Calculating your academic points - what you need to know before applying to an IPTA
by StudyMalaysia.com on June 24, 2020 | Top Stories, Useful Topics
If you're a student in Form 4, 5 or 6, it's important that you know how to calculate your academic points if you're considering applying to study at a public institution of higher learning in Malaysia or also known as Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA).
Candidates with SPM Qualification
For SPM candidates, the calculation of points for entry into Diploma programmes at IPTA is on a 120-point scale that is based on 8 subjects, that is, 5 out of 6 core subjects (90 points) plus three of the remaining best subjects (30 points). Extra-curricular activities will only be used as a tiebreaker in an event where 2 or more students’ graders for their papers are the same.
Allocation of Academic Points to SPM subjects
Grade | Points allocated |
---|---|
1A | 18 |
2A | 16 |
3B | 14 |
4B | 12 |
5C | 10 |
6C | 8 |
7D | 6 |
8E | 4 |
9G | 0 |
The 5 core subjects for Science Stream
- Mathematics
- Additional Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry and
- Biology or any of the following subjects:
Civil/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering Studies, Invention, Engineering Drawing, Home Science, Agricultural Science, Information Technology, Principles of Accounts, Commerce and Basic Economics.
The 5 core subjects for Arts Stream
- Bahasa Malaysia
- Mathematics
- Science
- History and
- Islamic Studies / Moral Studies / Al-Quran and As-Sunnah Studies and Syariah Islamic Studies.
Example of Academic Point Calculation (Science Stream) 1) Science Stream with 9 subjects | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Subjects | Grade |
1. | Mathematics | 1A |
2. | Additional Mathematics | 1A |
3. | Physics | 1A |
4. | Chemistry | 1A |
5. | Biology | 1A |
6. | Bahasa Malaysia | 1A |
7. | English | 1A |
8. | Islamic Studies | 1A |
9. | History | 1A |
Allocation of Academic Points for 5 core subjects | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Subjects | Grade | Marks Allocated |
1. | Mathematics | 1A | 18 |
2. | Additional Mathematics | 1A | 18 |
3. | Physics | 1A | 18 |
4. | Chemistry | 1A | 18 |
5. | Biology | 1A | 18 |
Allocation of Academic Points for 3 best subjects | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Subjects | Grade | Marks Allocated |
1. | Bahasa Malaysia | 1A | 18 |
2. | Islamic Studies | 1A | 18 |
3. | History | 1A | 18 |
Method of Merit Calculation
Points from (a) |
Marks of 5 core subjects X 90 90 |
= 90 X 90 90 |
= 90 |
Points from (b) | Marks of 3 other subjects X 30 54 |
= 54 X 30 54 |
= 30 |
Total Points (a) + (b) = 90 + 30 = 120 |
Note: Candidates who sit for fewer than 8 subjects will not be able to achieve the maximum points possible.
Candidates with STPM Qualification
The calculation of total academic points by BPKP for entry into public universities is based on the STPM candidates’ performance in four of their best subjects including the Pengajian Am (General Paper).
An average of the student’s four best grades (including General Paper) is determined using a calculation based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), which is similar to the points system of matriculation programmes. Extra-curricular activities will be used as a tiebreaker only in the event where two or more students’ grades for their papers are the same.
STPM Grades | Points |
---|---|
A | 4.00 |
A- | 3.67 |
B+ | 3.33 |
B | 3.00 |
B- | 2.67 |
C+ | 2.33 |
C | 2.00 |
C- | 1.67 |
D+ | 1.33 |
D | 1.00 |
F | 0.00 |
Calculation of CGPA: Example 1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Subjects | Grade | Points |
1 | General Paper | A | 4.00 |
2 | Physics | A | 4.00 |
3 | Chemistry | A | 4.00 |
4 | Biology | A | 4.00 |
Total Point Value = 4.00 + 4.00 + 4.00 + 4.00 CGPA = 16.00 / 4 = 4.00 |
16.00 |
Calculation of CGPA: Example 2 | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Subjects | Grade | Points |
1 | General Paper | B+ | 3.33 |
2 | Physics | B | 3.00 |
3 | Chemistry | A- | 3.67 |
4 | Biology | A | 4.00 |
Total Point Value = 3.33 + 3.00 + 3.67 + 4.00 CGPA = 114.00 / 4 = 3.50 |
14.00 |
Calculation of Co-Curriculum Points
To determine your co-curriculum points, the average of the best two out of three areas of co-curricular activities is calculated. The three co-curricular fields are: Sports/ Games, Uniformed Units and Clubs/ Associations. The maximum points possible for each activity is 10 points.
Allocation of Academic Points for 3 best subjects | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Area | Position held | Level of involvement | Subject grade value | |
1. | Sports/ Games | 4 | 5 | 9 | |
2. | Uniformed Unit | 3 | 4 | 7 | |
3. | Club/ Association | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
Total co-curriculum points = (9+8)/2 = 8.5 |
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