Success Stories From Spm Straight-a Scorers

Twins Chai Yun Zhen (left) and Zhi Heng, seen here with their parents, have set their sights on pursuing medicine after scoring 9As. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination results were released on Thursday, with some 14,179 students having recorded straight As, according to the education ministry.

Education director-general Azman Adnan said this year’s results – an increase from the 11,713 straight-A scorers recorded for the 2023 exam – were the best in 11 years.

In Seremban, a last-minute decision to switch academic streams proved to be a blessing for 18-year-old R Pravieen, a student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) King George V, who scored 8As.

He said he had made the decision to switch from the science stream to accounting and economics in mid-July while back in Form Four.

Pravieen said being the only child of two former accountants had encouraged him to pursue a career in business, and he planned to further his studies in the field.

Another top SPM scorer at the same school, Kauthar Arifin, said her routine of performing solat hajat (prayer of need) in the early hours had helped her score 8As in the examination.

The youngest of five siblings attributed her success to consistently revising at home, giving full attention in class, and always respecting her teachers and listening to their advice.

Meanwhile, fellow schoolmate Nur Aminah Hessa Mohd Ashik hoped her success in achieving 9As would serve as an inspiration to her younger siblings.

“Alhamdulillah, everything turned out great today, and I hope to keep doing well in the future,” said the science-stream student.

Eldest child Nur Aminah Hessa Mohd Ashik is thankful to have made her parents proud, and for being able to be good role model for her siblings. (Bernama pic)

Double successes

In Johor Bahru, twins Chai Zhi Heng and Chai Yun Zhen took an essential step towards their shared dream of becoming doctors by scoring straight As.

Zhi Heng, who was in the same class as his twin sister at SMK Sultan Ismail, said they have been inseparable since childhood and constantly encouraged each other throughout their school years.

“I found it difficult to get up and study at night, so my sister would wake me up. She always reminded me not to slack off and often shared her study notes with me.

“As her older brother, I feel deeply grateful and blessed to have such a caring sister,” he said when met at the school on Thursday.

Zhi Heng scored 8A+s and 1A, while Yun Zhen scored 9A+s. They hope to be able to further their studies in the same university.

The Chai siblings are not the only twins to have done exceptionally well in their SPM exam: SMK Bukit Jambul in Penang boasted three pairs of twins who scored straight As!

Nurul Aliya Najwa Muhammad Rusli and her sister, Nurul Ain Nafisha – who had been in the same class since primary school – now plan to further their studies in law.

Identical twins K Abirami and K Abinaya said they hadn’t expected to receive straight As, even though studying with a twin sibling certainly made the process easier. Abirami wants to become an engineer, while Abinaya hopes to become a veterinarian.

And fraternal twins Teh Zhe Huei and Teh Zhe Yee said engaging in healthy academic competition helped each other achieve outstanding results. They now plan to become an engineer and a doctor/pharmacist, respectively.

Pride of the community

Temiar student Nur Syafienaz Nazri (right) credits her mother, Siti Norsyakila Kamarzaman, for her SPM success. (Bernama pic)

In Gua Musang, a Temiar student made history by being the first from her community in Kelantan to achieve 8As. Nur Syafienaz Nazri, a student from SMK Panggung Jaya, proved that location and background are not barriers to academic excellence.

Growing up in Kampung Merlong RPS Kuala Betis, she is one of eight Orang Asli students in the state who passed all subjects, but the only one to score 8As.

“I want to show my community that we can succeed. This is the first step towards achieving my dream of becoming an educator,” she shared.

She credits her success to discipline and focus, as well as continuous support from her teachers, friends and, especially, her mother.

“I want to change my family’s fate. My mother, who is a seamstress, has sacrificed a lot. I’ve held onto that determination since Form One,” Nur Syafienaz, the oldest child in the family, said.

Although her home is only about 25 minutes away from school, she chose to stay in a hostel to ensure she wouldn’t miss extra classes and learning activities.

She hopes to pursue further studies at Universiti Teknologi Mara by enrolling in the English-language foundation programme as her first step towards a career in education.