Nobody gives description of A-level?

Cambridge A-level breaks down into 2 components, AS and A2.

AS level is slightly harder than SPM, but easy to grasp (since there is no more BM-English transition these days). There is not much pressure on this level if you maintain your pace during SPM. AS level lasts 1-year, and there is an exam at the end of this course.

A2, on the other hand, is on par with STPM, though topics are less. Now, things get wired up here: the gap between AS and A2 is huge. Pressure is huge. Adding on, most local institutions allocate A2 for only 5-6 months. An exam will also be held at the end of A2.

In short, 50%AS + 50%A2 = A-level result.

Subject descriptions:
Maths
(AS) I would say its difficulty is less than SPM level.
(A2) It may seem normal (relatively easier than STPM), but you are easily caught off-guard by questions.

Biology
(AS) More topics introduced, more depths than SPM. Straightforward questions.
(A2) As mentioned, less topics and depths than STPM. Tricky questions (evaluate new situations set by questions).

Chemistry
(AS) HELL. Straightforward subjective questions though.
(A2) Easier than AS but more topics to cover (still, less than STPM). Questions are somewhere out of the blue, i.e. unseen materials (even sometimes 3-4 topics combine into a question), but expected answers are simple. I rarely catch them.

Physics
(AS) Topics are the same as SPM. Questions are tougher than SPM (proving formulae)
(A2) Adrenaline rush! Normal-to-hard topics, MUCH harder questions, i.e. giving new situations, thinking of physical relationships, set up a ratio/formula for that situation (or graph analysis)

Thinking skills
(AS) ZOMG I has a E for mai pey-par!
(A2) Beyond comprehension. Divide yourself by zero now.

Pros:
- may have time to slack
- spoonfeeding tiem!
- higher chance to pass

Cons:
- end up knowing less than STPM students
- local public universities = out of bounds
- you are still a kid

I just finished my A2 exams 2 weeks ago. phy, chem, maths and further maths.

Well first of all lets just say further maths is extremely challenging.

Secondly, I feel that the reason why STPM is "tough" is because of its rigid and non-flexible marking scheme. In subjective questions, students must give memorised answers or those specified in textbooks to gain marks. Any workaround, or answering in a manner of a road less taken, however logical the answer is, will fall outside of the boundaries of the marking scheme and be given the axe.

overseas a-level courses, however, forces students to think and be confident of their own answers, as long as it is logical and correct. there is no rigidity here as all answers will be given equal considerations. In cambridge, for example, teaching representatives from different countries gather annually to formulate a marking scheme which encompasses a wide range of language and level of knowledge. Even for a single subject like chemistry, the A-level marking scheme is as thick as a 100 page book, with most possible answers listed. The published scheme on the cambridge DVD only carry the "best", or the default answer suited for the mean level of knowledge of most A-level students. Thus, in A-levels (cambridge, at least), if you give a Ph. D- level solution, or answer in a foreign language such as malay, the markers will still consider the solution and find ways and means to verify it.

This is not surprising given the vast resources available to international organisations like CIE or Edexcel. Also, being such an organisation, they are also subject to scrutiny of participating nations, effectively forcing them to renew and update their syllabuses and content regularly to meet global needs.

On the question of "which one harder", one shouldn't ask that. Instead, consider which one will give you more benefit as a person when u graduate. Would the rigidity and tenacity of the STPM course suit u more, or do you prefer the more critical-thinking oriented A-levels?

True, our country's education system is derived from the british system, and it is a good challenge even for bright students. But bear in mind that the system in our country has remain unchanged for the past umpteenth years (aside from the teaching in Malay, and then back to english for maths n science) and i believe some of the things in the curriculum is not relevant in today's world.

For me, I have taken enough bullSh from our very own SPM. In pendidikan moral, 'menghormati golongan kurang upaya' and 'menghormati golongan kurang berupaya' means a difference of one mark, even though both answers are perfectly logical in its context. It is little things like these that eventually led me not to believe in our country's education system. coupled with the biasness in giving marks, quota system, and those things yang tidak boleh dipersoalkan.

This post has been edited by Hoong.ster: Dec 5 2008, 01:48 PM

Off topic.

