UAE pupils rejoice at good A-level and IGCSE results

Thousands of pupils in the UAE celebrated their success after receiving their International A-level and IGCSE results on Thursday.

Tenagers sat these exams in early 2021 and their final scores of international A-levels and AS-levels can be used for university placements.

While the UK government cancelled GCSEs and A-levels because of the pandemic, some international boards conducted modular exams in January for IGCSEs and international A-levels – the global equivalent of UK curriculum exams.

IGCSE is equivalent to the GCSE qualification, which is taken by year 10 to 11 pupils.

And an advanced level or A-level is a qualification offered across a range of subjects to those aged 16 to 18 in years 12 and 13.

With modular courses, pupils can re-sit some of the modules if they fail to get good grades and the results do not influence the final score.

Pearson Edexcel and Oxford AQA – two major UK examination boards – cancelled A-level and international GCSE tests that were due to be held this summer.

At Gems Cambridge International School in Abu Dhabi, 269 pupils received either final grades or modular results.

At the school, 145 pupils sat the year 11 IGCSE maths exam, and 87 per cent of the cohort received grades between nine and four.

For year 13 psychology pupils, 75 per cent of children secured grades A or B in International AS and A-levels.

“I am very happy with the mathematics grades achieved by the pupils,” said Kelvin Hornsby, principal at the Gems Cambridge International School.

“These grades give the teachers a wealth of externally validated evidence.”

Pupils also took tests in International A-levels biology, chemistry, physics, Arabic, and English literature.

Those who sit IGCSEs and international A-levels are assessed throughout the year instead of taking one major exam in the summer.

This differs from the typical UK model, where the main test is taken in summer.