Exam Papers
SPM Mathematics Paper 1
Paper 1 is 40 questions (answer all) of objective, multiple-choice maths in 1 hour 30 minutes. Speed and accuracy matter, here is how to approach it.
How Paper 1 works
You answer 40 questions (answer all) for 40 marks. There is no partial credit, so a quick, correct method beats a long one.
Aim to bank the questions you find easy first.
Managing the time
With 1 hour 30 minutes for 40 questions (answer all), that is a little over two minutes per question. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on, a hard one is worth the same as an easy one.
Source:SPM: Format Pentaksiran mulai 2021, Matematik (1449)
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does SPM Maths Paper 1 have, and how much time do I get?
Paper 1 has 40 objective multiple-choice questions, worth 40 marks in total, to be answered in 1 hour 30 minutes. That works out to just over 2 minutes per question, so questions you can solve quickly should not eat time meant for harder ones later in the paper.
Does Paper 1 give any marks for working, or is it purely right or wrong?
Paper 1 uses dichotomous scoring, each item is marked correct or incorrect, with no marks for the steps you took to get there. A fast, rough method that lands on the right answer scores exactly the same as a slow, careful one, so there is no reward for showing extra working here.
How should I manage my time across all 40 questions in Paper 1?
With 90 minutes for 40 questions, aim to move through familiar questions quickly and bank the time you save for the few that need more thought. Mark any question you get stuck on and come back to it, leaving a blank costs the same one mark as a wrong guess, so never leave an answer empty.