End-of-semester certificates get descriptive makeover - Emirates Schools Establishment

DINA JOUNY (ALETIHAD)

The Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) has affirmed that the end-of-semester certificates for students in government schools from grades three to 11 will be issued descriptively, using letters exclusively, for all subjects falling under Groups A and B, encompassing both theoretical and practical disciplines.

These certificates will elucidate the descriptive criteria associated with the grading scale.
It has been clarified that for students in the 12th grade, their grades will be documented using both numerical and letter formats. However, subjects categorized under Group B (practical) will be assessed solely using letters and will not contribute to the student's cumulative GPA across all grades.

In terms of grading scales, there are 16 grades allocated for grades one through eight across all educational pathways, in contrast to the 13 grades designated for grades nine through twelve.

Furthermore, the establishment has highlighted that students in the first, second, and third grades are mandated to maintain a minimum attendance of 65% of school days or undergo assessment procedures during each of the three academic terms as a fundamental prerequisite for progression.

It has been stated that a student advances to the subsequent grade upon successful completion of all subjects within Group A (core) and attainment of at least the stipulated minimum grades. Failure to pass any subject within this group after the re-evaluation necessitates the student to repeat the grade.

Moreover, the ESE has underscored that a student failing to achieve the minimum passing grade in more than three subjects from Group A is ineligible to partake in the re-examination but must repeat the grade. They are afforded a single opportunity to retake the re-examination for each subject at the conclusion of the academic year.

The minimum passing grade for success (50 in the first and second terms and 60 in the third term) is established for students undertaking the re-examination, regardless of whether the grade obtained is higher.