Education Group Calls for Exams in Year 3 to Ease Transition in Malaysia’s School System

PETALING JAYA – The Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) has called on the Malaysian government to introduce exams for Year 3 pupils, arguing that the current practice of starting formal exams in Year 4 creates a challenging gap between lower and upper primary education. According to Magpie, the Year 4 final exam, known as UASA, requires students to review material from Years 1 to 3, which can be overwhelming for many young learners.

The UASA was introduced as a replacement for the previously abolished UPSR and PT3 national exams, which were eliminated in 2021 and 2022. Currently, school-based exams are conducted annually for students in Years 4 to 6 and Forms 1 to 3.

Magpie chief Mak Chee Kin suggested implementing an initial UASA exam for Year 3 students and recommended holding exams every semester to encourage regular study habits. “The education ministry should recognize that it’s not only classroom-based assessments that need improvement, but also student motivation. Without exams like UPSR and PT3, students lack the incentive to engage with their studies,” Mak told FMT.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek defended the UASA assessments, noting they align with international best practices and include not only academic assessments but also evaluations in physical education, co-curricular activities, and psychometrics.

However, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Anuar Ahmad raised concerns about the readiness of Malaysia’s education system for school-based assessments, particularly in overcrowded classrooms with up to 45 students. Anuar emphasized the need to address the compact primary school syllabus to ensure effective teaching. “A packed syllabus means there’s a lot to cover, and each classroom has diverse learners. How can teachers cover everything effectively in overcrowded classes?” he questioned.