2017 SPM candidates outperform previous year (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The 2017 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates scored a National Grade Point Average (NGPA) of 4.90, outperforming the previous year.
Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin said the results were better than 2016, which was 5.05.
"A smaller NGPA indicates that candidates did better in the examinations," he said when announcing the SPM 2017 analysis at the Education Ministry today.
He said the number of candidates who registered for the 2017 SPM examinations had increased from 434,535 candidates in 2016 to 443,883 candidates.
The results analysis showed that 85.2% of the candidates qualify for the SPM certificate. Candidates must pass Bahasa Malaysia and History to qualify for the certificate since 2013.
"The achievements between urban and rural areas candidates also recorded some improvement with the rural students recording an increase of 0.14 in National Cumulative Grade (GPN), from 5.36 in 2016 to 5.22, while urban candidates also recorded 0.14 increases in their GPN (4.89 in 2016 to 4.75).
"In addition, 62.5% of the 994 candidates with special needs (CBK) are eligible to be awarded the SPM certificate.
"Overall, the 2017 SPM candidates showed the most improvement in Bahasa Malaysia with its Subject Average Grade (GPMP) of 0.46 while Moral Studies had the biggest decrease at 0.11," he added.
He said 48 of 73 SPM subjects had recorded improvements with other core subjects such as English Language, Islamic Studies and Mathematics also showing improvement.
However, one core subject Science recorded a decrease.
Amin also pointed out that 66% of the 2017 SPM candidates have mastered the High-Level Thinking Skills (KBAT) assessment.
He also announced that 54.9% of the SPM candidates successfully obtained the GCE O-Level certificate in English subject.
"In fact, 56.2% of the 75,467 candidates that sat for the Principles of Accounting subject are eligible to receive the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Level 2 Book Keeping and Account certificate," he said.