Factors contributing to the success of science students in english paper in the Sijil Menengah Ugama (SMU) examination / Roslaili Johari

The study investigated the factors that might have contributed to the high achievement of a group of Form Four Science Stream students, in the English paper in the Sijil Menengah Ugama (SMU) Examination despite having a short learning period. The study had investigated six factors: the students’ study habits, the teachers’ teaching styles, the school environment, the classroom environment, the students’ attitude towards English and the students’ study skills.
The population of the study was 181 students of Form Five Science Stream students. A sample of 80 students was selected using the Quota Sampling method and data was gathered using a set of questionnaire.
The study found that the students’ family background and previous achievement in English had helped in their success. Additional learning at tuition centers, listening to English radio programmes and watching English television programmes had played a role in enhancing their language proficiency. Even though the school and the classrooms failed to provide a motivating and conducive environment for the students in learning English, the students’ interest was kept intact by the teachers’ effort in supplying additional reading materials and designing homework and class activities that motivated and improved the students’ command in English. The students were found to have positive attitude towards English as they knew the importance of the language for their future and they planned to continue learning English after completing their high school education. They spent much time listening to the language and reading English rather than using it, in their effort to compensate for the short learning period at school.