The primary objective of having a grading system in the schools of Malaysia is to assess the performance of its students. Today, many top schools such as the International school in Malaysia are incorporating the grading system owing to its many benefits.
In addition, there are certain courses that require a higher grade (such as ‘A’) in specific subjects as an entry requirement. For students who are planning for further education, it is beneficial to understand the grading system used in exams. Also grades are sometimes useful in applying for scholarships or study loans.
What is Grading System in Education in Malaysia?
Grading system in education is a system which is used to assess the educational performance of students that is entirely based upon points. Grading system in Malaysia is considered as the most viable medium to analyse a student’s grasping power and reciprocating abilities.
Importance of Grading System in Education
Grading system in education minimises classification of students on the basis of marks. Furthermore, it eliminates unhealthy competition among high achievers. Grading system also reduces societal pressure and provides the learner with more flexibility. It leads to focus on a better learning environment.
Understanding “what is the grading system in education” provides parents an insight on how to help their children study well. Thus discovering the factors that need more attention to help their children become better at academics.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Grading System in Education?
There are numerous advantages of Grading System as listed below:
1. Determination of strengths and Weakness
With the help of grades, parents and teachers will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the students. This way they can focus more and work hard on the weaker areas and ultimately convert the weaker areas into stronger ones. Also, students can improve more on their strengths to reach the next level on the sections they are good in.
2. Low Score Pressure
The Academic grading system in Malaysia lowers the pressure of getting high marks on the students because in the grading system the actual marks obtained by a student is not mentioned on their report cards.
In this way, they don’t have to target for higher marks, instead the main goal of students is to understand the subjects clearly and achieve good grades.
3. The Grading Pattern
The pattern of grading relies upon the advanced pattern, as grades are not given only according to the academics. While deciding upon the grades other things in addition to exam marks such as assignments, attendance, achievements, etc. are also taken into account.
With the grading system students as well as parents understand that in school everything from attendance to being active and attentive in class is equally important.
4. Admission in Top schools
The grading system in education also has a benefit in school admission. Sometimes students are given priority forInternational school admission based on their grades. This motivates students to study hard and obtain good grades for admission into top schools in Malaysia.
There are some disadvantages of Grading System as discussed below
1. Decreased Performance
Decrease in the performance of students is one of the drawbacks of the grading system in education. For example, if a student targets grade ‘A’, he knows that even if he obtains 90 marks he will be put under ‘A’ grade, so he does not target 100 marks.
As learners know that they can easily get the targeted grades, they do not put much effort in their studies.
2. Failed Accuracy in Results
The grading system in education fails to show the accurate result of the students. Parents only get to know about the grade achieved by a student instead of the actual ability.
3. Decreased Competition
A healthy competition among the students should always be encouraged, the grading system fails to do so. Students nowadays just focus on attaining passing marks instead of focussing on getting highest marks. This results in decreased competition among them which makes the students lazy and drops their intellectual level.
4. Demotivation
The grading system demotivates brighter students in school. On average grade ‘A’ ranges somewhere between 90% to 100% , so the students who score 90% get grade ‘A’, on the same hand the students scoring 95% also get grade ‘A’ due to which brighter students lose their enthusiasm in studying.
5. Increased Lethargy
As we know that attendance, assignments and projects are also counted in the rades, so students focus more and perform well in these activities and get good grades paying less attention to studies and exams which results in increased lethargy.
School Level Grading System in Malaysia
There is a different school grading system for different levels of education in different countries. For every national level examination at various points in the schooling system in Malaysia, there is a particular school level grading system that exists.
Primary School Grading System
Primary school students of Malaysia follow the grading system which is associated with the Primary School Achievement Test or UPSR.
| Marks Range | Grade | Status |
| 80 – 100 | A | Pass |
| 60 – 79 | B | Pass |
| 40 – 59 | C | Pass |
| 20 – 39 | D | Fail |
| 1 – 19 | E | Fail |
| Absent / Below Minimum Requirement | – | Fail |
Secondary School Grading System
Lower Secondary School Grading System in Malaysia
For the lower secondary school students, (forms 1 to 3), the national examination system known as PMR or Lower Secondary Assessment is followed.
| Marks Range | Grade | Status |
| 80 – 100 | A | Pass |
| 65 – 79 | B | Pass |
| 50 – 64 | C | Pass |
| 40 – 49 | D | Pass |
| 1 – 39 | E | Fail |
| Below 1 / Absent | – | Fail |
Upper Secondary School Grading System
For upper secondary school students SPM is the Malaysian Certificate of Education. The grading system followed by upper secondary school students i.e from grades 4 to 5 is given below:
| Marks Range | Grade | Performance Level / Status |
| 90 – 100 | A | Excellent |
| 80 – 89 | A | Excellent |
| 70 – 79 | A- | Brilliant |
| 65 – 69 | B | Highest Honours |
| 60 – 64 | B | High Honours |
| 55 – 59 | C | Top Honours |
| 50 – 54 | C | Praiseworthy |
| 45 – 49 | D | Upon Graduation |
| 40 – 44 | E | Pass |
| 1 – 39 | G | Fail |
| Below 1 / Absent | – | Fail |
For students of Form 6 who take up STPM, the following grading system is applicable:
| Marks Range | Grade | CGPA | Status |
| 80 – 100 | A | 4 | Pass |
| 70 – 79 | A- | 3.67 | Pass |
| 60 – 69 | B+ | 3.33 | Pass |
| 55 – 59 | B | 3 | Pass |
| 50 – 54 | B- | 2.67 | Pass |
| 45 – 49 | C+ | 2.33 | Pass |
| 40 – 44 | C | 2 | Pass |
| 35 – 39 | C- | 1.67 | Partially Pass |
| 30 – 34 | D+ | 1.33 | Partially Pass |
| 25 – 29 | D | 1 | Partially Pass |
| 0 – 24 | F | 0 | Fail |
High School Grading System
| Marks Range (%) | Grade |
| 86 – 100 | A |
| 73 – 85 | B |
| 67 – 72 | C+ |
| 60 – 66 | C |
| 50 – 59 | C- |
| 0 – 49 | F |
Also Read: How Does the Malaysia Grading System Work?
Conclusion
With the academic grading system in Malaysia students are grouped in different types of grading scales. It gives students an idea about their strengths and weaknesses. This allows the teachers to focus more on the average and below-average students.
Grading system ensures uniformity across schools and universities both in Malaysia and other countries. The importance of the grading system in education has also increased gradually because it provides students with necessary prerequisites to mould themselves to become a better version of themselves.
FAQs
What is the passing grade in Malaysia?
For subject grades, from Grade ‘C’ to Grade ‘A’ with values between 2.00 to 4.00 is considered as a Full Pass; While Grade ‘D’ to Grade ‘C’ with values between 1:00 to 1.67 is considered as a Partial Pass, and Grade ‘F’ is valued at 0:00 and considered as a Fail.
What is a good CGPA in Malaysia?
Usually, CGPA or CPI of 8 or above is considered to be good in Malaysia.
What is the CGPA for first class in Malaysia?
A CGPA of 3.7 and above is considered as First Class in Malaysia. However, it must be noted that this score differs depending on the educational institution and course studied.
What is the Main Purpose of Grading?
Grading is used to assess, evaluate and provide feedback to students about their performance in school. In this way, teachers can communicate to students how they are performing in the course and where they require more help to achieve the course’s goals.
