It's been more than 10 years since the Malaysian Ministry of Education revamped the Sijil Pelajaran Tinggi Malaysia (STPM) evaluation system.

Beginning in 2012, Form Six students will undergo three external assessments respectively for three semesters instead of one terminal external assessment at the end of their studies for all of their subjects.

If you are currently thinking of studying Economics for your Form 6 studies, you're in the right place.

In this article, we will look at the latest examination format for the STPM Economics papers throughout the three semesters.

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What Can You Expect For Your STPM Economics Paper 1? [944/1]

For your first semester, you will study a total of FIVE chapters which fall under the theme of microeconomy. 

  • Chapter 1: Pengenalan Microekonomi
  • Chapter 2: Pasaran Barang dan Harga
  • Chapter 3: Teori Pengeluaran dan Kos Pengeluaran
  • Chapter 4: Struktur Pasaran, Penentuan Harga, dan Output
  • Chapter 5: Pasaran Faktor dan Agihan

You will be tested on these five chapters in three main sections.

Section A consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. [20%]

Section B requires candidates to answer four out of six essay component questions. [40%]

Section C comprises quantitative questions (calculation-based), candidates have to choose to answer two out of three questions.

The overall duration for your STPM Economics Paper 1 is 2 hours and the weightage of this semester evaluation is 32%. 

Find out the best learning resources to ace your STPM Economics.

Which Topics Will You Be Tested For Your STPM Economics Paper 2? [944/2]

When it comes to your second semester, you will also go through a similar evaluation format for your STPM Economics Paper 2 paper (multiple choice questions, essay components and quantitative questions).

Similarly, you will learn FIVE different topics for this semester which fall under the branch of macroeconomy.

  • Chapter 1: Pengenalan Macroekonomi
  • Chapter 2:Perakaunan Pendapatan Negara
  • Chapter 3: Keseimbangan Pendapatan Negara dan Dasar Fiskal
  • Chapter 4: Wang, Bank, dan Dasar Kewangan
  • Chapter 5: Perdagangan dan Kewangan Antarabangsa

Important note: At the end of your second semester, the cumulative weightage of your overall grade has reached 64%.

Discover these practical tips to boost your STPM Economics revision process.

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How Different Will Your Assessment Format Be For Your STPM Economics Paper 3 [944/3]?

We've reached the final semester.

Unlike the previous two semesters, you will go through two different assessment methods, one external written test as well as one internal coursework assessment.

STPM Economics Semester 1
You'll only need to study 5 to 6 chapters per semester under the new STPM Economics syllabus.
Photo by Michelle Ding on Unsplash

For the written test, you will need to answer five out of six essay components in Section A [30 marks] and answer one out of two quantitative questions in Section B [30 marks].

Take note that the test duration is only 1 hour this round.

Throughout your third semester, you will learn SIX CHAPTERS under the theme of Malaysian Economy.

  • Chapter 1: Pengangguran, Guna Tenaga, dan Upah
  • Chapter 2: Inflasi dan Kos Sara Hidup
  • Chapter 3: Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Imbangan Pembayaran
  • Chapter 4: Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana 
  • Chapter 5: Institusi Kewangan 
  • Chapter 6: Kemiskinan dan Agihan Pendapatan

The cumulative weightage for your overall grade so far is 80%. So where does the remaining 20% go? Continue reading to learn more.

Why Is It Important To Aim For The Highest Score For Your STPM Economics Paper 4? [944/4]

It's time to unveil the format of your STPM Economics coursework assessment.

Candidates will be given two question options based on the taught STPM Economics topics during their third semester. You only need to answer one.

You can carry out the research in groups but everyone is required to prepare an individual report based on the findings of your coursework.

Here's the list of elements that you should include in your report:

  1. Penghargaan
  2. Abstrak
  3. Isi Kandungan
  4. Latar Belakang Kajian 
  5. Penyataan Masalah
  6. Tujuan/Objektif Kajian
  7. Kaedah Kajian
  8. Hasil kajian dan perbincangan
  9. Cadangan
  10. Penutup/Rumusan kajian
  11. Senarai rujukan
  12. Lampiran 

Don't underestimate the importance of this coursework assessment.

Reason 1: It's 100% graded by your subject teacher

This means you can actually get the maximum score for this component as long as you follow the marking scheme that is provided.

