Jointly reported by:
Lim Lok Yee Jr2Z(2)
Ng Yi Phin Jr2Z(2)
Victoria Hwang Jr2S(4)
On July 6th 2022, the SPM Results for Kuen Cheng students were announced! Many students received outstanding results and we specially interviewed Khoo Qi, Shuan Gin, You Ting and Zhi Yean to share their experiences and advice.
1. Any first guesses on your results and how did you feel after receiving them?
Shuan Gin: Well I hoped for 11A’s this year but unfortunately I fell short of two. Getting 2 B+s, I would say I’m a little disappointed but it wasn’t unexpected because I did not focus as much on those two subjects.
Khoo Qi: I thought the maximum A’s that I could get was 9, but turns out I got 11 instead. My parents were very happy, but I was unexpectedly calm when I received my results. To be honest, I think I didn’t give it my best, and my 11A’s were really because I was on luck’s side.
Zhi Yean: I opted for 12A’s, and it really was so! I was thrilled to get full A’s.
You Ting: I did not quite predict my marks, but the 11A’s definitely weren’t expected.
2. What do you think about this year’s SPM?
Shuan Gin: Overall, I think this year’s SPM was moderate in difficulty, the difficulty didn’t stray too far from mock SPM papers. Sites such as gurubesar.my helped me a lot in preparing.
Khoo Qi: This year’s SPM, to me, is on a medium level. The languages especially were easier compared to other subjects. However, I think that if you have prepared well (e.g. have tuition classes), it will be quite easy to take.
Zhi Yean: Additional maths was quite hard. I think it’s because there is a new syllabus this year. There were also oral language tests, which added to the challenges. We also had to do science experiments for SPM.
You Ting: I agree with Zhi Yean. Additional maths was, in fact, harder with its new syllabus.
3. Due to the pandemic, many classes were moved online. How did you maintain discipline?
Khoo Qi: For me, my discipline level has surely lowered, but one thing kept me going: not wanting to fall out of the crowd (my class). Competitiveness also made me stay disciplined, for I had set goals for myself.
Zhi Yean: One to two months before the examination, I set a timetable and made lists which weren’t too packed. If too many activities are stuffed together, it will impact our overall performance. I also set realistic goals and worked hard to achieve them.
4. Any advice on choosing subject streams for Junior Middle Three students?
Shuan Gin: Well personally, I chose the science stream because I had an interest in it ever since Junior Middle One. All in all, follow your heart and choose whatever stream that you are most interested in. If you don’t, you’ll easily burn yourself out doing something you aren’t interested in.
Khoo Qi: Do not give in to peer pressure! You should follow your heart and choose which stream you prefer. Some students are forced to go into science classes (理科), but it will be very hard work and tiring if it is not what you want. Also, do not think that you cannot enter a certain stream because your results aren’t that good. Do believe in yourself!
Zhi Yean: If you are not sure which subject stream to choose, you can ask other people who know you well. They can give you advice based on your strengths. Also, choose which stream you want to be in, not which stream has more career options. If you choose a stream that you don’t like, chances are you will not have any motivation to keep on going.
5. Any words to Senior Middle Two students who are going to take SPM next year?
Khoo Qi: If you are leaving school after Senior Middle Two, SPM really is your big chance to be successful after stepping out into society. (Towards all Sr2 students:) Give your best and stay calm. You should also have clear goals in order to succeed in exams. Also, pay attention in class! Don’t revise/study at the last minute. You should also take good care of your physical and mental health. Sometimes, stress can push you forward, but at other times they affect your performance. Lastly, communicate more with people who encourage you instead of giving you negative comments.
Well, that concludes this beneficial interview we had with these outstanding students. Congratulations to all SPM students for maintaining your discipline and persevering throughout the epidemic!