The Star Online:
More students scored the perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) last year compared to 2011.Turns out there is truth in the popular belief that exam results released on the election year are usually better because the government wants to create a happy environment where everyone thinks that our education is improving.
A total of 442 candidates or 0.86% received a CGPA of 4.0 compared to 300 candidates or 0.59% the year earlier.
The number of top achievers - students who scored 5As - also increased by six to 18 students.
The 2012 STPM examinations was the last to be held under the old format as the Education Ministry decided three years ago to revamp the examination format from having one final exam to include school-based assessments and assessments at the end of each semester.
Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin hoped the new format will encourage more students to sit for the STPM.
"The first semester results under the new format will be released this Thursday. I think the students did much better than we expected.
"But it would not be fair to compare these semester results to the one under the old format, because these students have just started their studies," he told reporters after announcing the examination results here on Monday.
A total of 51,673 students sat for the examination last year.