The UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced the immediate cancellation of the Emirates Standardised Test (Emsat) for 12th-grade students, implementing a revised admission framework for universities across the country. This decision, approved by the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council, was introduced to provide universities with greater flexibility in setting admission requirements, according to the UAE Government Media Office.
Emsat, a computer-based assessment covering English, Arabic, mathematics, and physics, was previously required for Emirati students in grade 12 in both public and private schools, as well as non-Emirati students in private institutions following the Ministry of Education curriculum. The exam, in place since the 2017-18 academic year, has seen more than a million tests taken.
Under the revised guidelines, universities may choose their entry requirements, prioritizing grades in science subjects for medical and engineering programs rather than overall scores. This change aims to simplify the transition to higher education and address previous concerns about the exam’s limitations.
Education authorities have not yet disclosed additional details on the new system, which comes amid ongoing discussions on improving accessibility to higher education for all students in the UAE.
