More than 450,000 candidates sit for PT3 written test today

A total of 453,413 candidates sat for the Form 3 Assessment (PT3) Written Test held for the first time at 2,608 examination centres throughout the country, beginning today until Thursday (Oct 16).

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education Examinations Syndicate, the Written Test which replaces the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) covered 12 subjects including Bahasa Melayu, English Language, Mathematics, Science and Islamic Education.

The remaining subjects were Integrated Living Skills, Arabic, Chinese, Tamil, Kadazandusan, Iban and Punjabi Languages.

"Managing and examining of candidates' answer scripts for the PT3 Written Test is the responsibility of the school principal.

"However, the Examination Syndicate and the State Education Department will act as moderator to ensure that the candidates' scores are valid and reliable," said the statement.

Evaluation on PT3 students' achievement would be in the form of Grades A, B, C, D, E and F, said the statement.

PT3 began with a case study instrument for History and Geography from July 1 to 18, the Bahasa Melayu dan English language tests from Aug 6 to 29 and the written test from Oct 13 to 16.

Meanwhile, in SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan Education director Datuk Kalsom Khalid said a total of 18,437 candidates sat for the PT3 written test at 120 examination centres in the state.

She said PT3 was managed 100 per cent and implemented with full integrity by the schools from the selection of questions, release of questions, mobilising of workers and marking of papers.

"The standard operating procedure (SOP) was prepared with precision and all officers and teachers involved have to sign the official secrets act. Only the relevant people selected by the schools will perform the tasks that have been entrusted to them," she told reporters on a visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Pagi, here.

In MELAKA, about 14,520 candidates sat for the examination held in 82 schools in three districts, said State Education, Higher Learning, Science and Technology, Green Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Md Yunos Husin.

Md Yunos said that out of the total, 8,102 were candidates from schools in Melaka Tengah district, Alor Gajah (3,757) and Jasin (2,661).

"A total of 34 students are candidates with special needs while one is a private candidate," he told reporters during a visit to the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ayer Molek here.

He said the PT3 involved students from 73 government secondary schools, six private schools, two Mara Junior Science Colleges and an integrity school.

In PENANG, a total of 22,781 candidates sat for the PT3 Written Test in 130 examination centres in the state, said Assistant Director Assessment and

Examination Sector of the State Education Department Mohd Nur Azri Kamarudin.

He said 155 were private candidates.

"Schools with students admitted into hospitals will need to submit a comprehensive application for the candidates to sit for the examination on another day and the candidates may answer a different set of questions selected by the school," he said when contacted by Bernama.

He said candidates who were sick had been given until Oct 31 to sit for the examination and so far the department had not received any application from any schools.

In KOTA BAHARU, a total of 32,777 candidates in the state sat for the test in 240 examination centres, said Kelantan Education Director, Hussain Awang.

He said of the total, 26,833 candidates were from government schools, 92 from private schools and 5,351 were Kelantan Islamic Foundation school candidates.

The Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) had a total of 501 candidates and 1,562 workers had been deployed to monitor the PT3 examination, said Hussain.

In KOTA KINABALU, Sabah Education Director Datuk Jame Alip said the PT3 Written Test started with the Bahasa Melayu papers at 7.45 am at 231 examination centres and everything went smoothly.

Jame, when contacted by Bernama said 41,106 students in Sabah sat for the examination this year and of the total, 39,168 were from government schools, and the remaining from private schools and private candidates.

In LABUAN, 1,272 candidates sat for the Written Test in 11 centres.

Academic Management Sector Head of the Labuan Education Department Norismah Ab Moin said 1,219 of the candidates were from government schools, 42 from Sekolah Agama Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan, eight from private schools and three were private candidates.

In preparation for the examinations, Norismah said Form 3 subject teachers on the island were given training to help students understand the new examination system which would give a holistic view of the students' potential.

In JOHOR BAHARU, a total of 52,678 students sat for the examination in 278 schools throughout the state, said Johor Education Department director Aminuddin Adam.

He hoped all candidates could answer questions calmly and patiently during the examination, so that schools in the state of Johor could continue to excel.

In ALOR SETAR, a total of 36,675 students sat for the examination in Kedah at 221 examination centres, said Kedah Education Department director Datin Azuyah Hassan.

In IPOH, 39,574 form three students sat for the Mathematics and Bahasa Melayu papers of the PT3 examinations at 267 examination centres in the state.

State Education director Mohd Idris Ramli said it involved 38,911 candidates from government schools and 663 from private schools.

In KUANTAN, a total of 25,425 students sat for the examination at 215 examination centres, said Head of Assessment and Examinations Sector, Pahang Education Department Razali Mohd.

He said five candidates with special needs from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Temerloh Jaya and one candidate in Temerloh Hospital were among those who sat for the examinations in the state.

"So far, the examination is running smoothly with 781 workers deployed to monitor the situation throughout Pahang," he said.

In SARAWAK, the State Education Department in a statement issued this afternoon said, a total of 39,583 candidates sat for the examination at 198 centres statewide.

In SELANGOR, a total of 93,965 candidates sat for the examination at 198 centres throughout the state, said Selangor Education Department Chief of Assessment and Examinations Sector Abdul Talib Hamid.