The end of the second semester exams start on March 2… and strict procedures regarding devices, phones, and adherence to the dress code

The administrations of public and private schools that implement the Ministry of Education’s curriculum announced the details and procedures for the school summative assessment (SSA) for the end of the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, stressing that all tests will be held in person inside the school in accordance with regulatory controls aimed at ensuring discipline and equal opportunities among students.

In circulars and school letters addressed to parents and students, seen by Emirates Today, the schools explained that the test schedules and the structure of each test were published through the official communication channels for each academic stage, calling on students and parents to follow them continuously.

The departments indicated that the tests will begin next Monday, March 2, during the school day, with school hours continuing normally, noting that no student will be allowed to take the test if he has not attended since the beginning of the school day.

She confirmed that the test time is 80 minutes, equivalent to two study sessions, distributed between the electronic and paper parts according to the nature of each subject. She explained that tests for science, physics, mathematics, Arabic and English will be held in a system that combines paper and electronic, while tests for Islamic education, social studies, chemistry and biology will be taken entirely electronically.

As for students in grades five to eight, their tests will be entirely paper-based. For third year students from ninth to twelfth grade, the ministerial device must be brought with the charger, and in the event of a malfunction, a personal “laptop” can be used, provided that it is free of any social media programs, while the use of “iPad” devices to take the test is prohibited.

The administrations stressed the need to adhere to the regulations inside the examination hall, as students are required to bring only a blue ballpoint pen to write on the examination paper, and the use of any other color or white eraser will not be allowed, and students must provide a calculator in the subjects that require it, while the exchange of calculators inside the hall is prohibited.

With regard to electronic devices, the administrations confirmed the prohibition of bringing mobile phones or smart watches into the school campus, explaining that any device found with the student – even if it is switched off – will be confiscated for a full month, with the guardian informed and summoned to sign the violation, based on Ministerial Resolution No. (851) of 2018 regarding the regulations for managing student behavior in public education institutions, specifically Article (17), Clause (13). She also warned that she would not keep any device left with the administration, calling on students to leave their devices at home or in the car.

She confirmed that in the event of late attendance, a behavioral violation will be issued, and if the delay is repeated, the student may not be allowed to enter, and a zero will be assigned to him in the subject according to the approved regulations. The departments concluded their circular by emphasizing their keenness to provide an organized and safe testing environment, wishing success to all students.

According to the schedules, students in the twelfth grade, in its general and advanced tracks, will begin the end-of-semester exams of the second semester on Monday, March 2, by taking the mathematics test “paper and electronic” from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The next day, Tuesday, March 3, they take the English language exam “paper and electronic” at the same time, followed by the Arabic language exam “paper and electronic” on Wednesday, March 4, from 11:00 to 12:30.

On Thursday, March 5, students will take the Islamic Education exam “electronically” from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. Exams will resume on Monday, March 9, with physics “on paper and electronically” from 11:00 to 12:30, followed by social studies “electronically” on Tuesday, March 10 at the same time, then biology “electronically” on Wednesday, the 11th, so that general track students will conclude their exams.

Meanwhile, advanced track students will conclude their exams on Thursday, March 12, in chemistry “electronically.”