By Rehab Halawa and Maryam Al Adan
Grade 12 students at government and private schools following the Ministry of Education and Education curriculum sat their Arabic language examination yesterday as part of the end-of-third-term tests for the 2025–2026 academic year, amid stable organisational conditions and full order in examination halls.
Students in both the general and advanced tracks said the questions were balanced, took individual differences into account, and were pitched at the average student's level, with a limited number of questions measuring comprehension and analytical skills that did not pose a significant challenge for most students.
School administrations confirmed that the examination proceeded calmly and in an orderly manner from the moment students entered the halls until the test concluded, with all technical and administrative requirements in place and students' readiness verified before the start of the exam, contributing to an appropriate environment for sitting the tests.
A number of general-track students noted that the exam was straightforward and clearly worded, drawing on material studied during the term. Questions varied across reading comprehension, texts, grammar, and writing, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their academic levels without complexity. They confirmed they were able to complete their answers before time was up and reviewed them calmly.
Advanced-track students, meanwhile, said the exam maintained its balance, containing questions that measured thinking and analytical skills alongside straightforward questions, all falling within the approved curriculum and framework, with no surprises or ideas outside the scope of what students had studied during the academic year.
School administrations confirmed that the Arabic language exam maintained the approach the ministry has followed in previous examinations, focusing on measuring understanding and comprehension and moving away from questions based on rote memorisation, in line with efforts to develop the assessment system and measure students' genuine learning outcomes.
They noted that the varied levels of questions helped achieve fairness among different categories of students: the average student was able to handle the majority of questions with ease, while certain sections gave higher-achieving students the opportunity to distinguish themselves, enhancing the precision of the assessment process.
Secondary school students in Ajman emirate said the Arabic language exam was easy and clear, characterised by straightforward questions aligned with the ministerial framework. They said the level of the exam helped dispel the anxiety left by the physics exam and restored their confidence ahead of the remaining end-of-year tests.
Some students noted that certain vocabulary questions required greater concentration, though this did not affect the overall ease of the exam.
Student Ali Ayoub Moussa said the exam was very easy and that most questions were direct and clear, noting that some vocabulary items required greater focus but did not present a real difficulty for well-prepared students. He added that he completed the exam with confidence and ease, recording only a minor observation on a single question, and considered the level of the test appropriate for all students.
Student Mohammed Ashraf Al Harbat said the exam matched expectations and aligned closely with the ministerial framework, noting that all questions were logical and free of complexity.
Student Ali Salim Al Zaharaneh said the exam was easy and reasonable, with the majority of questions straightforward, while a limited number required some thought — particularly vocabulary questions where the answer choices were close to one another — adding that this did not affect the flow of answering or the overall level of the exam.
A number of students said the exam took individual differences into account and struck a balance between comprehension and understanding skills, adding that the clarity of the questions gave them a sense of ease and boosted their confidence ahead of upcoming tests.
Grade 12 students are scheduled to continue their examinations according to the approved timetable, with the end-of-third-term tests concluding on Friday, 3 July, with the biology subject, drawing the curtain on the 2025–2026 academic year before results are announced and the summer holiday begins.
The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with school administrations, continues to monitor the progress of examinations in the field to ensure a stable and safe examination environment, allowing students to sit their tests under the best possible conditions, with technical and organisational support continuing until the final day of examinations.