The year 2023 holds great significance for those who are 17 years of age and are studying in a Malaysian public or private school that adheres to the national curriculum. This is because they will be taking the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam at the end of their academic year.

The SPM examination is the primary national exam taken by students following the Malaysian National Curriculum. It is typically taken during the final year of secondary school, when students are 17 years old and in Form 5. Given its significance in determining a student's prospects for higher education, it is regarded as one of the most critical exams in their academic journey.

In addition to studying and reviewing the KSSM syllabus, it is crucial for students to acquaint themselves with the format and marking scheme of the exam in order to fully prepare for the test.

While the core subjects like Bahasa Malaysia, English and mathematics are important, learning your own language is equally important. If you learnt Tamil since primary school and have continued to pursue it in secondary school and have decided to take it as an elective subject in SPM, kudos you! It is students like you that is keeping the language alive and motivating and cultivating an interest among the future generation to continue this effort.

Are you familiar with the format and marking scheme of the SPM Bahasa Tamil examination? We at Superprof would like to help you get to know everything to sit and excel in Bahasa Tamil.

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SPM Bahasa Tamil Examination Format

The SPM Bahasa Tamil exam consists of three papers. Please refer below to the detailed examination format for SPM Bahasa Tamil:

6354/1 - Bahasa Tamil Paper 1 (Writing Skills)
2 sections | 1 hour 45 minutes | 100 marks

Part A: Guided Essay
1 question | 30 marks

  • In this section, students are required to write an essay based on the stimulus provided.
  • The stimulus can be presented in the form of text / image / both text and images
  • Based on the stimulus provided, three guided essay topics will be given
  • Students are required to choose and answer only one out of the three guided article topics
  • Students must use all the notes given
  • Students are advised to spend not more than 30 minutes on this section

Part B: Essay
1 out of 3 questions | 70 marks

  • From 2021, only three out of five recommended essay categories will be tested every year
  • The five categories are: Concept Explanation, Argument, Debate, Descriptive Essay, Creative Writing (short story)
  • Out of the three essay titles, student must choose and answer one
  • Students must write an essay of 300 words on the chosen topic

6354/2 - Bahasa Tamil Paper 2 (Reading Skills)
4 sections | 2 hours 15 minutes | 100 marks

Part A: Multiple Stimulus Texts
10 questions | 30 marks

  • Questions 1 to 6 is based on one of the following short stimulus:
    - Concept Picture / Descriptive Picture
    - Poster / Banner / Manual

    - Poem / New Poem / Haiku
    - Pamphlet / Annotation
    - Domestic / Foreign Creations
    - Letter / Memoir / Short Text
    - Table / Chart / Map / Graph
    - Comedy Snippet / Caricature
    - Announcement / News / Agenda / Invitation
  • Questions 7 to 10 is based on the stimulus provided which is significantly longer than the one provided for questions 1 to 6.
  • The length of the stimulus text provided covers approximately one quarter of the page
  • Questions 7 to 9 is based on cognition, understanding, analysis, compilation, evaluation. The answers can be found in the stimulus.
  • Question 10 is based on the theme of the stimulus text. Students are required to answer based on their understanding in their own words. Answers are not in the stimulus.
    - Answer should be written in one paragraph and not exceeding 50 words
    - Answers  written in more than 50 words will not be evaluated

Part B: Modern Texts and Poetry
5 questions | 30 marks

  • Question 11 to 14 is based on the short story provided
  • Short story is around one and a half pages long
  • Questions can be based on cognition, understanding, analysis, compilation, evaluation, etc.
  • Each question carries no more than 4 marks.
  • Question 15 is a compilation or summary section
  • Students are required to summarise or compile the ideas in based on the given text
  • The text will be in one of the following forms: Poem, Prose or Statistical Data
  • The answer should be divided into 4 paragraphs:
    - Introduction
    - Perceptive facts
    - Underlying facts
    - Conclusion

Part C: Proverbs and Ceyyul
4 questions | 20 marks

  • Question 16 requires students to explain the meaning of the two idioms or phrases given
  • These phrases can be in various forms (இணைமொழி, மரபுத்தொடர்‌, உவமைத்தொடர்‌ - ஏதாகிலும்‌ இரண்டூ சோதிக்கப்படும்‌)
  • Question 17 will test student only Thirukkural and Proverbs
  • Thirukkural and proverbs learnt in Forms 4 and 5 will be the focus of this section
  • Questions may require students to write the meanings of Thirukkural and proverbs provided or vice versa
  • Question 18 will emphasise on the ceyyul from Forms 4 and 5
  • Students are required to only explain the lines underlined in the ceyyul
  • Text will be presented in various formats (Letter, conversation, news, etc.) in question 19
  • Any four from these options will be tested: இணைமொழி, மரபுத்தொடர்‌, உவமைத்தொடர்‌, இரட்டைக்கிளவி, பழமொழி
  • Thirukkural and ceyyul will not be tested in this section

