UAE schools to begin final exams for Academic Year 2024–2025 on June 10

Abu Dhabi: Final exams for the third and final term of the 2024–2025 academic year will commence on Tuesday, June 10, and continue through June 19. The examinations will cover students from Grades 3 to 12 across all educational tracks—General, Advanced, Applied, and Elite—at public and private schools that follow the Ministry of Education curriculum.

According to the official academic calendar for the current year, final exam results will be announced between June 30 and July 2. Re-sit exams are scheduled to take place from July 4 to 10, with the results of those exams to be released on July 14.

Summer vacation for students across all educational levels will begin on June 30. For teaching, technical, and administrative staff, the summer break will start on July 14, following the announcement of re-sit exam results.

The Ministry of Education has issued a set of general guidelines to ensure that final exams for the third term of the 2024–2025 academic year are conducted smoothly, efficiently, and in an orderly manner across all schools in the UAE.

School administrations across the Emirates have circulated the Anti-Cheating and Examination Integrity Guidelines to students and their parents, urging strict adherence to the instructions and directives outlined in the document. This initiative precedes the final examinations scheduled from June 10 to 19 for students in Grades 3 to 12.

The measure reflects a firm commitment to fostering academic integrity and ensuring that examinations are conducted with the highest standards of transparency. 

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the guide, issued for the 2024–2025 academic year, serves as a binding legal and procedural reference aimed at promoting a culture of honesty and fairness in exam settings. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to develop a generation that is both competitive and innovative, within an equitable and transparent educational system. 

The guide, which has been distributed to all parents, clearly states that any attempt to cheat, leak exam questions, or use unauthorised means—whether conventional or digital, inside or outside the examination halls—constitutes a serious violation warranting disciplinary action. These provisions apply not only to students but also to examination staff and any individual involved in facilitating breaches of exam protocol. 

According to the guidelines, penalties for students start with deductions in behavioral scores and may escalate to a grade of zero in one or more subjects in the case of repeated violations. Other measures include summoning the parent or guardian and referring the student to behavioral assessment programmes where necessary. For staff, disciplinary measures range from formal warnings and salary deductions to dismissal from service or referral to legal authorities. 

The guidelines also contain explicit warnings against the use of electronic devices in exam halls, sharing information through social media, or any gestures or signals intended to communicate with peers. The use of unauthorized printed or digital materials is strictly prohibited.

The Ministry has instructed school administrations to continuously raise awareness among students and their families about the contents and objectives of the guidelines. Responsibilities must be clearly distributed among examination committees and supervisors to ensure rigorous enforcement and uphold exam integrity. The Ministry has also encouraged the reporting of violations through official channels, including a dedicated link, email address, and toll-free number.

The Ministry stressed that combating cheating is a collective responsibility that requires full societal cooperation. It called upon all stakeholders to contribute to building a disciplined educational environment, free from negative behaviors, and one that upholds values of excellence and fairness, empowering students to achieve genuine success through their own efforts.

The Ministry of Education has directed schools to implement a comprehensive and integrated plan in preparation for the end-of-term examinations for the 2024–2025 academic year in public schools. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to the highest standards of precision, organization, and academic and technical discipline to ensure a model conclusion to the school year.

The Ministry has distributed a detailed guide outlining this plan to school administrations. The plan consists of five key stages: preparing the exam environment and centers, downloading question papers from central platforms, verifying technical systems and data accuracy, training teachers in electronic invigilation and marking, and preparing contingency plans to address any malfunctions or exceptional circumstances.

The plan also outlines the formation of specialized working groups, including: technical support teams, data management units, exam coordinators, committee supervisors, safety and security officers, and dedicated teams for printing and auditing papers required for exceptional cases.

 The Ministry’s guide further emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and supportive examination environment—both psychologically and physically—by ensuring adequate air conditioning and lighting, appropriate seating arrangements to maintain privacy, and offering psychological support, particularly for anxious students and students of determination. Health and safety protocols issued by the relevant authorities must also be strictly observed.

