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The Star
12-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Johor school celebrates historic SPM success
TOP scorers in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations credit their success to personal sacrifices, family support, disciplined study routines, and dedicated teachers. Among the 56 top scorers from SMK Sultan Ismail in Johor Baru were M. Kayyelvizhi, Harry Danish Ahmad Kamal Azuan, twin sisters Lee Yun Ting and Lee Yun Qian and Chan Le Rou. Kayyelvizhi, who scored 10A+ and 1A, went to great lengths to avoid distractions – choosing not to have a mobile phone or engage on social media throughout her studies. 'I didn't want a phone because I knew it would distract me from studying,' she said during a recent interview at the school. Kayyelvizhi says she draws inspiration from her elder brother who had attended the same school and was a top scorer. Aspiring to pursue medicine, Kayyelvizhi drew inspiration from her elder brother, a former top SPM scorer from the same school who achieved 12A+. She credited past-year exam papers as a key part of her preparation. Her parents rewarded her with a mobile phone after she completed her final exam in 2024. Harry Danish was thrilled to score 8A+ and 1A in SPM, which he achieved without attending any tuition. 'I chose to study independently, as my teachers' notes and guidance were more than enough,' he said. While confident in his preparation, he kept his expectations realistic. He plans to pursue a degree in information technology (IT). For Chan Le Rou, early preparation was key to her success in the examinations. 'Our school put us in 'battle mode' from day one of Form Five, which helped me stay focused,' said Le Rou, who scored 8A+ and 2A, including an A in Japanese. Having participated in a student exchange programme in Japan, she developed a passion for the language. She shared that her most productive study hours were from 6pm to midnight. 'I took breaks to avoid burnout, but consistency was what kept me on track,' she added. Le Rou also scored A in Japanese. Twin sisters Lee Yun Ting and Lee Yun Qian credited their success to strong family support, especially from their mother. Yun Ting, who scored 6A+, 3A, and 1A-, and Yun Qian, with 7A+, 1A, and 2A-, said they often supported each other in their studies. 'Our mother always gave us advice during the hour-long drive to and from school, ever since Form One,' Yun Ting said. SMK Sultan Ismail principal Suriyah Mohamed Lahir credited the school's historic SPM 2024 results to the combined efforts of students, teachers, parents, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), as well as the district and state education authorities. The 56 top students scored straight As, including two who achieved all A+, while all 159 candidates passed – marking a 100% pass rate. Suriyah, a 30-year education veteran, noted the school's improvement from the previous year, which saw 36 students with straight As, including three with full A+. Suriyah: SMK Sultan Ismail saw 56 students scoring straight As, including two with full A+ in the 2024 SPM examinations. She attributed the success to clear expected targeted results (ETR), consistent performance monitoring, and regular student-teacher dialogues under the Take-Off Value (TOV) approach held at least three times before the exam. She said preparations began as early as Form 4, with struggling students identified early and parents brought in for support. 'Each student's progress is tracked closely – every head counts,' she said, also thanking the PTA and education offices for their ongoing support in resources and guidance. Beyond academics, she said the school also emphasises extracurricular excellence. One of its current Form 5 students, Chua Yee Jia, has been selected to represent Malaysia at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025 in Columbus, USA, with her chemistry innovation project titled 'Molecular Insight Into M.L.C.E Larvicide'. Johor saw a significant improvement in the 2024 SPM results, with 41 students achieving straight A+ – more than double the 20 recorded in 2023, according to state education director Mohd Hanafi Samad. The state also recorded its best performance in five years, with a Grade Point Average (GPN) of 4.36, outperforming the national average of 4.49. 'This is the best achievement for the state in the past five years,' he said. 'A total of 1,513 candidates scored excellent results (A+, A, or A-), while 4,096 earned at least one B, and 6,740 secured at least one C.' He said of the 42,616 candidates, 94.49% qualified for certification, and absentee numbers dropped to 565 from 901 in 2023. 'Special needs candidates also performed well, with 16 out of 168 scoring excellent results –including four with 8As, four with 7As, and eight with 6As.' Additionally, Hanafi said the number of schools across urban and rural areas in Johor achieving 100% certification eligibility rose from 75 to 81. The performance gap between urban and rural candidates narrowed to just 0.02 points, aligning with the state's goal of becoming a national leader in education.
The Star
24-04-2025
- General
- The Star
Special needs student used ‘smart strategy' to ace SPM
GEORGE TOWN: Against all odds, special needs student Kenneth Saw Chzi Yang has proven that determination knows no limits by scoring 9As and 2Bs in the SPM examination. 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.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Twins with outstanding SPM results share dream of becoming doctors
JOHOR BARU: A pair of twins who grew up side by side and consistently supported each other in their studies are now celebrating a joint success — both achieving straight As in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. Eighteen-year-old Chai Zhi Heng and his younger twin sister, Chai Yun Zhen, not only share this academic achievement but also a mutual ambition — to pursue careers in medicine. Chai Zhi Heng said both of them studied at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sultan Ismail and were in the same class, adding that they have never been apart and have always encouraged one another. "I admit that as a boy, I tend to enjoy playing around a bit and it's difficult to wake up at night to study, but my sister would always wake me up and remind me to revise. She'd remind me to not be lazy. "Every day, we would study to stay focused on our lessons — that was our strategy leading up to the examination. "We studied together, I'll help her with whatever I know, and she will help me study too," he said when met at SMK Sultan Ismail today. Chai Yun Zhen said their father, Chai Tiang Fook, 54, is a manager at an engineering firm, and their mother, Kee Siok Boey, 49, is a housewife. She noted that their parents never monitored them during their studies. "Our parents supported us in our studies, sent us to school and tuition, but they never interfered with our study time. They left it entirely to the two of us to study together. "Actually, that helped us too because we didn't feel pressured," said Yun Zhen, who lives in Taman Impian Emas, Skudai. Zhi Heng obtained 8A+ and 1A in Moral Education, while Yun Zhen scored 9A+. Further sharing their story, Zhi Heng said that although one of them sometimes scored higher in tests or exams, they never argued or felt disheartened. "We are always proud, and it doesn't matter who did better. I never wanted to compete with my sister. "If she got better results than me, I wouldn't be ashamed or sad. In fact, I will still be proud," he said. They both hope to further their studies at the same institution, with their top choice being medicine at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Policeman's daughter aces SPM to repay family's sacrifices
JOHOR BARU: Inspired by her father's commitment to her education despite his demanding role as a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) officer, Nurul Fasha Izzwanie Zahari, 18, bagged 8As and a B in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. Her father, Sergeant Zahari Samin, 52, never missed a beat when it came to her schooling. He personally ferried her to tuition classes and supported her academic journey while balancing the rigours of police service. "I saw his sacrifices from the start. He never neglected our education, even with his busy schedule," said the former SMK Sultan Ismail student. "It fuelled me to excel and make my parents proud." Her mother, homemaker Nur Hida Abi Shafian, 47, was equally instrumental in providing a stress-free environment that allowed Nurul and her siblings to thrive academically. The youngest of four, she was also motivated by her older brother, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree, and her sister, who is studying for a diploma. With dreams of becoming a scientist, she is determined to follow in their academic footsteps. "Our parents never pressured us. They supported us no matter what," she added. "But juggling back-to-back exams was tough….it was my biggest challenge. "Despite the challenges, I was determined to repay my parents' sacrifices and that kept me focused," Nurul Fasha said.
