Malaysia's 2025 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination results were announced on June 18, revealing that 1,336 candidates achieved a perfect cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0. This figure represents 3.5% of the 40,199 candidates registered for the exam and is an increase of 70 candidates from the 1,266 who scored 4.0 in 2024 [1, 2, 3, 4].
The national average CGPA rose to 2.88 in 2025, the highest since the modular system began in 2013, up from 2.85 the previous year. This also marks a 12.06% improvement from the 2013 average CGPA of 2.57 [2, 3, 4].
The number of candidates scoring full As in all five subjects rose slightly to 60 from 53 in 2024, while those with four As increased to 1,285 from 1,228 the year before [2, 3, 4]. Meanwhile, 77.64% of candidates achieved full passes in four or five subjects, an improvement over 76.55% in 2024 [2, 4].
Participation was high, with 38,144 candidates (94.89% of those registered) sitting for the exam. Of these, 38,128 candidates — or 99.96% of those who took the exam — qualified to receive the STPM certificate [2, 5, 3, 4].
All 23 subjects offered recorded full-pass rates exceeding 70%, with Arabic and Tamil seeing more than three percentage points improvement from 2024. However, English Literature and Chinese Language recorded declines in passing rates of over three percentage points [2, 6].
Terengganu was the top-performing state for the seventh consecutive year with a CGPA of 3.18, well above the national average. Terengganu had 112 candidates with perfect 4.0 CGPA and 147 scoring all As (including A- grades). About 90.47% of Terengganu candidates obtained Principal passes in all subjects. Of its 46 schools, 43 exceeded the national average CGPA, and 36 recorded CGPAs of 3.00 or higher, according to state deputy education director Che Wan Zuraidi Che Wan Zaid [7].
Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff noted, "The number of candidates who obtained a CGPA of 4.0 increased by 70 compared with 2024," underscoring the rising academic performance nationally [2].
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced new benefits for top scorers starting in 2026. The 18 best STPM candidates nationwide were awarded RM1,000 cash, plaques, and certificates in 2025. From this year onward, they will also receive undergraduate scholarships covering tuition fees at public universities. The minister said, "Starting this year, each public university will offer undergraduate scholarships to the best STPM students. I am personally very moved by this," and added that the government sees Form Six as key to elevating education quality [8, 5].
In addition, the government introduced the STPM 'patching' examination for candidates to improve results within the same year to support university admission [8, 5].
The 2025 results highlight continued progress in Malaysia's pre-university education. The scholarship program for top scorers and the patching exam will begin implementation in 2026 [8, 5].
