GEORGE TOWN: Some 400 pupils scored straight As for the revamped Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) 2016 examination in Penang.
State Education Department acting director Mohd Jamil Mohamed said 22,215 pupils sat for the newly-formatted UPSR at 271 schools statewide.
Speaking to reporters after announcing the state’s UPSR results at SJK(C) Perempuan Cina here, Jamil said the number of candidates who achieved straight As has dropped to 399 from over 2,000 pupils last year.
He ruled out comparing the results to last year’s, as the new UPSR format is more difficult and the candidates were also tested on their written skills for language subjects.
"The UPSR this year, unlike last year, is based on high order thinking and the number of subjects has increased to eight from seven previously for vernacular schools.
"The comparison for last year is not done, as the new format differs much from last year’s," he said when met at the school.
Jamil said despite the decline in straight A achievers, Penang performed above the national average in most subjects under the current UPSR format.
