The UAE Ministry of Education has announced a set of regulatory requirements for the make-up examinations of the first semester of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. These rules apply to students in grades 3 to 12 and are intended to ensure discipline and fairness throughout the assessment process. The Ministry outlined these procedures through its official social media channels.
Five Key Requirements
The Ministry stated that the five requirements relate to administering the make up exam only to students who were absent with an accepted excuse from the first semester final exams or those who experienced technical issues during the test. It added:
“The data of absent students or those affected by technical issues must have been previously entered by the school administration into the approved absence and technical fault reporting portal, and officially validated by the School Operations Sector or the relevant educational authority.”
Verification of Student Information
The Ministry added:
“Schools must verify the accuracy and validity of the data of students taking the exams remotely, review their identification documents, and obtain approval from the educational sector before allowing them to sit for the test.”
It also emphasised the importance of following the procedures contained in the Examination Management and Administration Manual without exception. Schools must also notify students and parents of exam dates, noting that no alternative opportunity will be given to those who miss the scheduled make up sessions.
Exam Schedule and Key Dates
The Ministry has attached the official schedules for the make up exams for grades 3 to 12 and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair opportunity for students who could not complete their exams due to valid circumstances or technical issues. According to the schedule, the exams will begin on Monday 8 December. Grade 12 students in the General, Advanced and Elite tracks will sit for the Physics exam from 9am to 10.30am, followed by Social Studies from 10.30am to 11.30am.
English and Chemistry Exams
On Tuesday 9 December, Grade 12 students will take the English Language exam from 9am to 10.30am, which includes both the electronic written and reading components. This will be followed by Chemistry for the General, Advanced and Elite tracks from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Mid Week Assessments
On Wednesday 10 December, the Mathematics exam for all Grade 12 tracks will take place from 9am to 10.30am.
Arabic and Islamic Studies
On Thursday 11 December, Grade 12 students across all tracks will complete the Arabic Language exam from 9am to 10.30am, followed by Islamic Education from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Final Exam Day
The schedule concludes on Friday 12 December with the Biology exam, taken by all tracks in a unified session from 9am to 11am. This marks the end of the first semester make up exams.
Categories Eligible for Make Up Exams
The Ministry had previously confirmed that the make up exams apply to students in grades 3 to 12 in all tracks in public schools and private schools that follow the Ministry curriculum. The exams will take place from 8 to 12 December. According to the Ministry guidelines, the exams are intended for two categories of students.
- Those who were absent from the final exams with an accepted excuse.
- Those who encountered verified technical issues through the IDH platform.
Requirement for In-Person Assessment
The Ministry has reiterated that all students must be physically present at their schools to take every exam, including both paper based and electronic assessments.
Private School Students Included
Students in private schools that follow the Ministry curriculum must take their exams at public schools in coordination with the relevant institutions.
Additional Information on English and Chemistry
The Ministry noted that the Grade 12 English exam consists of two fully electronic components. The Chemistry exam includes a printed periodic table for students in the General and Advanced tracks, while students in the Elite track will access an electronic version through the Swift Assess platform.
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Further Reading:
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- Sheikh Hamdan Approves First Dubai Student Council to Empower Youth to Shape the Future of Education