In accordance with Federal Decree Law No. (33) of 2023 regarding combating cheating and violations of exam regulations, Article (6) of the law stipulates that:

      1.    A fine not exceeding AED 200,000 shall be imposed on any individual, other than a student, who commits any of the following acts before, during, or after an exam—whether inside or outside the exam centre:

      •     a. Printing, publishing, promoting, transmitting, or leaking exam-related information—including questions, answers, or content—by any means with the intent of cheating or compromising exam integrity.

      •     b. Illegally and intentionally modifying a student’s answer or grade.

      •     c. Impersonating a student for the purpose of taking an exam on their behalf.

      2.    The same penalties shall apply to anyone other than students who participates in or contributes to the commission of any of the above acts, knowingly and by any means, whether as a principal or accomplice.

      3.    Upon conviction, the court may order the confiscation of any items used in or intended for use in committing acts of cheating or compromising exam systems. The court may also order the closure of any commercial establishment that provided such items, without prejudice to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.

      4.    The court may also impose community service for a period not exceeding six (6) months in lieu of the fine, or in conjunction with a fine, for a period not exceeding three (3) months.

Article (7): Disciplinary procedures

All ministries, educational authorities, and institutions must establish conduct regulations to implement the provisions of this law. These regulations must specify the disciplinary procedures and decisions applicable in cases of breaches, as well as procedures and timelines for appeals.

Article (8): Disciplinary measures for students and exam personnel

      1.    If a student commits any act of cheating or compromises exam regulations, disciplinary measures shall be applied in accordance with the conduct regulations enforced by the Ministry, educational authorities, and institutions.

      2.    Without prejudice to the sanctions in Article (6), exam personnel who violate the provisions of this law shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the established conduct regulations of the Ministry, relevant authorities, and institutions. 

 Public school administrations across various Emirates have called upon parents and guardians to adhere to the regulations concerning student dismissal during the end-of-year examinations for the third academic term of 2024–2025, taking place from 10 to 19 June. Parents are required to arrange official exit permits for their children to allow them to board private vehicles following the completion of their exams.

According to a circular distributed to all parents, school administrations have specified that parents must print the pre-approved exit permit form from the school, sign it, and attach a recent passport-sized photograph of the student. Students must carry this permit with them each day during the examination period and present it upon request to ensure an orderly and secure dismissal process.

Schools have emphasized the importance of following these procedures to maintain a smooth and efficient system, underscoring the need for both students and parents to comply with the outlined instructions. These measures aim to safeguard the wellbeing of students and ensure a well-organized dismissal process during exam days.

The administrations have expressed their appreciation for the cooperation of both school staff and parents in implementing these directives, reaffirming their commitment to providing a safe and structured environment throughout the final examination period.

This initiative forms part of public schools’ ongoing efforts to enhance student safety and manage the post-exam departure process in line with the guidelines issued by the relevant educational authorities.

Schools have also stressed that students who fail to present the required permit may experience delays or may not be permitted to leave the premises unless official procedures are followed. Parents are therefore urged to cooperate fully and adhere to the announced regulations. For further information, parents are encouraged to contact the relevant school administration or refer to the previously distributed approved forms.

The Ministry of Education has informed school administrations and parents that examinations for Grade 3 and Grade 4 students will be conducted on paper, with mandatory in-person attendance at schools. Students in Grades 5 and 9, across all academic tracks (General and Advanced), will take their exams both on paper and electronically at public and private schools, with compulsory physical attendance.

The Ministry’s procedures and guidelines state that students from Grade 5 to Grade 12 will undergo exams that combine both paper-based and electronic formats, depending on the subject and academic track. Students are required to bring their personal electronic devices (laptops) during the examination period to complete the electronic components.

The Ministry of Education emphasized that teachers are not allowed to read central examination questions to students, except for Grade 3 students. In such cases, teachers may read the question text aloud without providing any explanation or guidance on the answer, in order to ensure fairness and transparency.

The Ministry clarified that Grade 12 students enrolled in private schools will take their exams in public schools under the direct supervision of educational branch coordinators, in coordination with school administrations.