You can discuss the questions with your friends and ask for some guidance from your teacher too. Having said that, you'll have more time to prepare and search for the answer. (Think of it as an open-book test).

Reason 2: It enables you to directly apply the economical concepts that you've learnt in a comprehensive manner

Doing this coursework assessment will train candidates to clearly identify and elaborate on the relevant scenario that is introduced in the question. At the same time, candidates also get to review the questions and provide the right solution within the given context.

While answering the questions, candidates would also need to directly apply and compare the right economical theories and concepts to explain the economic issues that revolve around human decisions and the factors that influence them.

After getting the answers to the questions, candidates would finally need to interpret, synthesise and summarise the findings and information that they have gained throughout the process.

Reason 3: It enhances both your quantitative and qualititiatve skills at a similar pace

Throughout the entire coursework assessment, candidates are required to calculate, measure, sketch, record and collect an array of data and information from a primary source.

They would also need to conduct interviews, observations and even conduct surveys to have a solid and reliable primary source collection.

Furthermore, they would also need to utilize various resources from their libraries, the Internet, and official government reports by doing a thorough filtering process in terms of suitability. For example, they have to summarise a 2000-word government report into a series of tables and graphs when it comes to analysing and presenting their final findings.

In between, they have to make sure there is a balance between their written words (qualitative) and mathematical workings (quantitative) in their report.

study stpm economics
At the end of your coursework assessment, you'll be a well-rounded learner.
Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash

Reason 4: It helps to cultivate soft skills as a pre-university student

Academic skills should not be your only pursuit as a pre-university student. The shift from a 100% examination-based assessment serves as a transition for STPM candidates so that they'll adapt better during their first year of undergraduate studies.

As you prepare for both your external and internal assessment during the final semester, it's ultimately a test of your communication skills (both verbal and written). As you collaborate in groups, you'll also learn how to work with different people and how to integrate tasks and come together to have a unified decision that combines a collective effort.

You will also get to develop a strong sense of creativity and problem-solving skills. As you work on the project, you'll also be more responsible and accountable to produce a good piece of work.

Learn how to master the marking scheme of your STPM Economics examination here.

Ways To Make Your STPM Revision Process Engaging And Effective

Now that we have gone through all the formats of the four papers for your STPM Economics, it's time to kickstart your revision process to have a seamless preparation.

Fret not, we have listed three tips in case you have no idea where to start.

Tip 1: Find an experienced Economics tutor

Nothing beats the experience of personalised guidance when it comes to preparing for such an important examination like STPM!

No matter where you hail from Malaysia, you can always locate a private tutor near you with the help of Superprof.

Superprof acts as a student-friendly bridging platform that connects dedicated tutors and passionate students in the most hassle-free manner.

All you need to do is head to the Superprof Malaysia homepage and browse through the Economics tutors' profiles.

From there, you can review and compare their basic information in terms of their teaching qualification, teaching experience, teaching methodology, hourly rates and past students' reviews.

We highly recommend Superprof because it offers you the flexibility to choose from a wide selection of home tutors and online tutors across 1001 fields of study.

Tip 2: Diversify your learning resources

There's certainly more than one book/resource to master all the economics topics throughout your three semesters.

Prefer visuals over paragraphs?

Instead of memorising the facts from textbooks, you can look for Youtube tutorials or animations that explain various economic concepts and watch them regularly to boost your memory.

This way, you won't dread your revision process and have better concentration without feeling bored.

Tip 3: Identify your best studying time and method and stick to it consistently

We're sure you have always heard about balancing the concepts of studying hard and studying smart as a student.

As a student, it's important to know what works well for you and how to maximize your learning experience within a limited time. That's because you are not only studying for one subject.

Some of us can study for as long as 2 hours in one stretch while some of us study optimally within 40 minutes and that's perfectly fine. Some of us can focus better when we are studying alone while some of us study best when we are having group study.

stpm economics exam format
The key to a successful revision journey is to have a consistent revision routine from the start.
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash

The bottom line is to cultivate a consistent studying routine that works best for you. Once you have a consistent routine, you'll don't have to be anxious about studying everything from A to Z at the very last minute. 

Scoring for your STPM Economics papers will no longer be a hassle when you're well-equipped with the right tools and knowledge.

We hope you have found this article useful. All the best for all your STPM Economics papers!

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Joycelyn

An avid reader and writer, Joycelyn loves the art of communication and is passionate about all kinds of media.