Insight of MRSM Langkawi / MRSM IGCSE

I think I should write something that perhaps would help parents or students who are looking into the prospect of applying MRSM Langkawi or any MRSM IGCSE. LOL. Not that anyone actually ask me, just I think that ummm it would helpful to anyone who may google this kind of thing up.

First and foremost, as a disclaimer, things may have change. I attended MRSM Langkawi from February 2013 until November 2017 (5 years), and by the time I am writing this down it is November 2018, and the system MAY have change so some things may be irrelevant by the time you are reading this. Secondly, I attended MRSM Langkawi, and thus my experience may differ with the other students from another MRSM IGCSE. However, in this post I try to differentiate the general experience of attending MRSM (which mean other types of MRSM students encounter the same thing), the lifestyle at MRSM Langkawi and the experience as a MRSM IGCSE student, separarately.

                                                                                                                                                                   

ATTENDING MRSM (GENERAL)

1. Activity Week

According to MARA Education System, each MRSM should conduct its own Activity Week each semester. In this week the student shall not have any academic classroom activities, and if there are academic events conducted, it shall be in a playful and relaxed environment. This is basically to allow students to unwind. Activities are planned by the college administration and the BWP in reign. Field trips, picnics, sports competition, talent show, exhibitions are expected. Although it is a non-academic week, it could get tiring as the schedule may be packed.

2. SEM Innofest

One of the conditions that has to be met for our graduation (we have a legit MRSM certification....which I honestly don’t know for what... but don’t we all love graduation 🎓😜) is completing SEM Innofest. For SEM Innofest, we can do research or innovation based on what we are interested in. Say you love literature, you could produce novels or compilation of essays. For this students mostly go for something scientific, and those who are actually interested in participating in national or international science and innovation competitions may even use labs at universities, as from this SEM Innofest thing, potential students may be chosen to participate in the next higher level competition. Heck, I have seniors and friends winning in Intel ISEF and Harta Intelek Negara.

3. Medium of instruction for Sciences and Maths is English

As far as I know SMKs and SBPs are learning Science and Maths subjects in Bahasa Melayu. Despite the policy made by the MOE, MRSMs learns Sciences and Maths in English. Since I am in university which use English as the medium of instruction, this experience gives me no problem to understand the English terms and jargons used uin my current studies.

                                                                                                                                                                   

ATTENDING MRSM IGCSE

If you don’t already know, in MRSM IGCSE we use both the curricula of the National Education System and the Cambridge CIE. The Cambridge CIE system is taught not only in Cambridge (LOL) but also widely use in schools  around the world. It should be noted that there are American school syllabus, International Baccalaureate (IB) syllabus, Australian syllabus, and so Cambridge CIE is just another syllabus in the long list of global school curriculum. In this case, MRSM IGCSE offers both Malaysian and Cambridge CIE curricula (nope you CANNOT pick only one).

1. Exam oriented

Well isn’t it obvious 🙂🙂 Our current Malaysian education already has national standardized exams which are PT3 and SPM, meanwhile Cambridge CIE has Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE. Basically student will face a big examination at the end of each year, except during Form 1. So have a good rest, ok fellow Form 1 🤣

Look... not only we have finals for each semester, you also have to sit for big exam at the end of each Semester 2..... Oh do note that students will also sit for PT3 at the end of F3 S2!!

2. Divided Science subject since Form 1

Since the Science subject in the CIE syllabus has been separated into the three basic branches of Science; Chemistry, Physics and Biology, the KBSM Science syllabus also has been prepared to be separated as such. 

So hey this 👆🏻 tweet cannot be applied to you!! 😆

And do note that AddMaths is learnt at Form 3!!

3. Combination of both syllabi provides extra insight 

Some topics are taught in the national syllabus but aren’t taught in IGCSE, and vice versa. As for example, in the early Science topic I recalled learning in Form 1, the types of rocks and its formation is included in the IGCSE syllabus, while we don’t even learn anything about rock in the national syllabus (it was 2013, according to the national edu syllabus of that time). Meanwhile, while a lot of the topics overlap, some subtopics are only included in one of the syllabus. As for example, in learning about Excretory  System in Biology, in the national system we have to learn about the components of the nephrone in our kidneys, meanwhile in the IGCSE syllabus we only learn until the component of kidney, which isn’t that deep.  

