UPSR & PT3 Exams May Be Reintroduced After Being Abolished to Reduce Student Stress

UPSR for Standard 6 students in primary schools and PT3 for Form 3 students in secondary schools may make a comeback.

In case you are not aware, both examinations were abolished in 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek is stating that the National Education Advisory Council (MPPK) will study the need to re-implement UPSR and PT3.

Fadhlina said the decision came following continuous requests from parents to bring back the exams

The minister also added that the matter would be presented to the Cabinet before any further decisions are made. She said the review of the matter will take into account the requests of parents who still want the examination to be reconsidered.

“The survey report and any findings will be submitted to the Cabinet for decision,” Fadhlina said at a press conference after delivering the Ministry’s New Year’s message in Putrajaya today (9 January).

After UPSR and PT3 were abolished in 2021 and 2022, respectively, both examinations were replaced by the School-Based Assessment. Fadhlina, however, did not state when the review would take place, but said it would happen in the near future.

In the past, UPSR and PT3 were abolished to shift the Malaysian education system away from an exam-oriented model towards a more holistic, school-based assessment approach that focuses on student well-being and overall development. 

For illustration purposes only

A holistic approach

In September 2024, Fadhlina insisted that both examinations would remain abolished, despite major calls from parents to bring back the exams. Two months later, Fadhlina said in Parliament that apart from a holistic approach, the exams were also pulled from the syllabus to reduce students’ stress.

Among those who voiced out for the return of PT3 and UPSR was a Malaysian teacher, Mohd Fadli Salleh. In his Facebook post today, Fadli dubbed the possibility “good news,” saying that there’s still hope when we don’t stop speaking up.

What do you think of this? Should Malaysian students sit for UPSR and PT3?

Also read: Nearly 1,000 Students in Johor Skip SPM as They Believe “they can secure high salary jobs in Singapore”