The SPM 2026 written papers run from 23 November to 17 December 2026, according to the Education Ministry’s timetable released on 18 August. Last year’s results came out on 31 March, so if the pattern holds, you will have about three months with no exams and no results. If you are thinking about a film course, those months are a good time to test the idea and plan it properly.
Why the waiting months matter
Most students spend the first weeks after SPM resting, and they should. After that, the days can drift, and it is easy to reach results day with no plan and then rush a choice in a few weeks.
A film course is easy to plan in advance, because most of the planning does not depend on your grades. You can try the work, see campuses and compare schools long before your results slip arrives.
December: rest, then make one small video
Take the first week or two off. Sleep, see friends and do nothing useful for a while.
Then make one short video. Keep it simple: one minute, shot on your phone, about something you know well. A family dinner, your neighbourhood at night or a friend teaching you a recipe all work. Edit it with a free app on your phone or laptop. Our guide to choosing editing software for your first film course lists the main options.
This first video does two jobs. It shows you whether you enjoy the work when nobody is grading it. It also gives you something to show when you visit a film school.
January: try a short workshop
In January, sign up for a short film workshop. Many film schools run them online or on campus, covering camera work, editing or lighting in a day or a few sessions.
A workshop is a cheap test. Pay attention to how you feel during it. Do you lose track of time while editing? Do you enjoy working with the group on a shoot? Or do you keep checking your phone? Each answer tells you something about whether a full film course is right for you.
If you want to practise between sessions, our guide to lighting without expensive gear shows what you can do with a lamp and a window.
February: visit campuses and compare
By February, you should have a feel for the work. Now compare two or three schools that offer a full film course.
Visit each campus if you can. Look at the cameras and editing rooms, ask to see student projects and ask how many hours a week students spend shooting and editing. Some schools also offer a demo class. One film school in Skudai, Johor, invites students to visit before applying and can arrange a class or demonstration.
For each school, write down the entry requirements, the course length, the certificates and the full fees. Ask for these in writing. If the schools are in different cities, our comparison of studying film in Johor or KL will help.
March: talk money and timing with your family
Before results arrive, sit down with your parents and go through what you found. Show them your video, the workshop work and your notes from each campus.
Talk about money openly. Many film schools do not publish fees online, so bring the figures you were given. Ask the schools about instalment plans and scholarships before this talk, so you can bring those answers too. The school in Skudai says its scholarships and payment plans depend on what is available, which is a good reason to ask early.
Also talk about timing. When does each course start? How long does it run? The full programme at the school in Skudai runs for 18 months and ends with a UK Advanced Diploma and the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia.
When your results arrive
On results day, you will already know what you want to do if your plan still feels right. Check whether your results change anything.
At some film schools, results are only one part of the picture. The school in Skudai lists SPM, STPM and UEC students, people who left school at 16 or older and working adults among those who can join, with no minimum number of SPM credits listed and no experience needed. Other schools set their own rules, so check each one.
If your results open a door you had not expected, compare it with the film course side by side before you decide. Either way, you will be choosing with real information.
What else to do while you wait
You do not need to spend every week on film. Some useful extras:
- Get your driving licence. Film shoots can happen in places without good public transport.
- Take a part-time job, ideally one where you meet people, such as retail or events.
- Help at a wedding, event or church function by filming it for free, if the organisers agree.
- Read the credits at the end of a film you like, and look up what each job means.
Each of these builds independence, people skills or real experience behind the camera.
Start this week
Your results are months away, and you can start now. Make your first one-minute video this week. Then look at a film course in Johor that runs workshops and campus visits, and book one for January.
常见问题
What should I do after SPM while waiting for results?
Rest first, then use the months to test what you want to study. If you are interested in film, make a short video, try a workshop, visit two or three schools and talk through costs with your family before results day.
When will SPM 2026 results come out?
No date has been announced yet. SPM 2025 results came out on 31 March 2026, so SPM 2026 results may come out around March 2027. Watch the Education Ministry for the official date.
Can I start a film course before my SPM results?
It depends on the school. Ask each school whether it accepts students before results are out, or whether it needs your results slip first.
Is a short film workshop worth it before a full course?
Often, yes. A workshop is a cheap way to see whether you enjoy camera and editing work before you commit to a longer course.
What can I do for film without any equipment?
Start with your phone and a free editing app. Practise with window light and simple stories, and keep everything you make.
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