I AM concerned about the current History examination format in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

With History as a compulsory subject, I wonder why students are required to sit through three papers in two days?

For example in this year’s SPM, History Paper 1 (one hour) and Paper 2 (two-and-half hours) will be held on Nov 18 from 8am to 12.30pm with a one hour break in between.

Another paper, History Paper 3 (three hours) will be held on Nov 19, from 2pm to 5pm.

I think the Examinations Syndicate and the Education Ministry owe the students, teachers and the taxpayers a very solid explanation on why there is a need for all three papers and a total of six-and-a-half hours to assess our students for this one particular subject.

We can imagine the resources and time required to prepare the three papers, marking and tabulations and the logistics involved.

The students also need to prepare psychologically to sit for the subject over two days.

If the reasons are not solid enough, I strongly urge the Examinations Syndicate and the ministry to quickly simplify the SPM History examination format, hopefully from 2020 onwards.

ANDREW TAN

Shah Alam