A total of 565 candidates of the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) in 2016 scored the national Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) of 4.00 or four flat, an increase of 0.51 per cent compared to 335 candidates in 2015.

Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Professor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said candidate performance in STPM 2016 showed an increase, with the national CGPA having risen to 2.71, as compared to 2.65 in 2015.

He said the number of those who scored a CGPA of 3.00 and above also rose to 16,263 students last year as compared to 14,263 candidates the previous year.

He added the number of candidates who obtained a CGPA of 2.75 and above had also risen from 20,359 students in 2015 to 22,407 students last year.

"With the spike in the number of candidates who scored a CGPA of 2.75 and above, I expect better chances for STPM 2016 leavers to gain entry into public universities," said Mohamed Mustafa when announcing the STPM result analysis here today.

Mohamed Mustafa said the performance of the 43,235 candidates who sat for STPM 2016 surpassed all previous results since the STPM new modular was introduced in 2013.

In the meantime, he said a total of 11 candidates scored 5As in the five subjects taken, while candidates who took five subjects but scored four A's stood at 47.

There were a total of 517 candidates who obtained four A's in all four subjects taken, bringing the total number of candidates who obtained five A's and four A's in the STPM 2016 to 575 as compared to 339, the previous year.

Mohamed Mustafa said the national CGPA for science stream candidates was 2.73, while CGPA for social science stream stood at 2.71.

However, he added, the CGPA of candidates for both streams indicated similar increase at 0.07 points as compared to STPM results in 201 -- Bernama