Every year when SPM results are released, some students walk out of the examination hall smiling, while others lower their heads, afraid to look at their result slips.
Failed in Sejarah, failed in BM, and even failed in English and Chinese – what should you do?
Many people immediately search online: “What can I study with failing SPM?“, “Is it over for me?”, “Is there any way out?”
In Malaysia, many young people think: “Without good results, I have no future.” But reality isn’t like that—you might just be unsuitable for traditional education paths, but you can still carve out your own path with a specialized skill.
Life isn’t just a one-way street of “study—university—work.” For some people, poor results aren’t an issue of ability, but rather that their talents don’t lie in examinations.
So can we choose a path that’s more suitable for ourselves?
🎓 Without an SPM certificate, is there really no hope?
Many students face feelings of defeat after SPM, especially when they fail Sejarah, Bahasa Melayu, or even English or Mathematics.
“What can I study with failing SPM?” This might be one of the questions you most want answered.
Failing SPM means you might not be able to enter government universities or apply for certain civil service positions, which is indeed limiting. But this doesn’t mean you have no prospects. There are actually many skill-oriented colleges that don’t look at your grades, but rather whether you have the determination to start anew.
At this point, choosing the best Malaysian skills training institution becomes crucial.
In fact, many students with poor secondary school results have changed their life trajectories step by step through skills training and international certifications, working locally or in places like Singapore and Australia.
🛠 What is “Skills Education”?
Skills education is a more “practical” form of education, focusing on developing your hands-on operation, problem-solving, and industry-aligned abilities. Unlike traditional courses that rely solely on written exam results, skills courses emphasize practical operation, project performance, and industry practice.
Here are two of the most common skills certification diplomas:
- City & Guilds (C&G)
A skills certification from the UK with over 100 years of history, widely recognized by employers globally. Suitable for students who want to enhance their competitiveness and those worried about how to work abroad without SPM. - SKM (Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia)
Malaysia’s government-certified national skills certificate, suitable for local employment, entrepreneurship, and also offers opportunities to apply for specific government positions.
📚 Popular courses that can be taken without SPM
Here are some courses that don’t have strict SPM requirements but are very practical in the market with good employment prospects:
- Electrical Wiring
- Air-conditioning Maintenance and System Services
- Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Management
- Hairdressing & Make-up
- Creative Multimedia
- Computer Repair and Network Security (IT & Cybersecurity)
- Digital Marketing and Social Media Operations
These courses typically last from 6 to 18 months, after which you can directly enter employment or pursue higher-level certifications.
💡 Which educational institutions accept students without SPM results?
In Malaysia, several types of educational institutions typically accept students with poor SPM results:
- Private vocational colleges: Focus on specific skills training
- Some government-recognized skills training centers: Offer SKM certification courses
- Authorized training centers for international certification bodies: Provide international certifications such as C&G
When choosing an educational institution, consider the following factors:
- Whether the course has formal international certification
- Whether the tuition fees are within budget
- Whether internships and employment guidance are provided
- Teaching quality and facilities
- Employment rates and development status of graduates
Ambitious Academy is one of the institutions that accepts students without SPM results, offering C&G and SKM certification courses, as well as being a WorldChefs certified educational institution. It’s worth mentioning that only ten university colleges in Malaysia have received Worldchefs certification, and Hong Da College is among those with more affordable tuition fees.
📄 Application Process and Preparation
The application process is usually simple:
- Contact the college for course details
- Prepare basic documents (IC copy, photos, etc.)
- Simple interview (some colleges)
- Pay fees and start classes
The vast majority of courses do not require SPM results, only requiring students to be at least 16 or 17 years old.
💰 Fees and Funding Options
Although costs are lower than universities, skills training still requires investment. Here are several funding options you can apply for:
- PTPK government skills loans
- MARA scholarships (applicable to Bumiputera students)
- Installment payments & early registration discounts
🔚 Conclusion: SPM is not the end point, but a turning point
Everyone has their own rhythm and specialty. Not being good at exams doesn’t mean you have no future.
What can I study with failing SPM? There are many answers, it just depends on whether you’re willing to try.
If you’re willing to start from skills and apply what you learn, you can still:
✅ Find stable employment
✅ Obtain international certification diplomas
✅ Work abroad or start a business
✅ Become a professional in your field
Don’t let one exam define your life. What’s important is taking the first step now.
Want to learn more about skills courses? You can:
- Search for keywords of courses you’re interested in (such as “Seremban hairdressing and makeup courses”)
- Schedule a campus visit
- Request course brochures or enrollment guides from vocational colleges
Start making changes now—contact us directly for free course consultations, and you might discover that you have a light others can’t see.
Life is long, there’s no need to rush to compare yourself with others. You can also forge a different, wonderful life path. 🌱