On critical thinking, analytical, teamwork and presentation ability, the Australian system will be better.

Well of course the thread starter specified two courses for comparison: STPM and A-Levels.

Certainly we could bring in other less exam-oriented programs like IB, but that discussion we shall leave it for another day no?

"Would the rigidity and tenacity of the STPM course suit u more, or do you prefer the more critical-thinking oriented A-levels?"

If we are going to discuss rigidity, talking about the even less rigid Australian system is not totally not off the mark. No?

Well, the topic is "Which one harder?, STPM or Matriks or A level??"

If you want to make brief comparisons with other courses, i guess you could.....

maybe STPM

oh come on guyz~....whoever say EDUCATION is easy, he mz be a total genius!! lolz...dun compare la~!! i was a STPM student, do wat u think is easy for u...humans do things out of ur capability, unless u posses supernatural power lar~!!

Ther is an equality of both education exams..but rest assure that none of it matters if the undertaking is not seriously involved.

So which one is harder,depends on the mind set.

A-Level is toughest

but for me its easy.

currently studying A-level : Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths, Add Maths

=)

No Stress

Have you tried STMP? If no, how do you know A Level is the toughest because many people say theirs the toughest

btw do STPM for Local U, for other just do other la

STPM (particularly Science Stream) - IS WITHOUT a DOUBT THE MOST DIFFiCULT SCHOOL EXAM THERE IS IN MALAYSIA.

Government matriculation program is nowhere near the level of difficulty that STPM posses.

totally agree with u. i m also a a science stream student who has juz finished my stpm...=)

study a lot but come out a bit...>.<

its really need hardwork...but i m those lazy type so in the last few month i suffered a lot...but still the same i think i din do well in my exam...wad to do...juz can blame myself

This post has been edited by lwayne: Dec 8 2008, 02:29 AM

Just do the past-year questions and compare the difficulty. You will see.

Hehe I'm with you there. Maybe people look down at matriculation because they just compare exam questions =) have they ever thought of what life would be like there? Any freedom loving person would hate that place since they're mostly built in the middle of nowhere. Haha I got into Changlun Kedah and a city boy like me would feel so 'trapped' there =P.

Anyway what she said was true. In matrix if you wanna score you cant pause and relax. Sure on weekends you can go out and chill for abit but other than that if you wanna get on the '4-flat' train theres no getting off. You have to always be own your toes and have everything at you finger tips coz lecturers might give you surprise question papers which have marks in your final exam.

Lab Reports have to be completed and handed up with assignments and home work all in deadlines ranging from days to maybe a week or two. Then theres the 'koko' where you have to join clubs and play games to 'pass' it. No forgetting the oh-so-famous IT classes where you learn basic photoshop and other things..which also needs to be 'passed'.

Life there will never be easy if you want to score. I remember most of my friends who scored straight a's would wake up as early as 7 AM and study till 2 or 3 in the morning (with breaks in the middle) a few weeks before the exam. However if you want to pass you can laugh all the way and still get through (provided you studied 'abit' hehe).

Basically from what I've observed the people who make it there have high goals and know what they want. Those who do average are the 'I'll take any course Im offered' type so it's really your determination that pushes you. Anyway if you feel scared reading this, please don't be. Matriculation gives you a taste of university life. From how lessons are conducted to the 'politics' (you'll know what I mean when you go there) =).

So if you can take the fast paced world and stress by all means go for it. It is a great 'passport' to your dream course and a good experience too. Plus you don't have to wear uniforms and the lecturers treat you like adults. (well some do ). Good luck on your decision!

This post has been edited by mahz: Dec 15 2008, 10:05 PM

STPM>SPM>MATRIX

erm... tht's true. I did my matrix at labuan college also.

But my matrix life aren't tht stress la. I'm actually enjoying my college life during matrix. Especially weekends. Coz we are only allowed outing on sat and sunday. Friday outing hav to write letter for permission. Every time outing condition is not over than 7pm. unless u got the permission. at first i wasn't get used of it. coz i'm da hanging out person during sch time.

