Education in Malaysia

Secondary education, like primary education is now compulsory in Malaysia. Primary schools
run from Year 1 to Year 6 (also known as Standard 1 to 6, for children aged 6+ to 12+), at
the end of which they sit for the UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah or Primary School
Assessment Examination). Secondary schools run for seven years, known as Forms 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, Lower 6 and Upper 6. Not all schools offer all forms. Many secondary schools stop at Form
5. Forms 1 to 3 are known as the lower secondary level and at the end of Form 3, pupils sit
for the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah or Lower Secondary Assessment) examination. This
replaced the SRP (Sijil Rendah Pelajaran) or LCE (Lower Certificate of Education) where a
pass was required for promotion to Form 4. At the end of Form 5, pupils sit for the SPM
(Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or MCE Malaysia Certificate of Education), equivalent to the
O-Level examination. (The label is based on the old British examination known as the 'School
Certificate' examination.) At the end of Upper 6, pupils sit for the STPM (Sijil Tinggi
Pelajaran Malaysia, formerly HSC Higher School Certificate). (The label is based on the old
British examination, the 'Higher School Certificate', and this name is still used in
Australia.) Automatic promotion up to Form 5 has been in place since 1996.