When a perfect score is not enough

Written By Ken Yong

It’s a story that turns many assumptions upside-down: an outstanding student, who achieved a near-perfect CGPA in the STPM (Malaysia’s pre-university exam), yet found themselves rejected by local universities, while winning scholarships at two of Singapore’s top institutions, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

This scenario raises important lessons for ASEAN students and families — especially those considering higher education in Asia rather than automatically defaulting to their home country or the West.

According to the report, six STPM students achieved perfect scores, yet were either rejected from their first-choice programmes or offered lower-tier places in Malaysian public universities. For example:

  • One student with a 3.92 CGPA received no offer at all from any Malaysian public university. TRP

  • In one popular programme at Universiti Malaya (UM) alone, 2,291 students applied, of whom 1,127 had perfect merit scores — yet only 85 spots were available. TRP

  • Meanwhile, that same top scorer was accepted into NUS and NTU. TRP



    High grades are not the whole story. While excellent academics matter, admission systems also weigh other factors — quotas, subject fit, and non-academic criteria.

  • Domestic options may have limitations. Even for the highest achievers, limited slots or specific intake policies may mean they don’t secure their top choice locally.

  • Asia is not a fallback — it’s a strategic option. Singapore’s top universities actively welcomed the candidate rejected locally — demonstrating that ASEAN-based institutions can offer high quality and opportunity.

  • You must match subject + major + institution. Even perfect grades won’t guarantee a place if the student hasn’t aligned their subject choices, co-curricular profile and career vision with their target university.

  • Early planning is critical. Because admission rules differ across Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan and Korea, starting early allows time to map out the pathway and avoid surprises.

    At Talent Abroad, we specialise in turning uncertainties like this into structured, strategic action:

    • School-to-Degree Mapping: We help students select pre-university subjects (A-Levels, IB, STPM, Foundation) that align with their desired university and major.

    • University & Country Shortlisting: Together we examine local vs regional universities (Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea), helping you pick the one that matches profile, goals and budget.

    • Application & Interview Support: From personal statements to scholarship coaching, we help with everything — especially when competition is fierce.

    • Career-Focused Guidance: Going beyond admission — we prepare for internships and early career paths so the degree leads to more than just a certificate.

Ken Yong