UAE pupils beat odds to gain A-level success
A-level exams were tougher than ever this year but pupils in the UAE celebrated their performances and entry to colleges of their choice.
At Jumeirah College in Dubai, parents and pupils paced, nervously waiting for results to be announced. Books listing the grades of sixth-form pupils alphabetically were produced and families queued to find out if their child’s hard work had paid off.
Families celebrated with top institutions such as the University of Oxford, Harvard University, Yale University and London School of Economics on the horizon.
A-level examinations have recently been reformed to have a linear exam model, where previously exams were conducted in a modular fashion. And there was no rest – pupils also faced additional material to study for various subjects.
With the new A-levels, course content has been increased, which means children have an extended syllabus or information to study.
Previously, children would take their A-levels in chunks, but now everything is dependent on the final exams.
In modular exams, the course is divided into different units with an exam at the end of each section. In a linear
exam, the examinations are taken only at the end of the course.
Simon Corns, the headmaster at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, said this year’s A-level results at his school were outstanding.
Sixty-nine pupils at the school took the exams this year and 42 per cent of all grades achieved were A*, A or equivalent. Seventy-six per cent of all grades achieved were A* to B and 95 per cent of all grades achieved were A* to C.
It marks an improvement for the school since last year and one pupil, Edward Garemo, received eight A*s.
“I think the pupils have responded very well to the A-level changes, even though the exams are tougher because you have to retain the knowledge over two years,” Mr Corns said.
Dubai British School had 56 pupils take A levels this year, and 40 per cent of the grades were between A* and A, up from 37 per cent last year. Sixty-nine per cent were A* to B, up from last year by 2 per cent.
Simon O’Connor, principal of Jumeirah College, said 138 pupils sat more than 400 A levels at the school and 11 per cent achieved an A*, with 41 per cent at either A* or A grade.
Two pupils achieved straight A* grades, with just under 20 per cent achieving all A* and A grades.
“Over the past three years, the entire curriculum has changed. Everything we teach is different.
“These are new specifications this year and our staff is teaching a course they haven’t taught before. Earlier, children would take their A levels in chunks but now everything is dependent on the final exams.
“The expectations from A levels is much greater than it has been in the past in terms of the knowledge required and the way pupils are tested,” Mr O’Connor said.
Khadijah Sharjil Anwar, 17, from Pakistan, who achieved four A*s, was ecstatic.
“The exams were during Ramadan and I was fasting. I did not expect this. I never worked so hard before,” said Ms Anwar, who is heading to Princeton University to study public health policy.
“The exams were tough and I was baffled by so many of the questions,” she said.
Jumeirah College pupil Wahaj Munir, 18, also from Pakistan, was delighted with his scores and he is now able to study medicine in London. The pupil achieved As in chemistry, physics and maths.
His mother, Noor Fatima Munir, said she was extremely nervous and happy that her son had been accepted at medical school. Fellow Jumeirah College pupil Tatiana Watrelot, 18, from France, said she was hoping to study psychology at University College London after scoring an A* in the subject.
The pupil said she found the new A levels tricky but teachers helped her out.
Amber Harding, 18, from Wales, a pupil at Al Yasmina Academy in Abu Dhabi, achieved two A*s and two As.
“I’m going to study biomedical sciences in The Netherlands and then apply for a medical course in Europe. All of it was hard work, regardless of changes. I don’t mind one examination but it’s a lot of pressure,” Ms Harding said.
Zaid Jaffrey from Al Yasmina Academy, who earned two A*s and an A, said: “This is a great feeling. I already knew my predicted grades so wasn’t completely surprised, but it’s still so exciting to achieve at this level.”
He will be studying electrical engineering at Imperial College London.
Dr Tim Hughes, Al Yasmina Academy’s principal, said 38 pupils took the exams and all of them passed.
“A levels are getting tougher and the pressure on pupils is hugely challenging. Pupils have surpassed expectations. This constant change brings challenges as teachers and pupils have to get their heads around new specifications,” he said.
Eighty-seven per cent of pupils achieved one or more A* to C grades, 71 per cent of them also received one or more A* to B grades – a 3 per cent increase over last year’s results.
The expectations from A levels is much greater than it has been in the past in terms of the knowledge required SIMON O’CONNOR Principal, Jumeirah College