Discipline is paramount. Students line up in neat rows by class. The assembly involves:
Malaysia has a tragic distinction: high suicide rates among teens linked to exam stress. The SPM period sees spikes in youth hotline calls. The "A or nothing" mindset, reinforced by Tiger parents and tuition centers, has led to a slow shift toward Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (School-Based Assessment) to reduce the all-or-nothing nature of the final exam.
Lasts six years and is open to all students.
Primary schools usually end around 1:00 PM, while secondary schools may continue until 3:30 PM.