/.


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Tuesday, January 06, 2015

6 Easy Tips to Increase Your Financial Intelligence

by Kerry Walsh (Submit your guest post and get published here)

Venturing out into the world on your own is an exciting time. No longer are you subject to the rules of your parents or other adults whom you lived with – you are free to come and go as you please. Chances are, you’ve stayed up late and slept in. You even may have gone to buy snacks with new friends at three in the morning. Life is a little different now because you have more freedom; it also means you have more responsibilities. Finances are chief among your new concerns. If you manage your money poorly and are irresponsible with credit, life becomes very painful. Conversely, if you are smart with your finances, you can have confidence that you’ve set yourself up to succeed. Here are a few tips to maintain control of your finances - and your life.
Financial Intelligence Mind Map
Financial Intelligence (FI) Mind Map / PicCredit
1. Create a Budget

Few things will cause more financial difficulties than spending money recklessly. Creating a realistic budget based on your income will help you avoid financial pitfalls. First, identify your income. How much money do you make in a month? Next, write down your expenses (phone bill, fuel, food, etc.). Round down just to be safe.

As you look at your budget, look for items you can cut out as they relate to your spending. Instead of going to the movies every week, just go once a month. Rather than eating out frequently, put some money in an envelope that is specifically for a night on the town. Once you’ve created your budget, stick to it, and mark down your spending so you know exactly where you are when it comes to your money.

2. Save - No Matter What

Chances are you’re probably not making much money, if any, as a student. Your primary goals in life at this time are to get an education and develop skills to use when you eventually set out on your career path. If you do work, you may not log too many hours, which may make you think saving any of it is out of the question. Wrong! Save, regardless of how much money you’re bringing in. Even if you can only put away $10 each time you receive a check or stipend, your savings will add up over time and come in handy when you need it.

Identify ways that you can save more. Do you eat out frequently? Plan out your meals for the week and use a shopping list when you go to the store. Eating out is expensive and only lasts for one meal. Instead of splurging on a nice dinner, use the money you would have spent on your breakfast items for the week. You can save more money than you think this way.

3. Buy Used

There are plenty of gently used items out there available for a bargain. Instead of shopping at a department store on clothes that are brand new, consider going to a secondhand store. The same goes for household appliances or furniture. Online auctions are another way to save, especially on textbooks and other necessary school materials.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for used, try using coupons. Also, many retail stores and websites will honor competitor’s discount prices, so be on the lookout for the best possible deal for all of your purchases.

4. Use Public Transportation

If available, public transportation is one of the easiest ways to save money. Having a vehicle of your own is certainly convenient, but the expenses add up quick. If you take the bus or subway, you don’t have to worry about paying for gas, insurance, parking, or maintenance costs.

In addition to public transportation, consider riding your bike. A used bicycle can be purchased relatively cheap and it’s a great way to get exercise and travel efficiently, especially around your campus.

5. Work Odd Jobs

If you don’t have a regular job, see if you can earn some money on the weekends. Offer to do yard work for people who live nearby. If you are skilled in a certain academic area, offer your services as a tutor. Make a list of five things you think you’re good at and see if you can turn one of those into a side job that generates income.

You can make a flyer outlining services you provide and distribute it around your neighborhood and on local bulletins boards. Include your contact information so potential customers will be able to reach you. You’ll be surprised at the response you get from a carefully prepared flyer or advertisement.

6. Use Credit Responsibly

As soon as you step out the door to be on your own, you are bombarded with credit offers from banks, credit card companies, department stores, etc. While it’s true that you should make an effort to build good credit, you also need to respect credit for the powerful weapon that it is. Before opening a line of credit, ask yourself the following questions: What is the interest rate? Is there an annual fee? Are there rewards? And perhaps the most important question: Do I need this? In most instances, the answer will be no. The trick is to use credit to your advantage. If you buy groceries or fuel with a credit card, pay the balance monthly. This will establish your credit worthiness and help develop good financial habits.

If you’re unable to pay off your entire balance, try to pay more than the minimum due. Allowing your balance to build up will accrue interest and make it more difficult to pay back.

While the sole purpose of one’s life should not revolve around money, it’s important to be mindful of your finances and live life in a way that is responsible in order to provide for yourself and your current or future family. By implementing the aforementioned guidelines, you can start down the path to financial freedom and success in all areas of your life.

Kerry Walsh writes for iMoney.my. She loves reading, writing and adventure-seeking.


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Saturday, January 03, 2015

UPSR, MUET, STPM, STAM, PT3, SPM 2015 Date / Exam Calendar (Kalendar Takwim Peperiksaan)

UPSR PT3 SPM 2015 exam date
Other 2015 Calendars:
School Calendar 2015 (Kalendar Persekolahan, Tarikh Cuti Sekolah, Takwim Sekolah 2015)
Malaysia Public Holidays 2015 (Cuti Umum Hari Kelepasan Am Malaysia 2015)

2015 Exam Calendar / Examination Dates (Kalendar Tarikh Peperiksaan Awam 2015)

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Ulangan) (SPMU)
Bertulis: 8 - 11 June 2015 (Monday - Thursday)

Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) 2015 - SK, SJKC, SJKT
Bertulis: 8 - 10 September 2015 (Tuesday - Thursday)

Get FREE Exam Tips 2015: Do you want to get UPSR, PT3, SPM, STPM and MUET exam tips and notes? On top of that, you will get articles written by your seniors sharing their education experiences, insights and advices for FREE through email.

Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM 2015)
Lisan: 27 - 30 July 2015, 3 - 6 August 2015
Bertulis: 9 - 21 October 2015, 26 - 27 October 2015

Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3 2015) (PT3 replaces PMR)
Tarikh Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) 2015 Date: Ujian Bertulis Dan Lisan, Ujian Bertulis, Pelbagai Instrumen (Tugasan Bertulis / Ujian Amali / Projek / Kajian Lapangan / Kajian Kes / Persembahan / Demonstrasi, dll)
12, 13, 15 October 2015: Ujian bertulis
4 - 28 August 2015: Bahasa Melayu & Bahasa Inggeris Ujian Lisan (Bertutur)
11 August 2015: Bahasa Melayu Ujian Lisan (Mendengar)
12 August 2015: Bahasa Inggeris Ujian Lisan (Mendengar)
21 June - 3 July 2015: Ujian Pelbagai Instrumen Geografi
5 - 16 July 2015: Ujian Pelbagai Instrumen Sejarah

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2015
Bertulis: 2 November - 8 December 2015

SPM 2015 Exam Calendar (Draft 1) / Jadual Waktu Peperiksaan Bertulis SPM 2015

STPM 2016 Exam Calendar (Kalendar Peperiksaan STPM 2016)

Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) 2015
Penggal 1 (2014) Ujian Bertulis: 13 & 17, 18, 19 November 2014
Penggal 2 (2015) Ujian Bertulis: 18 – 21 May 2015
Penggal 3 (2015) Ujian Lisan: 2, 3 & 7, 8, 9, 10 September 2015
Penggal 3 (2015) Ujian Bertulis: 2, 3, 4, 5 & 9 November 2015
Kalendar Peperiksaan STPM 2015 Exam Calendar
Kalendar Peperiksaan STPM 2015 Exam Calendar
Malaysian University English Test (MUET) 2015
March Session
Speaking Test: 4 – 5 February 2015, 9 – 12 February 2015
Reading, Listening & Writing Tests: 7 March 2015

July Session
Speaking Test: 15 – 16 June 2015, 22 – 25 June 2015
Reading, Listening & Writing Tests: 1 August 2015

November Session
Speaking Test: 7 – 10 September 2015, 14 – 15 September 2015
Reading, Listening & Writing Tests: 7 November 2015

Recommended Reading: Free MUET Tips & Essential MUET Guide.
MUET 2015 Calendar / MUET 2015 Test Dates
MUET 2015 Calendar / MUET 2015 Test Dates
Pentaksiran Kolej Vokasional (KV)

Pentaksiran Pusat Pendidikan Asas Vokasional (PAV)

Takwim Peperiksaan Luar Negeri dan Professional 2015

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)
16 March 2015 : Teori (A)
March - April 2015 : Amali (1) dan Diploma (1)
15 August 2015 : Teori (B)
June - August 2015 : Amali (2) dan Diploma (2)

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
1 - 10 June 2015
7 - 16 December 2015

University of London (UoL)
27 April - 19 June 2015
29 September - 23 October 2015
26 - 30 October 2015 (Ulangan)

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA)
2 - 5 June 2015
1 - 4 December 2015

The Association of Business Executives (ABE)
1 - 5 June 2015
7 - 11 December 2015

The Association of International Accountants (AIA)
18 - 21 May 2015
23 - 26 November 2015

Peperiksaan Bahasa Perancis – Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF)
Peperiksaan Lisan: 2 September 2015
Peperiksaan Bertulis: 3 - 11 September 2015

Note: Dates are subjected to changes (Tarikh-tarikh yang dinyatakan adalah tertakluk kepada pindaan)

Source: Lembaga Peperiksaan, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia


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Thursday, January 01, 2015

School Calendar 2015 (Kalendar Persekolahan, Tarikh Cuti Sekolah, Takwim Sekolah 2015)

Source:
Ministry of Education Malaysia MOE Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia KPM

School Calendar 2015 (Kalendar Persekolahan, Tarikh Cuti Sekolah, Takwim Sekolah 2015)

Planning for school holidays or family vacation trips? You might find 2015 school holidays calendar useful. Click on the school calendar to enlarge.

Other 2015 Calendars:
Malaysia Public Holidays 2015 Calendar (Kalendar Jadual Cuti Umum Hari Kelepasan Am Malaysia)
UPSR, PT3, SPM, SPMU, STAM, STPM & MUET 2015 Exam Dates / Examination Calendar (Kalendar Takwim Peperiksaan)

School Calendar / Planner 2015 (Tarikh Persekolahan, Kalendar Cuti Sekolah, Takwim Sekolah 2015)

Malaysia School Holiday Calendar 2015 (Kalendar Cuti Sekolah 2015)
2015 School Calendar (Takwim Persekolahan Tahun 2015)
Malaysia School Holiday Calendar 2015 (Kalendar Cuti Sekolah 2015)
2015 School Calendar (Takwim Persekolahan Tahun 2015)


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