Before the STPM was introduced in Malaysia, students in Form 6 were sitting for the Cambridge Higher School Certificate. During that period the HSC was the minimum entry qualification to enter local universities. Until today the STPM has been accepted as the minimum entry qualification for degree programmes at local universities. However, many ignorant people feel that the STPM is not equivalent to the A-levels. This is not true.
Many countries have their own Pre-U examinations.
In Canada it is termed as Year 12 or Grade 13. Many students feel that it is very difficult to pass the STPM compared to the A-levels. Some feel that the marking scheme for those who sit for STPM is not fair, so they prefer to take the A-levels. Then there are also those who doubt that STPM will be accepted by foreign universities. Ignorant students can come up with many more reasons, if they want to.