UAE announces cancellation of EmSAT for Grade 12 students

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have announced the immediate cancellation of the EmSAT exam for 12th-grade students and the implementation of revised university admission criteria.

The test will no longer be required as part of the admission criteria for twelfth grade students into higher education, and the admission requirements specific to each university will suffice, according to the academic specialisation the student wishes to study.

The decision is designed to facilitate a seamless transition to higher education, enabling students to pursue their ambitions, while giving universities flexibility in setting their admissions criteria.

In addition, admission to medical and engineering programmes will now prioritise students' science subjects grades rather than overall scores.

Following the approval of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have announced the immediate cancellation of the EmSAT exam for 12th-grade students and the… pic.twitter.com/FKOwZ5kJv2

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) November 3, 2024

Posting on social media platform X, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister for Education, wrote "The decision is in line with our efforts to develop policies to evaluate students’ performance during their academic stages and support them to achieve their future ambitions during their academic and professional careers in a manner that is consistent with the needs of the labour market and society."