61-year-old serial SPM-sitter scores B in math

 

At 61, Hamidan Yahaya from Kampung Bohor Tui, Kuala Perlis, proved that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limit when he continued to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination since 2022 as a private candidate to test his own abilities. BERNAMA PIC

KANGAR: At 61, Hamidan Yahaya from Kampung Bohor Tui, Kuala Perlis, proved that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limit when he continued to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination since 2022 as a private candidate to test his own abilities.

The former 504th Regiment of the Territorial Army Camp driver said his decision to sit for the examination was not driven by career needs, but by a deep interest in learning and a desire to challenge his intellectual capacity.

Hamidan, who retired last year after serving for 27 years, said his performance over the years varied depending on his health and level of preparation. He scored an A in Mathematics in 2022, a B+ in Science in 2023, a C in Mathematics in 2024, and a B in Mathematics and a C+ in Science in 2025.

"I just enjoy trying and testing my IQ. Even at this age, I feel that I can still learn like younger people," he told reporters after the announcement of the Perlis SPM 2025 results by Perlis Education director Rose Aza Che Arifin at the State Education Department here today.

Hamidan, who has five children aged between 22 and 34 and three grandchildren, said he studied on his own using reference books, adding that the yearly variation in questions added to the excitement of sitting for the examination.

"Regarding challenges, I was involved in a minor accident near my house last year, just a few days before the examination.

"At the time, there was flooding, and the water had not fully receded. I was riding a motorcycle when I hit a pothole and fell. I thought my results this time might be a B or lower as I answered the paper while in pain," he said.

Hamidan said he became an orphan while in Form One, and the challenges he once faced in attending school were among the factors that inspired him to study at his current age.

"I used to cycle to school in Kampung Bohor Tui, but there were many days I was unable to attend because of hardship," he also said.

Hamidan, who is among the oldest SPM candidates in Perlis, said the younger generation should not take their access to education for granted.

"Seize the opportunity while you are young. Study hard and make your parents proud," he added.

– BERNAMA