If you are preparing for SPM Bahasa Melayu, knowing the marking scheme matters just as much as knowing the syllabus. The marking scheme tells you what examiners look for and how marks are distributed across the four papers.
SPM Bahasa Melayu has four separate marking schemes, one for each paper. Each paper uses specific mark bands, point deductions, and content checklists that examiners follow closely while grading. These rules are set and periodically revised by Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia (LPM)1 under the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM)2. This guide explains exactly how each paper is marked.
SPM BM Marking Scheme at a Glance
Bahasa Melayu SPM has four papers: Kertas 1 (Penulisan), Kertas 2 (Pemahaman), Kertas 3 (Ujian Bertutur) and Kertas 4 (Ujian Mendengar). Together, they carry 300 raw marks.
Your final SPM grade (A+ to G) is not simply your combined raw score divided by 300. LPM converts the combined raw marks from all four papers into a standardised score for that examination session.
| Paper | Component | Raw marks | Skills assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kertas 1 (1103/1) | Penulisan | 100 | Writing |
| Kertas 2 (1103/2) | Pemahaman | 100 | Reading, language and comprehension |
| Kertas 3 (1103/3) | Ujian Bertutur | 70 | Speaking |
| Kertas 4 (1103/4) | Ujian Mendengar | 30 | Listening |
Any mark-to-grade table you find online is a historical reference, not a guarantee. Grade boundaries are set for each examination session, so confirm the current session's boundaries through official LPM channels once results are released.
SPM BM Passing Mark and Grade
SPM results are reported on a ten-grade scale: A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G.
Based on the grade classification KPM has published in past sessions, grade E is the minimum passing grade. Grade D sits just above it as a stronger pass, grade C is the first credit grade, and grade G is a fail.
SPM grades are standardised rather than fixed percentages, so the exact raw-mark cut-off for each band can shift between examination years depending on how the overall cohort performs. A score that earned a C in one session is not guaranteed to earn a C in another.
Kertas 1 (Writing) Marking Scheme
Kertas 1 is marked holistically within defined bands, then adjusted for specific errors. It consists of:
- Bahagian A (30 marks): essay based on stimulus material
- Bahagian B (70 marks): open-response essay
For both parts, examiners first score the essay against the band criteria, then apply deductions on top.
Spelling errors are deducted at half a mark per error, capped at a maximum deduction of 3 marks. Repeated instances of the same spelling mistake are penalised once only.
Format errors, such as using the wrong essay structure for the question type or missing a salutation in a formal letter, carry a separate deduction capped at 2 marks.
That means even an Excellent-band essay can lose up to 5 marks in total from spelling and format penalties. Here is what the band criteria look like:
| Band | Bahagian A marks | Bahagian B marks | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cemerlang (Excellent) | 26-30 | 60-70 | Ideas are relevant and mature with suitable examples; language is grammatical in both word choice and sentence structure; vocabulary is wide and precise; the essay is engaging, with complete, well-organised discourse |
| Kepujian (Credit) | 20-25 | 50-59 | Ideas are relevant with clear explanation; language is grammatical with wide vocabulary; the essay is engaging with complete discourse, but falls short of the maturity shown in the Excellent band |
| Baik (Good) | N/A | 40-49 | Ideas are relevant with clear explanations; a good range of word types is used; grammar, spelling and punctuation are mostly correct with minor slips; the tone fits the task, though some expressions may not leave a strong impact |
| Memuaskan (Satisfactory) | 15-19 | 30-39 | The essay generally matches the theme; grammar is largely correct but inconsistent; vocabulary is more limited; discourse is present but less developed; ideas are relevant with thinner elaboration |
| Kurang Memuaskan (Below Satisfactory) | 14 October 2026 | 20-29 | The essay only partly matches the task; language is less grammatical with noticeable errors; spelling follows the standard system but with visible mistakes; vocabulary is limited; discourse is incomplete; ideas are explained less clearly |
| Pencapaian Minimum (Minimum Achievement) | 9 January 2026 | 19 November 2026 | The candidate shows little command of writing skills; frequent word-level and sentence-level errors; ideas do not match the task set in the question |
| Belum Mencapai Pencapaian Minimum (Below Minimum Achievement) | N/A | 9 January 2026 | The answer sheet is left blank; there is no response |
For Bahagian A, essays are marked normally at 150 to 200 words. Anything beyond 200 words is not marked. An essay of 50 to 149 words is capped at Below Satisfactory regardless of quality, and an essay under 50 words is capped at Minimum Achievement.
Bahagian B essays require 350 to 500 words. Anything beyond 500 words is not marked, and an essay of 100 to 349 words is capped at Below Satisfactory. An essay under 100 words is capped at Minimum Achievement.
“Menilai prestasi calon dengan adil, sahih melalui alat pengujian dan pengukuran yang sah.”
Lembaga Peperiksaan, Piagam Pelanggan, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia
Kertas 2 (Comprehension) Marking Scheme
Kertas 2 combines analytical marking (fixed points per correct answer) with holistic marking (for extended answers). It consists of:
- Bahagian A (35 marks): Sistem dan Aplikasi Bahasa, covering grammar and editing
- Bahagian B (35 marks): Pemahaman, covering comprehension, higher-order thinking and the novel
- Bahagian C (30 marks): Rumusan, or summary writing
Bahagian A: Grammar and Editing
Grammar items are marked one point per correct answer with no partial credit. The editing component, which asks candidates to correct specific errors in a passage, is capped at around 5 to 6 marks in total.
