My SPM Story, Results, and Math Tuition Class Promotion
I write this to promote my Math tuition classes since I do not teach other subjects. I teach students from any elementary school age onward if they are able to cope, and I usually focus on Math Olympiad (preferred). I also teach school mathematics at all levels, except statistics for Form 6 / A Level or equivalent.
This includes Additional Mathematics (whether SPM, IGCSE, O Level, or any equivalent syllabus), as well as pure mathematics for Form 6 (A Level or equivalent).
Fast fact: Many Malaysian Math Olympiad winners (whether from private or government schools) are also Christians from different races, although they are usually not vocal about their beliefs. Around the world, successful Olympiad participants likewise come from a wide range of religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, including many Christians.
Historically, Christianity and Christian-majority civilizations played a major role in the development of modern mathematics, science, universities, and scholarly publishing. Many influential mathematicians, educators, and authors who helped shape mathematical culture—including problem-solving traditions later used in Olympiad training—were Christians or worked within historically Christian academic environments. At the same time, modern Olympiad mathematics is an international and multicultural tradition shaped by contributors from many religious and nonreligious backgrounds.
Many influential Math Olympiad materials and books, whether sold commercially or distributed freely, were written by authors from historically Christian educational and cultural backgrounds who contributed significantly to mathematical learning and problem-solving culture. As a result, many successful Olympiad students from non-Christian as well as Christian backgrounds have also benefited greatly from the knowledge, methods, and resources these authors shared.
This is true not only in Mathematical Olympiads, but also across a wide range of academic and technological fields, where many influential educational resources and foundational contributions emerged from historically Christian educational and cultural contexts.
I do not believe that money success (as explained in the Bible verses mentioned later) is necessarily God-given. However, in academics or practical skill, I have never seen a Bible verse stating that such skill comes from the devil, meaning that non-Christians who attain it may even be the best among them in character.
Hence, I am particularly wary of the rich who control or manipulate those who are more skilled than them through nepotism, power, or influence, where they themselves are not skilled—whether in religious leadership, secular job positions, or even government. (This is a personal view.) Please see the “Conclusion” section at the end for biblical references.
1) SPM result
Grading system back then: A1, A2, B3, etc.
Text:
+——————————-+——————–+————————-+——-+
| School | Examination | Subject | Grade |
+——————————-+——————–+————————-+——-+
| Kajang High School (Malaysia) | SPM | BM | B3 |
| | (2B3, 1A2, 7A1) | Moral Studies | B3 |
| | | History | A2 |
| | | English | A1 |
| | | Mathematics | A1 |
| | | Physics | A1 |
| | | Chemistry | A1 |
| | | Biology | A1 |
| | | Bible Knowledge | A1 |
| | | Additional Mathematics | A1 |
+——————————-+——————–+————————-+——-+
2) By God’s grace, I also won several “Best Student” awards for individual SPM subjects.
3) I won Best Student awards individually for these subjects: English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Additional Mathematics. For the three science subjects, there should actually have been three separate certificates, but they combined them into one.
Some ask me, “How come you didn’t win for Mathematics but won for Additional Mathematics?” The other students were better, and in those days I actually would not solve a particular question on the Mathematics paper, namely the “scale drawing problem,” which meant I would not get any marks for it in school exams, where it was sometimes compulsory. Today, ironically, I actually teach it.
4) My name was written on the school wall for SPM 2000 that year (only one name per year).
5) Competitions were scarce in those days, and participating in one itself was a miraculous opportunity. I also achieved a Bronze-level award in the National Physics Competition during that time (year 2000).
For those who want to say that these are just “school stuff,” are you sure that if you sit for the competitions, or even SPM or STPM today with your “PhD,” you would still be able to get an “A” in your subject? If yes, and you can prove it by taking an “open certificate” exam if such a thing is allowed these days, then you are worthy of it.
Also, many vernacular school achievement celebrations that I see reported in articles are only at an “elementary school level” in comparison, and I have hardly heard of any of them later making a name at high school level or beyond.
