Special needs student used ‘smart strategy' to ace SPM
Saw, 18, from SMJK Sacred Heart in Balik Pulau, is classified as a slow learner but it evidently has no impact on the astuteness of his mind.
With grit and spirit, he soared academically, clinching six A+ grades in subjects including Additional Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Saw stood out as Penang's only special needs student to excel in the nation's most important school exam last year.
'I struggled a lot with expressing myself when I was younger. People often couldn't understand me.
True grit: Saw, who scored 9As and 2Bs in his SPM exam, says he studied smart, making up for his shortcomings.
'My focus was poor and my vocabulary was limited,' Saw, who has a speech impediment, shared.
With support from friends and family, Saw overcame his difficulties and pushed forward, with sterling results.
His secret? A smart strategy.
'Don't just study hard – study smart,' he said. 'Understand the topics well and use keywords to improve efficiency.'
'If I face challenging questions, I refer to the marking scheme and look at trial papers from other states for guidance,' he said after receiving his results yesterday.
Saw said he hopes to secure a scholarship next and pursue a degree in data science, a field combining mathematics, statistics, and computational techniques.
Meanwhile, at SMK Bukit Jambul, there was even more reason to celebrate as three pairs of twins joined the ranks of high achievers – all with straight As.
They were among 49 students from the school to achieve top results.
The twins are Teh Zhe Huei and his sister Teh Zhe Yee, sisters Nurul Aliya Najwa and Nurul Ain Nafisha Muhamad Rusli, and K. Abirami and K. Abinaya.
In Johor, M. Kayyelvizhi, Harry Danish Ahmad Kamal Azuan, and twin sisters Lee Yun Ting and Lee Yun Qian, saw academic excellence as not powered by privilege but forged through sheer discipline, sacrifice, and family support.
Kayyelvizhi, a top scorer from SMK Sultan Ismail who achieved 10A+ and 1A, swore off mobile phones for the past five years during her secondary school time.
'In fact, during the last two years of my secondary school, I did not use any gadgets for leisure at all.
'I knew when I had to study, and I stayed true to that,' she said when met at her school yesterday.
Kayyelvizhi, who plans to further her studies in the medical field, said she was inspired by her older brother, who formerly scored 12A+ for SPM.
She said her parents bought her first mobile phone right after she completed her SPM examinations.
Harry Danish, who is also 18, was very thankful after getting 8A+ and 1A by relying on self study and persistence.
'The pressure was intense. There were a lot of drills, but I kept going because I knew it would be worth it.
'I expected to do well based on the effort I put in, but I kept my expectations grounded,' he said adding that he plans to further his tertiary education in information technology.
Twin sisters Yun Ting and Yun Qian, both 18, paid tribute to their parents for their support.
Yun Ting scored 6A+, 3A, 1A- while Yun Qian earned 7A+, 1A, 2A- in the exams.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
27-07-2025
- The Star
Letting go of eldest child pressure
Growing up as the eldest child, I often wondered if I had ever made my family proud. Working hard and getting good grades would earn me praise, but amid it all, I forgot that my life did not depend solely on others' recognition. Receiving my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results last year was nerve-wracking. My heart pounded as I searched my sister's face for any sign of a reaction. She didn't respond at first – then she ran off to tell our family and relatives: 'Nittila got straight As!' Wait, I did? No matter how much effort I put in, it never felt like enough. I constantly believed I had to do more – more exercises, more reading. Back then, that mindset only pushed me into a deeper slump, worsening my mental health. But like all difficult phases, it eventually passed. That very experience helped me juggle my subsequent matriculation life better. I learnt to give myself space to make mistakes and not let the fear of judgement hold me back. I also realised I needed to share how I felt with my parents. They, in return, offered guidance. When I got sick a week before one of my semester exams, it felt like everything was weighing on me at once. But my parents made sure to check in and see how I was doing. They made sure I never felt alone. They gave me home remedies to try, reminding me that even if they couldn't be there physically, they were always supporting me. Looking back, I realised the pressure I had placed on myself was far heavier than the expectations of those around me. I used to believe that being great at something made my loved ones love me more. In reality, that wasn't true – they also saw me for who I was, not just what I achieved. Do I still feel the pressure of being the pride of my family as the eldest child? Yes, but not in the way I used to. Before, I thought I had to be 'perfect' to earn their pride. Now, I understand that their pride doesn't come from perfect grades – it comes from effort, perseverance, and staying true to myself. My family is proud of me, not just because of my results, but also because of the hard work I put in. And more importantly, I have learnt to be proud of myself. Nittila, 19, a student in Perak, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to