For example, correcting one flagged word to its proper grammatical form earns exactly one mark, and no marks are given for edits that do not match the required correction.
Bahagian B: Comprehension, Higher-Order Thinking and Novel
This section covers comprehension questions on general and literary texts, plus the novel component. Questions can test direct understanding as well as higher-order thinking skills(KBAT). A strong answer responds to the specific command word and focus of the question rather than copying sentences from the passage.
Marks here are split between content and language. If a candidate scores zero on content but still attempts the question, 1 mark is awarded for language. A completely blank answer receives 0 marks overall.
Bahagian C: Summary Writing
Summary writing carries 30 marks, split into 20 marks for content and 10 marks for language.
Candidates are expected to identify 8 complete content points drawn from across all the source paragraphs, with 1 mark awarded per correctly identified and accurately paraphrased idea.
If content marks reach 6 or above, language is marked normally against the standard language bands. If content marks fall to 5 or below but the language used is very strong, the language mark is capped at 5 rather than the full 10.
Language marks drop to zero if the candidate copies sentences directly from the source text word for word, even where the summary stays within the required word count.
For guidance on structuring the introduction, content points and conclusion correctly, check out our guide on how to write Malay summaries.
2/3/4-Mark Answer Approaches
Use the number of marks as a guide to how much information is expected:
- 2 marks: give two relevant points, or the specific elements the marking scheme requires
- 3 marks: identify and clearly express three required elements where the question structure calls for them
- 4 marks: provide four distinct, relevant points, each briefly explained
Kertas 3 (Speaking Test) Marking Scheme
Kertas 3 (1103/3) is worth 70 marks, made up of Bahagian A: Taksiran Individu (40 marks) and Bahagian B: Taksiran Kumpulan (30 marks).
The individual assessment involves responding orally to a stimulus and questions in 3 to 5 minutes. The group assessment is a discussion with other candidates lasting roughly 12 to 15 minutes. Do not treat the group discussion as a memorised speech. Examiners want to see that you can participate meaningfully in a live discussion.
Four spoken-language criteria are marked:
- Grammar and vocabulary. Accurate sentence structure and precise, appropriate word choice.
- Pronunciation, intonation and tone. Clear articulation and delivery that suits the topic and audience.
- Fluency. Speech that flows without long hesitations or repeated false starts.
- Meaningfulness of ideas. Points that are relevant, developed and worth listening to.
Kertas 4 (Listening Test) Marking Scheme
Kertas 4 carries 30 marks across roughly 20 to 25 objective and short-answer items based on audio clips such as conversations, dialogues or short passages.
Unlike Kertas 1 to Kertas 3, this paper is marked per correct response rather than through descriptive bands, so there is no partial credit on most items.
Marks are lost when students miss key information because the audio is played only once or twice, or when they confuse details from different parts of the recording.
Read the questions before the audio starts so you know exactly what to listen for. While the audio plays, jot down key words. On multiple-choice items, eliminate the clearly wrong options first.
For 2026 marking scheme updates, check Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia (LPM)1 and the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM)2 directly before trusting any scheme circulating online.
What Earns Marks vs. What Loses Marks
What earns marks
- Answering the command word the question actually uses
- Paraphrasing source material in your own words
- Staying inside the word range set for each essay
- Matching the format the question asks for
- Developing ideas with relevant examples
What loses marks
- Copying sentences word for word from the passage
- Repeating the same spelling error pattern throughout
- Writing past the upper word limit, where the excess is not marked
- Using the wrong essay structure for the task
- Treating the group discussion as a memorised speech
Turning the Marking Scheme Into a Revision Plan
The most useful thing about the marking scheme is that it tells you where your marks are going. Start by scoring one past-year answer against the criteria for that paper, then note which single band descriptor you keep missing.
If you lose marks on rumusan, drill paraphrasing rather than reading more passages. If you lose them on Kertas 1 format penalties, spend a week writing openings and closings only. If Kertas 4 is the weak point, practise with the audio played once, not on repeat.
Use model answers to study why a point earned its mark, not to memorise the content. Examiners reward the structure of the reasoning, and that is the part you can carry into any question.
Find a BM Tutor Who Teaches to the Actual Marking Scheme
Understanding the SPM BM marking scheme is only useful if you can apply it to your own answers.
On Superprof Malaysia, you can find experienced Bahasa Melayu tutors from across Malaysia. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, you can work on the areas where you are actually losing marks and learn to structure answers around what examiners reward.
Every tutor profile includes verified credentials, subject experience, and reviews from past students, so you can see who has a track record of coaching students through Kertas 1 to Kertas 4 before you commit to a session.
Check out Superprof today.
References
- Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia. (n.d.). Portal rasmi Lembaga Peperiksaan. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Retrieved August 12, 2026, from https://lp.moe.gov.my/
- Ministry of Education Malaysia. (n.d.). Lembaga Peperiksaan. Retrieved August 12, 2026, from https://www.moe.gov.my/lembaga-peperiksaan
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