UAE Students React With Fear and Relief as British Exams Cancelled

Students across the United Arab Emirates have expressed mixed emotions after major British exam boards cancelled examinations in the region due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Oxford AQA, Cambridge Assessment International Education and Pearson announced that exams for students in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain would not go ahead, citing disruption linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

A Lost Opportunity for Some Students

For many students, the decision carries significant academic consequences.

Dubai based student Valrani, 17, described the cancellation of his AS level exams as a setback.

“I am in Year 12, and the predicted grades in this year are vital for university applications. This year because the exams are cancelled, the grade we get will be more portfolio-based. It is indeed a lost opportunity, and I hope it won’t be something that will cost me a university seat.”

He added that he plans to use the summer to revisit key topics in preparation for his A level exams next year.

Gap Year Concerns Emerge

The uncertainty has also affected students planning their next steps after school.

One Year 13 student said the cancellations would force him to delay his university plans.

“I did not score as well as I would have liked for my AS level exams and was meant to resit those in May this year,” he said. “However, in this circumstance, those exams have been cancelled as well. This means I will not be able to get into the university I want. So, I will take a gap year and then figure out what to do from there. It is very unfortunate, and I am still trying to wrap my head around it.”

Students typically complete IGCSE examinations before progressing to the two year A Level programme, which includes AS and A2 stages.

Relief and Disappointment Among Final Year Students

For others, the announcement has brought a mix of relief and disappointment.

Twins Rohan and Rhea Nihalani, Year 13 students in Dubai, said they had already secured university placements in the United States but had differing reactions.

“I am relieved that I don’t have to worry about writing a final exam and preparing for it,” said Rohan. “I can now focus on preparing for my university. However, if I had known that my mock exams were going to be the last exams I ever write in school, I might have prepared a little bit better.”

Rhea shared her disappointment.

“I had worked really hard for my literature paper,” she said. “I was looking forward to it. Also, I feel like I have been robbed of a proper graduation experience of preparing for the exams and the relief after it is over. Hopefully, we get to have a graduation ceremony afterwards.”

Uncertainty Over Grading

Younger students have also raised concerns about how their final grades will be determined.

Year 11 student Damien Dexter Goveas said the situation has created anxiety about future subject choices.

“I am concerned about whether I will meet the thresholds to get the subjects I want for my A-levels. Right now, it is not very clear how schools will decide the final grade. So, I am nervous.”

He added that he hopes teachers will consider the difficulty of mock examinations when awarding grades.

“For the IGCSEs, the national average is taken into consideration when giving a grade. However, in the case of mock exams, there is nothing like that. Also, it is something that affects just a small part of the world, unlike Covid, when everyone was facing the same situation. So I am just hoping and praying that not being able to write these exams won’t alter my subject or career choices.”

Wider Impact Across Education Boards

The decision by British exam boards follows similar moves by other international curricula, including Central Board of Secondary Education, Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and the International Baccalaureate, all of which have cancelled exams in the region due to the same circumstances.

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