Malaysia Grading System: understanding proficiency levels
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The Malaysia grading system uses Proficiency levels (Tahap Penguasaan), with 6 as the best grade and 1 as the worst; 3 is the lowest passing grade. There is no percent key.
Regional authorities set grading rules, coordinated nationally by Lembaga Peperiksaan, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.
This page explains how teachers can read and interpret Malaysian grades, how they are set and reported, and what to consider when teaching students from Malaysia.
It also covers the SPM school-leaving exam, related systems, and sources used to verify the information.
Reading the Malaysian scale
Malaysian school proficiency levels run from 1 to 6, with 6 the highest and 1 the lowest; they have no percentage key. Tahap Penguasaan 3 is the minimum proficiency level for all subjects.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Yes | |
| 5 | Uses knowledge and performs a skill or task in a new situation according to procedures or analytically and systematically, consistently and with a positive attitude. | Yes |
| 4 | Uses knowledge and performs a skill or task according to procedures or analytically and systematically. | Yes |
| 3 | Uses knowledge to perform a skill or task in a situation. | Yes |
| 2 | Demonstrates understanding by explaining something learned through communication. | No |
| 1 | Knows basic things, can perform basic skills, or can respond to basic matters. | No |
The minimum proficiency level for all subjects is Tahap Penguasaan 3; pupils below it are to be guided and given opportunities to reach at least that level.
At level 3, students use knowledge to perform a skill or task in a situation; students below this level are to be guided and given opportunities to reach at least level 3 (moe.gov.my).
Compared with related systems
Malaysia
4 of 6 grades pass
China
4 of 5 grades pass
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Who sets Malaysian grades and how they are reported
Regional authorities set Malaysian grading rules, with national coordination by Lembaga Peperiksaan, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Practice differs somewhat between regions.
The main examination is SPM, and its grading results and descriptions are subject to changes set by the Examination Board, Ministry of Education Malaysia (Docs).
Students’ end-of-session test achievement is reported using six Tahap Penguasaan, or TP, levels; each subject has a mark range and descriptive statement, but the score is not displayed (moe.gov.my).
The report also includes effort, the subject teacher’s comments and suggested interventions, and an overall comment by the class teacher (moe.gov.my).
Teaching students from Malaysia
Ask students to provide their report cards, marking keys, and transcripts. Check which grading scale each document uses, and record that scale with the grades you enter.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- China5-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade D (Pass)
- Japan5-step numeric scale, 5 is best; passing grade 2 (Poor)
- Denmark7-step numeric scale, 12 is best; passing grade 02 (Den tilstrækkelige præstation)
- Finland7-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5 (välttävä)
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
- Ireland8-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 7
Sources and verification
- [1]docs.jpa.gov.my. Skim Perkhidmatan dan Perjawatan. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]moe.gov.my. Panduan%20Pelaksanaan%20Pentaksiran%20Bilik%20Darjah%20Edisi%202%20-%202019.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]moe.gov.my. Garis%20Panduan%20Pentadbiran%20Ujian%20Akhir%20Sesi%20Akademik.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 17, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Malaysia?
Tahap Penguasaan 3 is the lowest passing level in Malaysia. At this level, pupils use knowledge to perform a skill or task in a situation.
Do schools in Malaysia use percentages for grades?
Yes. End-of-session test reports refer to a mark range for each subject, although the score is not displayed. Malaysian proficiency levels have no percentage key.
Is a 3 a good grade in Malaysia?
Tahap Penguasaan 3 is the lowest passing level, so it is the minimum proficiency level rather than a higher grade. At this level, pupils use knowledge to perform a skill or task in a situation.