The Sun
19-07-2025
- The Sun
19-year-old Malaysian takes pride in Alam Flora drain cleaner job, netizens moved
A young man's job of being a drain cleaner in Alam Flora has reminded many to never judge a book by its cover. At just 19 years old, Muhammad Zamri Zaidi Nizam has become an unexpected inspiration on social media for his pride and positivity in working as a drain cleaner. Employed by Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Zamri's candid reflections on his job — shared through the company's official TikTok page — have struck a chord with many Malaysians. 'We cannot judge a job based on one perspective only. We have to try working there first to truly understand what it feels like. 'We should not do something based on what others say. We do it for ourselves. If they feel that young people should not do these things, I will prove to them that I can,' said the young worker in the video. Zamri said he began working as a drain cleaner in June 2024, following the advice of his father, who also works at Alam Flora as a driver. He added that he had no specific plans for work or higher education at the time he finished his Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM). Recalling his early days on the job, Zamri said he initially felt intimidated by how fast his colleagues worked. As a new hire, he was only assigned basic tasks such as opening slabs, before eventually being allowed to enter the drains. Regarding acceptance, Zamri said his family fully supports his current job. 'With my family, it's okay because it's still work, and as long as it is halal (permissible),' he said. However, his friends were shocked by his choice of work, questioning why he had chosen it – but Zamri does not let their opinions affect him. 'Even though the workload is heavy, it's still manageable. And another thing – thank God –, the work helps me stay fit and my body feels light after clocking out because I get to do a lot of physical activity,' he added. Netizens were touched by the 19-year-old's positivity and determination in taking pride in a job that many would overlook. Others also praised Zamri's communication skills, noting how eloquently he spoke, and encouraged him to realise his full potential by furthering his studies. 'Why should you feel ashamed? I always tell my children that people who work in jobs like construction or the service industry are amazing – because without them, no one else would be able to do it,' one user commented.
The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
STPM top scorer from Jakun tribe set to pursue dreams at University of Manchester
KUANTAN: Driven by determination and hope, a young Orang Asli woman from the Jakun tribe has earned a place to study economics at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, marking a significant step forward in her mission to drive change in her community. Roziana Tan Beng Hai, 20, who scored a perfect 4.0 CGPA in the 2024 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination, said she chose to pursue economics and social studies with the ambition of becoming an economist. "I am the first person from Kampung Mentelung, Rompin, to sit for STPM. Not many people in my village have had the chance to study this far, and most of them are from the B40 group. "It's my hope to raise the living standard and create job opportunities for my community,' she told reporters at the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and STPM Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony organised by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) at a hotel here on Tuesday. Roziana described the opportunity to study abroad as her way of repaying her mother, Rohani Lamwan, 56, who had raised her alone while working at an oil palm estate under YP Plantation Holdings Sdn Bhd. "I want to give my mother something to be proud of, so she'll know that raising me on her own wasn't in vain,' said Roziana, who is currently preparing to sit for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) on July 19. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Siti Nur Hawani Muhammad Almi, who scored 9As in the SPM examination, said she would pursue Islamic Education at the Teacher Training Institute, Dato' Razali Ismail Campus, Kuala Terengganu, starting Aug 11. The former Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Hasanah student said furthering studies in Islamic Education was her first choice as she aspired to become an Ustazah (religious teacher). "I was truly inspired by my teachers at school and found that teaching is something I actually enjoy. "I used to help my friends study during SPM, and that's where my passion grew,' she said. At the same time, Siti Nur Hawani encouraged SPM candidates to step out of their comfort zones to achieve extraordinary results. "I never used to get 8As or 9As. Usually, I scored 5As or 6As. I wasn't very focused at first, but as SPM got closer, I realised I needed to change. I pushed myself to work harder, and in the end, I achieved 9As. Alhamdulillah,' she said. Roziana and Siti Nur Hawani were among 149 Orang Asli students recognised for their academic achievements at the ceremony. Jakoa deputy director-general (Development) Zamri Mustajap said a total of RM45,550 in incentives was allocated to all recipients.- Bernama
