The UAE Ministry of Education has released the 2025–2026 first-term exam schedule for grades 3–12. Exams start November 20 and end December 4.
The UAE Ministry of Education has officially announced the final exam schedule for the first academic term of the 2025–2026 school year. The schedule applies to students from grade three to grade twelve in both public and private schools that follow the ministry’s curriculum.
According to the ministry, exams for Group A subjects, which include the main academic courses, will begin on November 20 and continue until December 4, 2025. There will be a short break during the Eid Al Etihad celebrations to give students some rest. Schools have been instructed to complete the assessment records for Group B subjects by November 14, before the start of the written exams.
This year, the ministry has shared detailed guidelines about exam formats, calculator use, electronic devices, and teacher supervision. Students in grades three and four will take paper-based exams in person, while grade five students across all tracks will also appear for written exams. For grade twelve, some exams, such as English language, will be conducted electronically.
For grades six to twelve, exams may be paper-based or electronic, depending on the subject and the track. Students must bring their own laptops for e-exams. The School Operations Department will oversee all examinations to make sure everything runs fairly and consistently across all schools.
Teachers are not allowed to read out exam questions during tests, except for grade three students. In that case, teachers may read only the questions but not the answers. Grade twelve students from private schools in the general and advanced tracks will take their exams in public school facilities under the supervision of the School Operations Department to maintain equal standards.
The ministry has also issued clear rules for calculator use. In science subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and health sciences, students from grades six to twelve are allowed to use scientific calculators. In mathematics, the rules vary by track. In general and advanced tracks, calculators are not allowed for grades six to nine but are permitted for higher grades. In the elite track, both scientific and graphical calculators are allowed, while students in the applied track must use graphical calculators.
During the chemistry exam, schools will provide printed copies of the periodic table for most students, but elite track students will use the electronic version available on the Swift Assess platform through the Ministry’s Education Media Portal. Schools are also required to enforce strict rules on electronic devices, banning all unauthorized smart tools and allowing only approved equipment to maintain exam integrity.
Grade twelve exams will begin on November 20 with physics for general, advanced, and elite tracks, while applied track students will take applied science on the same day. On November 21, applied track students will appear for applied mathematics, and other tracks will take chemistry. Mathematics exams are scheduled for November 24, followed by English on November 25. The rest of the exams—Arabic, Islamic education, and biology—will continue in the following days, with social studies marking the final exam on December 4.
The ministry has emphasized that all schools must follow these instructions exactly as stated, without any changes. Every exam will be held under the direct supervision of the School Operations Department to ensure fair and equal standards across the UAE.
This clear and well-structured schedule brings relief for students, teachers, and parents who can now plan their studies and revision with confidence. For Pakistani families living in the UAE, this update gives their children a clear roadmap to prepare better and manage time effectively before exams.
The UAE’s education system continues to stand out in the region for its organization, transparency, and focus on academic excellence. With its balanced approach combining traditional and digital exams, the Ministry of Education is once again proving its commitment to providing students with a modern and fair learning environment.
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