Well, the program as they said... u have to study all the time without pausing. We even study and doin our own revision with f6 text books. Coz some of the lecture.... we dun even understand anything then tutorials time lecturer just "pop" some exercise question. But i'm da type of lazy and last minute students (as always). so usually i would just spend my time at library "capturing" those genius ones to teach me. haha.... then i learn from their teachings. sometime i took their lecturer notes to photocopy.

By the end of each sem, me n my roommates will stayed-up till 3 or 4am to study and discussing things we dun really understand (other than tht lecture time i always slept at around 10-11pm ). it's more like group study actly. we do exercise then discuss or ask if we cant get the solution. but i'm da only 1 whois taking physics in my room so usually i do my physics at library wif my physics gangs. Then bck room do chemistry n maths.

tht's how i got my results... hehe... althou not so good as 4 but i'm satisfied wif it.

Actly, i'm kinda miss my matrix room environment. coz thr were 3 of us in a room from different group of lecture class. so always discussing this n tht. especially couple stuff. haha... then friday around 4 or 5pm like tht we'll go play bball or jogging together. sometime we curi2 cook in the room. and movie nite after all exam is a MUST!! haha... so we were very close tht time. althou not the same religion. but it was fun!! I learn my bm speaking during matrix. haha... especially bahasa s'wak. coz my roommate practice n talk to me in bhs s'wak. b4 tis i jus knw simple word... but nw i'm advance... haha... unlike nw... only got 1 roommate... n she is a bookworm... haha... tht's y i'm kinda hard to talk straight to her... plus no topic...but i still hanging around wif my matirx gangs here. coz most of us went into the same uni here.


I heard that other matriculation college is much much more stress than my matrix there. coz their lecturer hav higher expectation on them i think. mayb i'm lucky to b among the unstressed ones. haha... btw, tht time my matrix position was amongst all the matriculation college in m'sia.

but but but.... i still respect those doin their stpm. for me... stpm would be harder. coz u guys need to revise n study the whole syllabus for ur exam. some of the topic teachers were unable to cover it up due to the time limitation then u guys would jus hav to study it urself. unlike us... we study 1 sem syllabus then we can forget bout it after the exam. then learn new things. coz sem 1 syllabus question wont out in sem 2 exam. but some sem 1 knowledge still needed for master the sem 2 syllabus la. not much. Plus... if for me i wouldn't concentrate more in study if i'm at home. coz need to do housework and life must b tidy up everyday (only tidy up my room once 1 week nw). then, i'll always wanna join my frens hanging out if i'm at hometown. but both hav their own good and bad la. At matrix u hav to b discipline in doin ur own revision lo. not wait till mummy mumbling then do revision.

Last last... those who is taking STPM and score A(s) i really sallute u!!

Y suddenly SPM pop out de?

n y is STPM>SPM>Matrix???

---

Added on December 16, 2008, 12:02 amEnvy u~~ i did applied for matriks but cant get in... so head to STPM... Dying~~

This post has been edited by louis6: Dec 16 2008, 12:02 AM

If based on the difficulty, it is true that STPM is ranked no-2 hardest of the Pre-U exam in the world (I don't sure that if there is a proof for this statement though as I heard from my teacher). It is considered the hardest in Malaysia Pre-U course is because you need to revise back everything... yes, everything from Form 1 to Form 5 especially Form 4 and 5 as it repeats the same thing (but become more advanced if compared to Form 4 and 5). Let's take history as an example. In form 4 and 5, we just study 2 books, for Form 6, the history will be divided into 4 books (Tamadun Islam, Tamadun Dunia, Sejarah Asia, Sejarah Malaysia). It makes thing become more complicated if you study Form 6.

Then will goes to A-Level, which spend roughly a year.. and then matriculation, is the easiest, but suffer the most when they are in university. Matriculation is extremely easy if compared to STPM as they are guided by lecturers/ teachers and it will not a hard case to score an A in matriculation. Matriculation revises what they study through the course, and they might get tips from their lecturer (depends).

Pros for Matriculation:
Easier to score.
Mostly got a chance to local UNI.
Took less time - half year less compared to STPM.

Cons:
You will suffer in UNI if compared to STPM students.
You know less compared to STPM students.

I am not sure about the info about matriculation as I was STPM student before.

P/S: Delete something looks offense-able.

This post has been edited by Latios: Dec 16 2008, 04:51 PM