I COULDN'T agree more with May Chee Chook Ying's views on the system of public examination grades and the need to modify it ("Get real and raise the bar" -- NST , Oct 1).

I completed my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations last year. When the results were announced in March, I noticed that students who failed in their school tests made it with a passing grade in almost every subject.

There were also students who were nowhere near an A before the real examination but scored a 1A or 2A in their subjects.

All this makes me ask just how good an A really is. Where is the line that divides an A from a B and a pass from a fail? No one except the Malaysian Examination Syndicate knows.

In fact, long before we sat our examinations, some teachers had made us aware that the passing marks and grades are set based on a normal distribution graph.
Looking at the results every year, the number of students with straight As is on the rise, causing disputes when it comes to giving scholarships.



I would suggest that the authorities adopt the grading system used by the EDEXCEL exam board in the United Kingdom, where the marks obtained by a student in every subject are printed next to the grade on the result slip.

This would solve the mystery of where the bar for an A is and, more importantly, serve as proof that standards are not compromised.

It is also the reason why the examinations conducted by the particular board are re-cognised worldwide.

As the product of the education system for 11 years, I dare say we have a good syllabus in place. The only problem is the regulation of standards in examinations. If we want to stamp our mark on the global scene, we should start looking at our policies. In the long run, it is the quality, not quantity, that counts.