UPSR and PMR

Primary School
At age 7, children begin their formal education (pendidikan) in primary schools (sekolah rendah). Primary schooling lasts 6 years altogether. Pupils advance from Tahun 1 (Darjah 1, Primary 1, Standard 1, Year 1) through Tahun 2 (Darjah 2, Primary 2, Standard 2, Year 2), Tahun 3 (Darjah 3, Primary 3, Standard 3, Year 3), Tahun 4 (Darjah 4, Primary 4, Standard 4, Year 4), Tahun 5 (Darjah 5, Primary 5, Standard 5, Year 5) & Tahun 6 (Darjah 6, Primary 6, Standard 6, Year 6). Primary schools can usually be recognised by the prefixes in their names, such as SK - Sekolah Kebangsaan; SJK - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan; SJK(C) - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina; SJK(T) - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil; SRJK - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan; SRJK(C) - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina; SRJK(T) - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil; and SA - Sekolah Agama. The multitudes of variations is due to the fact that schools use different ethnic languages as their medium of instruction. However, they all subscribe to the same national curriculum known as KBSR (Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Rendah / Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Rendah), or New Curriculum for Primary School / Integrated Curriculum for Primary School. Using this scheme, primary schooling is separated into Level I (Tahap I) and Level II (Tahap II). Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 are grouped as Level I; while Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 are grouped as Level II. The academic subjects (matapelajaran, mata pelajaran) taught under KBSR are listed below:

Subjects in Level I - Years 1, 2 & 3 (Subjek dalam Tahap I - Tahun 1, 2 & 3)

Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Chinese Language (Bahasa Cina)
Tamil Language (Bahasa Tamil)
Science (Sains)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Music Education (Pendidikan Muzik)
Visual Arts Education (Pendidikan Seni Visual)
Physical Education (Pendidikan Jasmani)
Health Education (Pendidikan Kesihatan)
Moral Education (Pendidikan Moral)
Islamic Education (Pendidikan Islam)


Subjects in Level II - Years 4, 5 & 6 (Subjek dalam Tahap II - Tahun 4, 5 & 6)

Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Chinese Language (Bahasa Cina)
Tamil Language (Bahasa Tamil)
Science (Sains)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Local Studies (Kajian Tempatan)
Integrated Living Skills (Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu)
Music Education (Pendidikan Muzik)
Visual Arts Education (Pendidikan Seni Visual)
Physical Education (Pendidikan Jasmani)
Health Education (Pendidikan Kesihatan)
Moral Education (Pendidikan Moral)
Islamic Education (Pendidikan Islam)


Secondary School
After primary schooling, pupils will move on to secondary schooling. However, those from ethnic primary schools who wish to enter national schools will undergo a year in a remove class / remove form (kelas peralihan / tingkatan peralihan). Secondary schooling takes 5 years altogether. Students advance from Form1 (Tingkatan 1) through Form 2 (Tingkatan 2), Form 3 (Tingkatan 3), Form 4 (Tingkatan 4) & Form 5 (Tingkatan 5). Similar to primary schools, secondary schools can usually be recognised by the prefixes in their names, such as SMK - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan; SMJK - Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan; SMJK(C) - Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina; SMJK(T) - Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil; SMB - Sekolah Menengah Bantuan; and SMA - Sekolah Menengah Agama. However, they all subscribe to the same national curriculum known as KBSM (Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Menengah / Kurikulum Bersepadu Sekolah Menengah), or New Curriculum for Secondary School / Integrated Curriculum for Secondary School. Using this scheme, secondary schooling is separated into Lower Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Rendah - SMR) and Upper Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Atas - SMA). Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3 are grouped as SMR; while Form 4 and Form 5 are grouped as SMA. The academic subjects (mata pelajaran) taught under KBSM are listed below

Subjects in Lower Secondary School - Forms 1, 2 & 3
(Subjek dalam Sekolah Menengah Rendah - Tingkatan 1, 2 & 3)
Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Chinese Language (Bahasa Cina)
Tamil Language (Bahasa Tamil)
Science (Sains)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Geography (Geografi)
History (Sejarah)
Integrated Living Skills (Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu)
Music Education (Pendidikan Muzik)
Visual Arts Education (Pendidikan Seni Visual)
Physical Education (Pendidikan Jasmani)
Health Education (Pendidikan Kesihatan)
Moral Education (Pendidikan Moral)
Islamic Education (Pendidikan Islam)
Malay Language Practice (Amalan Bahasa Melayu) - for Remove Class (Kelas Peralihan) only


