SPM EST – an Easy & Simple Test?

I came across a very funny post on a Malaysian famous teen blogger’s blog. What does EST stand for? Easy & Simple Test, Extremely Simple Test or Easy Short Test? None of these funny and creative answers is correct. Actually, EST is an abbreviation for… (drum-roll please)… English for Science and Technology.

Before I write a post on How to Score SPM English for Science and Technology (EST), I think it is crucial for you as the reader to know the past and present situation where a small number of SPM top students miss 1A in EST.

Taiping’s Chong Huey Ee of SMK (P) Treacher Methodist, who took 16 subjects, missed out on the possibility of being the country’s top scorer when she obtained 15 1As but got a 2A in English for Science and Technology.

“Although I am disappointed that I did not score straight 1As, I can be proud that I scored 1As for the subjects I studied on my own – Science, Geography, Commerce, Principles of Accounting, Economics and Tasawwur Islam,” she said
- The Star, 14 March 2006

Firstly, I would like to congratulate Chong for scoring such an envious result in SPM 2005. All her family members, teachers and friends would surely be proud of her. No doubt she had really done a very good job.

Okay, enough of compliment, let me raise a complicated question: She could score 1As in all the SPM subjects that she studied on her own (as mentioned in the excerpt above) but why not in SPM EST which she learned it in class since form four? Keep in mind that she scored 1A in Tasawwur Islam, a very hard-to-score or to be accurate, a very hard-to-pass subject for most Chinese candidates.

For 2004 SPM, I noticed that quite a number of intelligent students in my school got only a 2A in EST. For 2005 SPM, the situation is getting worse! A total of 3 students in my school got As in all subjects except EST. Why?

English for Science and Technology (EST) was a new SPM subject introduced in year 2003 by Malaysian Education Ministry. It is an English test based on science and technology. So, why EST was introduced? I did a quick search using Google and found out the answer.

EST aims to
- provide learners with the language basis to access and understand materials on science and technology in English.
- express ideas and concepts in English.
Source: Good English Essays

For most of the SPM candidates, EST is really an 'Easy & Simple Test'. Many students do well in EST and it is not uncommon for an English 4B student to score 1A in school's EST examination. Why? Look at the EST format.

Paper 1 consists of Information Transfer and Scientific Writing. Paper 2 consists of 30 objective questions.
Source: Good English Essays

Information Transfer and Scientific Writing are both quite difficult for average students. However, I do think that they are easier than English 1119 Summary and Directed Writing respectively. So, do you think EST is an 'Easy and Simple Test'? If your answer is 'yes', think again!

Why EST is a curse rather than a blessing for some top students? After thinking carefully, I come out a list of possible reasons.

Most SPM candidates especially the intelligent students thought EST was just another easy test paper. Thus, they didn't spend enough time to master EST completely.


The scientific writing question (in Paper 1) was expected to come out like in 2004 SPM, which asked the candidate to write a report choosing the best method among all three methods given. However, the essay question format in 2005 SPM was totally different from the previous year. Candidate had to write an essay on the formation and the consequences of acid rain based on the points given. Unlike the previous year, no other choice was given!


There are very few reference books or resources on this new subject (first introduced in form 4 in year 2003). For those who might not know, SPM students don't have EST textbooks! I have asked my EST teacher about this and she told me that EST will be completely removed from the SPM subject list in the next few years. So, our government doesn't want to spend money publishing textbooks for this subject. Unbelievable? Try to believe it!

I have 'survived' from EST (luckily I didn't get a 3B or the lower grade in this subject!). Here are my tips to score 1A in EST. (Yes, I scored 1A in EST)

I still remember that in the past, I studied EST in class by trying the previous year SPM EST papers and other states' EST papers.


I didn't buy any reference books for EST since some of them are out-dated. Of course, you can buy exercise books for EST but please make sure the model papers follow the latest format.


Pay attention to all your EST lessons in class. Keep in mind that your EST teacher is the most reliable source for this subject.


Attend tuition class. Yes, I know it is very rare and weird to attend EST tuition class. Last year, I attended a one-month-four-class EST tuition class a month before the SPM trial examinations. For me, paying RM40.00 to master EST from the actual EST paper marker is worthy.