The end-of-year exams for students, from fifth to 12th grade, in public and private schools that follow the Ministry of Education’s curriculum will begin the day after tomorrow, and will continue until the third of next July.
The Ministry of Education, through the Guide to Combating Cheating and Violation of the Testing System, has identified five channels for monitoring and reporting cases of cheating, and dealing with final examination violations, from confidential reporting to legal referral. These channels include students, staff, those in charge of testing work, those outside the staff, and workers in private schools.
Detailed reporting mechanisms
In detail, the Ministry of Education, in the guide to combating cheating and breaching the testing system, which Emirates Today reviewed, specified detailed mechanisms for reporting and dealing with cases of cheating and breaching the testing system, allocating five main channels to deal with the incidents, according to the character of the violator and the nature of the case.
The first channel relates to violations committed by those in charge of testing, as the school administration or principal is informed of the incident, and an official report is prepared about it before referring it to the school staff to verify the violation. After completing the procedures, the school branch refers the case to the Department of Evaluation and Measuring Student Performance, which in turn transfers it to the Department of Human Capital to take appropriate administrative sanctions against the violating employee. However, if the incident involves suspicion of a criminal offense, it is referred to the Department of Legal Affairs for action. Necessary procedures and informing the competent authorities.
Confidential fraud reporting
The second channel specializes in confidential reporting of cases of cheating or violation of the examination system, as the Ministry has provided several means, including a dedicated electronic link, and the e-mail for the Department of Evaluation and Measurement of Student Performance, in addition to the toll-free number 80037322. The report is required to include the required data and supporting documents, before a specialized committee undertakes to study and verify the case. If the violation is proven to be an employee, it is referred to the Human Capital Department or Legal Affairs, according to its nature, while the violation is referred to Committed by a student to the school branch to complete the procedures according to the Student Behavior Management Regulations.
Inside the exam room
As for the third channel, it deals with cases of fraud or violations that are caught inside the examination hall, where the first observer is obligated to inform the second observer immediately, document the incident, and collect the necessary evidence, including notes, photos, or any supporting documents.
The suspected student is also transferred to another hall under supervision, and the competent regulatory authority in the school is notified to investigate and take appropriate measures. This is completed by preparing a “case report of cheating or exam violation,” informing the guardian and having him sign the report, then applying the Student Conduct Regulations, and referring the case to the Department of Evaluation and Student Performance Measurement to approve the final decision.
Outside the workforce
In the fourth channel, which concerns violators outside the staff, the school administration is responsible for verifying the incident and referring it to the Department of Evaluation and Measuring Student Performance, before transferring it to the Department of Legal Affairs, which takes the necessary legal measures and addresses the competent authorities if it becomes clear that there is a suspicion of a criminal offense.
Reports of any violation
As for the fifth channel, it includes those in charge of testing work in private schools that implement the Ministry of Education’s curriculum, where a report is submitted on any violation or violation that is monitored to the competent authorities in the Ministry and the Department of Evaluation and Measurement of Student Performance, in a way that ensures unified oversight and examination procedures in all schools that implement the ministerial curriculum.
These measures reflect a strict oversight approach that aims to close outlets for tampering, enhance the responsibility of all parties within the testing system, and establish the principle of equal opportunities among students, through a clear system of reporting, investigation, and accountability.
Final tasks and projects
In a related context, students in grades five to 12 take exams for Group (A) subjects, while the final tasks and projects for group (B) subjects were completed during the period from June 15 to 19. In return, the school summative assessment (SSA) is applied to students in the third and fourth grades in all academic subjects, as an alternative to the central exams for the end of the third semester of the academic year 2025-2026.
According to the general guidelines for the end-of-year exams, which Emirates Today reviewed, the tests are administered electronically for grades five to 12 in all tracks, in public and private schools through physical attendance at school.
Electronic written test
It is scheduled to implement an electronic written test for the English language subject for the 12th grade, and all students must bring their computers to school during the exam period.
The directives stressed that it is not allowed for central exam questions to be read by teachers, and that 12th grade students registered in private schools that follow the ministry’s curriculum must take all their exams in public public education schools, taking into account spatial distribution, and under joint supervision and coordination with the coordinators of the school operations sector.
Exam timing and duration
The duration of the exam is two full hours for all subjects and for students of various tracks. It begins at 12:00 noon and ends at 2:00, allowing students sufficient time to answer all questions and review their answers. The exception is the English language test, as it is divided into two parts: writing for an hour and a half (12:00–1:30), and reading for an hour (1:30–2:30).
• Not allowing teachers to read central exam questions to students.
• “12” students in private schools take their exams in “government” schools.
