UAE Approves First-Term Final Exam Schedule for Schools Across the Country

The Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates has officially approved the final examination schedule for the first academic term of the 2025–2026 school year. The timetable covers students from Grades 3 to 12 in both public and private schools that follow the national curriculum. The announcement provides clear exam dates, formats, and specific guidelines for each grade level to ensure smooth and fair assessments.

According to the approved schedule, exams for Group A subjects, which include the main academic disciplines, will begin on Thursday, November 20, 2025, and continue until Thursday, December 4, 2025. The exams will pause temporarily for the Eid Al Etihad holidays. Group B subjects, which include non-core academic courses, must have their assessment records completed by November 14, 2025, ahead of the written exam period.

For Grade 12 students across all tracks general, advanced, elite, and applied the exams will start with Physics (or Applied Science for applied track) on November 20. Chemistry and Applied Mathematics will follow on November 21, Mathematics on November 24, and English on November 25. Arabic and Islamic Education will take place on November 26 and 27 respectively, while Biology and Social Studies will conclude the session by December 4, 2025.

The ministry confirmed that Grades 3 and 4 will take paper-based exams in person. Similarly, Grade 5 students in both public and private schools will also complete paper-based assessments. From Grades 6 to 12, the exams will be either paper-based or electronic, depending on the subject and educational track. Grade 12 students will sit for electronic exams in English language, and all students taking online assessments are required to bring their own laptops.

To maintain exam integrity, the ministry also issued strict rules. Teachers are not allowed to read exam questions aloud to students, except in Grade 3, where they may only read the questions not the answers. Additionally, calculator usage has been defined clearly: scientific calculators are permitted for science subjects in Grades 6 to 12 across all tracks. In mathematics, calculators are not allowed in Grades 6 to 9 for the general and advanced tracks but may be used in higher grades. The elite track allows both scientific and graphical calculators, while the applied track will use graphical calculators only.

Schools are instructed to fully comply with the ministry’s exam regulations without any modifications. The move aims to create uniformity across all UAE schools, ensuring fairness and equality for all students regardless of the educational stream.

This schedule gives students, parents, and schools enough time to prepare for the upcoming term. It also reflects the UAE’s ongoing efforts to modernize education by integrating technology into exams while maintaining academic discipline and standards. Parents are advised to help students prepare early, ensure that all required devices are ready, and encourage consistent study routines leading up to the exams.

With this structured plan, the Ministry of Education aims to promote an organized, transparent, and stress-free exam period. The clear schedule and detailed guidelines highlight the country’s focus on maintaining high academic standards and smooth operations throughout the first term of the 2025–2026 school year.

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