On Thursday, education director-general Azman Adnan announced that students who sat for last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam recorded the best performance since 2013, with a national average grade index of 4.49 versus 4.60 in 2023.
While 14,179 students scored straight As, some have had to go through more challenges than others. In Kota Bharu, 18-year-old Aimimuqri Harraz Mohd Sufian achieved 8As and 1B – despite having to sit for the exam from a hospital bed.
The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dato’ Ahmad Maher student had suffered from food poisoning two days before the English paper, which led to his admission to a private hospital in the Kelantan capital.
During his five-day stay, Aimimuqri sat for four exam papers – English, mathematics, history, and Islamic studies.
“I never imagined I would have to sit for SPM in the hospital. I was still vomiting while answering the English paper. Alhamdulillah, with the support of my parents, I was able to get through this,” said Aimimuqri, who aspires to become a pilot.
Filial student
In Kangar, a student from Tasik Melati scored 7A+s and 2As despite having to care for his bedridden father.
Norazamze Teh, 47, who worked as a fertiliser storekeeper and also took on grass-cutting jobs, suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in August – a week before the SPM trial exam began.
“The accident caused fractures in my father’s thigh and arm, along with a minor brain haemorrhage that resulted in short-term memory loss. My brother and I took turns caring for him at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar and at home,” Adib Azrif Norazamze told reporters on Thursday.
The student of SMK Derma, who scored 7A+s and 2As, said he spent a lot of time at the hospital with his father, and used that time for revision.
“I wouldn’t even touch my phone – I just focused on studying and looking after my father. At night, I would sleep early and wake up at 5am to study,” he recalled.
And in Ipoh, a hearing-impaired student from Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Ave Maria Convent achieved remarkable success by scoring 10As.
When she was 13, Lee Wan Lin realised she could not hear out of her left ear while using earphones, “likely due to damage to my auditory nerve”, she explained.
Lee initially aimed for 9As but did not expect to score 5A+s, 4As, and 1A-. She admitted that some subjects, especially the Chinese language, were particularly challenging.
“I paid attention during lessons, took notes, asked teachers for help, and revised during my free time at home. I also studied with friends at school.
“I hope to further my studies at Universiti Malaya in pharmacy, medicine, or dentistry,” she said.