Subjects in Upper Secondary School - Forms 4 & 5
(Subjek dalam Sekolah Menengah Atas - Tingkatan 4 & 5)
Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Chinese Language (Bahasa Cina)
Tamil Language (Bahasa Tamil)
Science (Sains)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Geography (Geografi)
Physics (Fizik)
Chemistry (Kimia)
Biology (Biologi)
Sports Science (Sains Sukan)
Malay Literature (Kesusasteraan Melayu)
English for Science and Technology - EST (Bahasa Inggeris untuk Sains dan Teknologi)
Music Education (Pendidikan Muzik)
Visual Arts Education (Pendidikan Seni Visual)
Additional Mathematics (Matematik Tambahan)
Physical Education (Pendidikan Jasmani)
Health Education (Pendidikan Kesihatan)
Moral Education (Pendidikan Moral)
Islamic Education (Pendidikan Islam)
Basic Economics (Ekonomi Asas)
Information Technology (Teknologi Maklumat)


Apart from the subjects listed above, Form 4 and Form 5 students in vocational (vokasional, vokesyenal) schools can also select the following subjects:

Subjects in Vocational School - Forms 4 & 5
(Subjek dalam Sekolah Vokasional - Tingkatan 4 & 5)
Domestic Construction (Pembinaan Domestik)
Furniture Making (Membuat Perabot)
Signage Design (Seni Reka Tanda)
Food Planting (Tanaman Makanan)
Facial Care and Hairdressing (Penjagaan Muka dan Dandanan Rambut)
Domestic Electrical Appliances Servicing (Menservis Peralatan Elektrik Domestik)
Clothing Design and Sewing (Rekaan dan Jahitan Pakaian)
Catering and Serving (Katering dan Penyajian)
Landscape and Nursery (Lanskap dan Nurseri)
Aquaculture and Recreational Animals (Akuakultur dan Haiwan Rekreasi)
Cooling and Air-Conditioning Equipment Servicing (Menservis Peralatan Penyejukan dan Penyamanan Udara)
Basic Interior Design (Hiasan Dalaman Asas)
Early Childhood Education and Care (Asuhan dan Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak)
Multimedia Production (Produksi Multimedia)
Computer Graphics (Grafik Berkomputer)
Food Processing (Pemprosesan Makanan)
Domestic Wiring (Pendawaian Domestik)
Automobile Servicing (Menservis Automobil)


In addition to Forms 1 to 5, there is also a Form 6 (Tingkatan 6) which serves as a pre-university (pra-universiti) level. Form 6 students comprise of two stages - Lower 6 (Tingkatan 6 Bawah) and Upper 6 (Tingkatan 6 Atas). Students in Form 6 are usually aiming to enter one of the several local universities in Malaysia. In order to achieve that, they will have to do well in the STPM examination. The subjects available in Form 6 will be covered in the section on STPM below.

UPSR
UPSR, short for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah or Primary School Achievement Test is a compulsory national examination (peperiksaan kebangsaan) for Year 6 primary school students. These pupils will sit for the exam at the end of their academic year. Not all subjects that are taught in school will be tested though. Only selected subjects considered as important are covered in the UPSR. These subjects are:

Subjects in Primary School Achievement Test, UPSR - Year 6
(Subjek dalam Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, UPSR - Tahun 6)
Malay Language - Comprehension
(Bahasa Melayu - Pemahaman)
Malay Language - Composition
(Bahasa Melayu - Penulisan)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Science (Sains)
Chinese Language - Comprehension
(Bahasa Cina - Pemahaman)
Chinese Language - Composition
(Bahasa Cina - Penulisan)
Tamil Language - Comprehension
(Bahasa Tamil - Pemahaman)
Tamil Language - Composition
(Bahasa Tamil - Penulisan)



PMR
PMR, short for Penilainan Menengah Rendah or Lower Secondary Assessment is a compulsory national examination (peperiksaan kebangsaan) for Form 3 secondary school students. These pupils will sit for the exam at the end of their academic year. Not all subjects that are taught in school will be tested though. Only selected subjects considered as important are covered in the PMR. These subjects are:

Subjects in Lower Secondary Assessment, PMR - Form 3
(Subjek dalam Penilaian Menengah Rendah, PMR - Tingkatan 3)
Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)
English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)
Chinese Language (Bahasa Cina)
Tamil Language (Bahasa Tamil)
Arabic Language - Communication
(Bahasa Arab - Komunikasi)
Punjabi Language (Bahasa Punjabi)
Mathematics (Matematik)
Science (Sains)
History (Sejarah)
Geography (Geografi)
Islamic Education (Pendidikan Islam)
Integrated Living Skills
(Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu)
Iban Language (Bahasa Iban)