Some educational foundations have excluded me from math circles or competitions, even though I am the highest OMK winner in my community and also the only IMO participant (to date), yet I am not invited or included these days. You may ask them why. I think it may be because I am a Christian and they prefer those of their own religion despite being of the same race, but I could be wrong—they may have excluded me for other reasons.
6) Scholarship
I failed to obtain the JPA scholarship, while the third-ranked student in my school, based on SPM results, won it and went to Purdue University in the USA to study engineering. However, after completing my STPM and having my OMK and IMO results, I did receive the Bank Negara Malaysia scholarship, which I used to pursue a BSc in Actuarial Science at UKM.
I still remember that some private universities locally did not want to offer me any scholarships, citing that they only give them to students with “all As” in SPM or STPM, while overlooking both OMK and IMO, which are far more prestigious individually in the field of mathematics.
7) Math Olympiad
I mentioned before that although I also scored full marks in the highest individual level, called the “Sulong” category at OMK 2002, I was awarded “2nd Place” (individual) because there cannot be two first places, and the other person’s solution was considered better written.
Three of us got “1 mark” at IMO 2002 (including me, an Indian, another Chinese student, and a Malay student). I beat them in OMK 2002, as they did not achieve a top 3 ranking, while I received the result described earlier.
Did you know that both of them went to Cambridge, while I did not even know I could apply? I only found this out a few years ago—one of them dropped out, while the other eventually completed a PhD in Mathematics there.
I would probably have dropped out as well, I think, but dropping out of Cambridge sounds cool, doesn’t it? I missed that opportunity.
I still remember the Schlumberger job I got in those days, where the hiring manager at that time (a high-level position person conducting the final interview), as well as others later when I worked internationally, kept asking more about my Malaysian National Math Olympiad (OMK 2002) and International Math Olympiad (IMO 2002) results than about my degree or anything else.
Why Math Olympiad result is important?
Math Olympiad results cannot be faked if properly graded. For example, even today, not every doctor can obtain an “A” in Biology at STPM or even SPM level. In university or college settings, due to “closed paper grading,” sometimes no one truly knows whether a lecturer simply gives an “A” to students of their own race or gives lower grades to others (only God knows). Both a person with an “A” and a person without an “A” in Biology can still become a doctor. Some people may increase in skill later in life, but not necessarily.
This is also true in religious studies. I know of a prominent pastor who personally told me he failed STPM but eventually went on to obtain a PhD at Fuller Theological Seminary. Likewise, some people in Bible school may not even complete their assignments independently but still receive a pastoral degree and title. I am not judging everyone; however, if even Christians do not regard these things as serious indicators of “holiness,” then my simple reflection is this (which I also ask myself):
How many can say this before Christ without being condemned? I use Bible studies as an example, but it can also be applied to earthly matters:
“If I completed my assignment (or even book or journal paper) through cheating, plagiarism, or not by my own original thought, or if I received grades in a closed system through nepotism (racism bias or denominational bias or religious bias or equivalent)—such as an ‘A’ or a pass without a just and fair system—may I be sent to eternal hell.”
If you are going to tell me such a person was called by God and so his educational ability in Bible school did not matter, and so we just made him pass, then I ask you back this:
If God founded your Bible school (seminary or university) as a means of formal theological education for ordination, which some use to discriminate against me who has no such papers (and so do not want to hire me for church jobs), then by the same logic, why can’t the same God Himself not make your “chosen pastor,” whom you had to “help with nepotism,” do his assignments by himself at an “A level” if God intended the school?
The circular contradiction should be obvious to any average mind.
In case you did not realize, some of the so-called best technical theologians in the world today are even atheists and agnostics, meaning did God choose Harvard, Cambridge, or Oxford also, by which they excelled?
So, accuracy is another aspect, which I explain an answer to in the conclusion later using Christ’s apostles.
Heart and conscience arguments do not work with people whose consciences are seared by nepotism, as the Bible warned:
“Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”— 1 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)
Usually, students who have OMK, IMO, and even Best Student achievements at high school level do not teach tuition classes because they often end up in better jobs in life with those achievements and a degree. However, my case has not turned out in that direction.