Part D: Language System
3 questions | 20 marks

  • Question 20 is based on writing and vocabulary
  • Questions may be broken down to small parts
  • Question 21 is sentence related
  • Questions may be broken down to small parts
  • Question 22 focuses on error identification and analysis
  • Errors include:
    - Spelling
    - Grammar
    - Punctuation
It is important to allocate some time to get to know the exam format as it will help you prepare for the type of questions you will encounter in the exam. Image by jannoon028 on Freepik

6354/3 - Bahasa Tamil Paper 3 (Listening and Speaking Skills)
1 Topic | 12 - 15 minutes | 30 marks

  • Discussion of 1 topic which is set based on 5 themes
  • 12-15 minutes per group (4-5 people)

If you would like to know more in detail in regards to to the new SPM Tamil format, you can refer to the Lembaga Peperiksaan website.

If you're looking for trustworthy resources for Bahasa Tamil, we recommend checking out the Best Resources to Master SPM Bahasa Tamil. 

SPM Bahasa Tamil Marking Scheme

Are you taking the SPM exam this year and finding it difficult to score well in the Bahasa Tamil subject? Perhaps you've studied the textbook chapters and made your own notes to help you remember the information, and you're able to answer all the questions within the allotted time. However, when you receive your results, you're not getting an A grade.

It's important not to get discouraged and give up, as there could be several reasons for this. One common reason is that students fail to provide a complete answer to the question based on the marks allocated for it. Even if the answer is not wrong, if it's incomplete, it can prevent the student from getting an A+ grade in Bahasa Tamil. Therefore, it's crucial to figure out how to score full marks for each question on the exam paper.

To gain a clearer understanding of the marking scheme for the Tamil language paper, it's advisable to refer to the existing grading system for all SPM subjects, which is presented below:

Score / Grade / Level

90 – 100 : A + : Cemerlang Tertinggi

80 – 89 : A : Cemerlang Tinggi

70 – 79 : A – : Cemerlang

65 – 69 : B + : Kepujian Tertinggi

60 – 64 : B : Kepujian Tinggi

55 – 59 : C + : Kepujian Atas

50 – 54 : C : Kepujian

45 – 49 : D : Lulus Atas

>40 – 44 : E : Lulus

0 – 39 : G : Gagal

TH : TH : Tidak Hadir

Now that you have a clear understanding the grading system, we can move on to the mark calculations. The Tamil language marks are broken down as follows:

Paper 1 =  100

Paper 2 = 100

Paper 3 = 30

Total marks = 230

The calculation for the final SPM Bahasa Tamil is as shown below:

(P1 + P2 + P3) /230 X 100

To score the highest possible marks, it's important to use proper language, correct verbs, and grammar when answering exam questions. Additionally, students should take the time to carefully read each question to fully comprehend what is being asked. It's also crucial to write legibly and clearly to ensure that the examiner can easily understand the response and prevent losing marks due to illegible handwriting.

Check out Tips on how to Score A+ in SPM Tamil!

Early preparations is vital in scoring well in your SPM examinations. Photo by Pixabay

Do you need a hand in coping with your subjects in SPM? Superprof is committed to helping you achieve an A+ grade in your SPM Tamil exam by ensuring that you're well-prepared. If you're struggling with certain topics or finding it difficult to keep up with the course material, why not consider getting assistance from a private tutor?

Our Superprof tutors are experts in providing customised academic support that caters to the unique needs of each student. They can adjust their teaching style and lesson plans to suit the individual requirements of each student. Whether you need extra coaching to master a specific topic or more practice to improve your overall performance, our highly experienced and qualified tutors can help you achieve your goals.

Learning consistently with a private tutor can increase your confidence and competence while preparing for crucial exams like SPM, as well as expedite your advancement through assessments. You will also have the flexibility to fix the class schedule and learn at your own pace.

Contact a Superprof tutor today to begin your journey towards an A+ grade in SPM Bahasa Tamil!

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Sutha Ramasamy

As a communications graduate, I have always had a passion for writing. I love to read and strongly believe that one can never stop learning.