18 A's in the exams but Nadia is not happy
Student Nadia Jamil, 17, scored A's in 18 subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, the country's equivalent of the O-level examinations, but she is not happy.
She wanted to score 19 A's and set a national record in the annual examinations that critics say have become a show like Akademi Fantasia, the hugely popular Malaysian version of the American Idol television programme.
'I am disappointed with the results,' she said after receiving the examinations slip, which also was distributed to 300,000 other students on Monday.
Nadia tried to beat the record set by Nur Amalina who scored 17 straight A's in 2005 and became an instant celebrity.
An A result in Malaysia can either be an A1 or an A2. While Amalina scored 17 A1s, Nadia did not beat her with her 18 A's as she scored 14 A1s and four A2s.
Amalina had signed contracts to sell study aids, her 'secret' of success and made a television appearance before heading to London on a government scholarship to study science.
Since then many students have tried to match or top Amalina's record by sitting for more than 17 subjects and hoping to get all A's in the exams.
Nadia sat for 19 subjects. No student has yet attempted to take all 21 subjects that are included in the examinations.
The minimum subjects necessary for a certificate is 12 but officials say most students sit for 15 subjects ranging from the sciences, mathematics and languages to Islamic studies.
Last week posters and banners were strung up in Rengit, Nadia's home in Johore state, hailing her impending achievement.
Nadia had even written two books - My Diary and Road to Excellence - to cash in on the instant popularity, so there were red faces all round after she scored a B in English.
