UAE student gets perfect Arabic score
dubai — A Dubai-based student achieved the highest score in the world for her Arabic GCSE, scoring a complete 300.
Athija Obaid AlMheiri, a Repton School Dubai student, said she started studying about a month before the exam, going through several past papers to understand the exam technique.
“It helped me know what the examiner was looking for. I expected to get a high score but honestly not a full mark,” the 15-year-old said. For the UN Arabic Language Day, AlMheiri said Arabic is important to learn and speak since it is the language of the Holy Quran.
“It is a means of communication across the Arab world, which has a population of more than 300 million. Being a major part of the culture, speaking the language is also a way to enjoy the Arab civilisation,” she said.
AlMheiri said the main habit that could help students preserve and strengthen their Arabic is reading. “Reading will help students learn new vocabulary and strengthen speaking and writing skills. So, read as much as you can,” she said.
AlMheiri received a commendation from the chairman of Repton Dubai’s board of governors, Khaled AlMheiri.
David Cook, headmaster at Repton School, said AlMheiri’s achievement will inspire other students to study hard in Arabic.
“Her achievement is proof that hard work and a keen desire to learn, coupled with dedicated teaching, can result in worldclass results.”