In other word, I can say that we got the best of both worlds. We learn basically a lot compared to non-IGCSE students.

3. Where your IGCSE qualification can take you

IGCSE is basically equivalent to SPM, but taken in the November of your Form 4 year. With decent result you can apply to Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) or any other private universities, as local universities usually accept SPM to enter to Foundation level. IIUM also accepts IGCSE via private

application. I am not sure about any other local university, perhaps you could check at their international student application website. 

However, if you get at least 5A and 1B for IGCSE (the total subject you will be taking for IGCSE is 6, with the highest grade is A*, followed by A) MARA may offer you a place at their Kolej MARA for preparation studies to go overseas, either you will be taking IB Diploma or A-Level. If you accept this, then you will be leaving MRSM at Form 5 and starts your pre-uni studies with the given loan. This is somewhat fast, and by that moment SPM is an option which you can choose to sit or not.

                                                                                                                                                                  

THE LIFESTYLE AT MRSM LANGKAWI

1. Fantastic academic support

I am eternally grateful for the dedicated teachers I had throughout my years in MRSM. As we are in an island, we always have our teachers come and go, transferring as they have a growing family so things have to be considered. Mostly our teachers are young, but the senior teachers never fail to pass the values and spirits to the new teachers before they leave. Despite having family, our teachers always take turn to conduct intensive classes for us, even bringing their children and toddlers. If you ever keep track of our academic ranking, I must say that the credits should be given to our dedicated teachers. 

2. Accommodation

Our college is basically in Pekan Kuah, facing a hill so I assure you that you will always get a spectacular scenery. Especially in September when the wind keeps blowing oh such bliss!! Our hostel is also decent for a living, we rarely have water supply problem (unless at a certain floor, which I am not sure has been fixed or not). Like any other government school in this country, of course there are some toilet and shower cubicles that cannot be used, and for that umm I have no comment. Basically the hostel living is not a luxury, which if you do expect luxury you should be googling for private and international schools, but do provide ample amount of comfort.

3. Food 

My five years in MRSM Langkawi, the food is better compared to other MRSMs. Yeah we have the not-so-enticing menus of ikan tongkol and taugeh goreng, but we always have the exciting menus of chicken chop and mi kari. The college's Dewan Selera (DS) provides breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and supper. Other than that, students also have the option to buy food at the cafe and koperasi. 

The outings are ok too. KFC, McD, Marybrown are reachable, although not in walking distance. We usually spent around RM5 for transportation to go outing, which I think is cheap.

4. Schedule

Hahahahahhahahha one word: PACKED!! Do note that MRSM Langkawi always have one of the tightest rules among MRSM, and with the already packed curricular, boy your life is running. I am not talking about your Form 1 life, I am talking about your life since Form 2 until Form 5. You have class from 7.40am to  2pm. Then at 3pm if you don't have extra curricular activity or assembly, you will have intensive class during evening prep. Surau programme is compulsory so you must be at surau from maghrib to isya'. Later during night prep you will have another intensive class. This repeats. If you are fortunate in a certain day, you will not have intensive class and thus can do your homework in peace during prep. Do take note that your homework for those intensive classes are different with the homework given in class. Stay up late at night is so normal, we honestly cannot brain when a warden tells us to sleep early. And this is basically on daily basis, not including if you take another extra curricular commitment.

But what makes it more memorable is that despite the crazy schedule, you can still caught yourself laughing and giggling with your friends and teachers 😊

                                                                                                                                                                   

All in all, attending MRSM Langkawi was challenging and with that I have developed mental resistance. Back in time of course I had my down moments but then I remind myself that somewhere in another MRSM IGCSE, batches of seniors has successfully graduated and so it is not impossible for me to graduate with flying colors too. And I did graduate with flying colors alhamdulillah 😂😀

However, I will not claim that MRSM Langkawi is the best school for everyone. Every person is a unique individual and what is best for me may not be the best for other people, for we are of different background and interest. I also have friends transferring to other school as they have no interest in science, which I think is fine, as long as they are willing to learn and explore. Plus, the bittersweet experience I had may also not as bittersweet to others, for we have different personality, needs and understanding. With this post, I must say that whatever school we attend and whatever curriculum we enrol into, what matters most is the values and knowledge we are willing to take and make as the part of ourselves.