| Level | Duration | Age Range | Key Exams | |-------|----------|-----------|------------| | Pre-school | 1–2 years | 4–5+ | None | | Primary | 6 years | 7–12 | Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA) — replaces UPSR | | Lower secondary | 3 years | 13–15 | PT3 (abolished 2022, now school-based) | | Upper secondary | 2 years | 16–17 | SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) | | Post-secondary | 1–2 years | 18–19 | STPM, Matriculation, Diploma, Foundation | | Tertiary | 3–5 years | 19–24 | Degree programs |

At the end of Form 5, all public school students sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the national equivalent to the O-Levels. This exam is a major milestone, determining a student's future academic and career pathways. A Day in the Life of a Malaysian Student