Conclusion
Certificate Proofs for the rest of awards may be found in link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gTYbid_qbcHpXC0ohLVFPqWmJj-380yE/view? usp=sharing
The Bible teaches that true wisdom, knowledge, skill, and integrity come from God — not merely from wealth, status, or outward success.
God gives wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and even practical skill through His Spirit:
“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”— Exodus 31:3 (NKJV)
God also grants academic excellence and intellectual ability:
“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”— Daniel 1:17 (NKJV)
“In all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.”— Daniel 1:20 (NKJV)
Even growth in wisdom is part of God’s design for a faithful life:
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”— Luke 2:52 (NKJV)
At the same time, the Bible repeatedly warns that riches and outward success do not necessarily prove God’s approval. Yes, these next verses directly compare being rich and headed for hell with being poor and headed for heaven (both implied), meaning that many can become rich due to nepotism, racism, majority manipulation, non-merit-based systems, bribery, cheating lifestyles, oppression, or similar factors.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” — Proverbs 28:6 (NKJV)
“Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”
— Proverbs 16:8 (NKJV)
“And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”— Matthew 19:24 (NKJV)
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!”— James 5:1 (NKJV)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”— 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)
The Bible also warns that power and systems of authority can involve oppression and injustice, meaning that high-level job positions, high-salary jobs, or equivalents in secular, religious, political, private sectors, NGOs, etc., do not necessarily mean God gave them.
They could come from other causes, which may lead to hell, and each person will know the truth when they die, as shown in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This also shows that righteousness does not guarantee wealth nor health! Verses for these:
“If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.”— Ecclesiastes 5:8 (NKJV)
“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice…”— Isaiah 10:1–2 (NKJV)
i) On earth:
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day…”— Luke 16:19 (NKJV)
ii) Later in the Spirit World:
“And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”— Luke 16:23 (NKJV)
Thoughts to ponder: In spiritual matters, for example, the Apostles were generally not formally educated, yet their doctrine and accuracy in Biblical interpretation were more reliable than the PhD holders of their time (equivalent modern phrasing).
This shows that it is not paper qualifications that matter, but personal accuracy in faith and works (in love) which builds the content of character, which I cannot judge—only God can, and He rewards accordingly. So, God is fair to all Christians in different ways, as seen in Daniel 12:3 regarding heavenly reward or “gradation,” which I have discussed in detail in my books and journal papers.
Overall, Scripture emphasizes that God-given wisdom, integrity, and righteousness matter more than money, status, or outward success, and that true spiritual reality is not always reflected in worldly prosperity.
P/S: Here’s a motivational quote about the Church Father Origen of Alexandria.
[Text] Problem: Origen is commonly accused of heresy, particularly universalism and other errors.
But in the things he got right, this is probably the best description:
“It is impossible to deny a respectful sympathy, veneration and gratitude to this extraordinary man, who, with all his brilliant talents and a best of enthusiastic friends and admirers, was driven from his country, stripped of his sacred office, excommunicated from a part of the church, then thrown into a dungeon, loaded with chains, racked by torture, doomed to drag his aged frame and dislocated limbs in pain and poverty, and long after his death to have his memory branded, his name anathematized, and his salvation denied; but who nevertheless did more than all his enemies combined to advance the cause of sacred learning, to refute and convert heathens and heretics, and to make the church respected in the eyes of the world.
Origen was the greatest scholar of his age, and the most gifted, most industrious, and most cultivated of all the ante-Nicene fathers. Even heathens and heretics admired or feared his brilliant talent and vast learning.” (Prof. Philip Schaff)
Source:
Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 2: Ante-Nicene Christianity, A.D. 100–325 (Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, electronic ed.), accessed May 20, 2026, https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2.all.html.
Philip Schaff was a German-born Reformed Protestant theologian and professor of church history at Union Theological Seminary in New York, a leading 19th-century scholar who systematized Christian history for modern academic study and helped shape English-speaking Protestant scholarship.
Source:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-spm-story-results-math-tuition-class-promotion-ramachandran-jrboe
Thank you for reading!
