The UAE Ministry of Education has confirmed that central end-of-term exams must be taken in person at school, with remote sittings permitted only in narrowly defined circumstances: students of determination in relevant cases, medically approved conditions, and students outside the country for an accepted reason with prior school approval.
The clarification came through a frequently asked questions guide aimed at students and parents, covering assessment procedures, pass requirements, promotion criteria, and how to obtain academic certificates.
Central exams apply to students from grade 3 through grade 12. First-term exams cover learning outcomes from that term only, while the third-term exam draws on outcomes from both the third and second terms.
The ministry distinguishes between two groups of subjects. The first covers core subjects including Arabic, English, mathematics, sciences, Islamic education, and social studies, with grades counting toward the student’s final average. The second group includes computing, creative design and innovation, arts, physical and health education, and a third language, none of which feed into the final total.
Students who miss an exam must notify their school immediately. Make-up sittings are available only for accepted and approved absences, such as medical reasons, technical problems preventing completion of an electronic exam, or certain exceptional humanitarian circumstances.
On academic integrity, the ministry stated that cheating is treated as a serious violation, resulting in a zero for the subject involved. A repeat offence results in a zero across all core group subjects, alongside penalties under student conduct regulations.
Unexcused absence carries its own risks. Students who accumulate more than 15 days of unjustified absence may be held back from promotion to the next grade, even if their academic marks meet the pass threshold.
Resit exams are available to students in grades 4 through 12 who fall below the minimum pass mark in core subjects. Each student receives one resit opportunity per subject, with no alternative or replacement sittings available.
Promotion from grade 4 upward requires passing all core subjects, meeting the minimum grade, and staying within the permitted unexcused absence limit.
Certificates for grades 1 through 11 are issued in letter-grade format only. Grade 12 certificates carry both numerical and letter grades in core subjects, given their use in university admissions. All certificates are issued electronically through the student portal and are digitally certified for use with official bodies within the UAE.
