Delighted UAE pupils are gearing up for a university challenge after earning top marks in A and AS-level results released on Thursday.
Pupils in the Emirates were among more than 237,000 learners in 135 countries who discovered their anxiously-awaited grades after sitting Cambridge International exams in June.
A-level pupils in the UK – and those at British curriculum schools in the UAE and around the world who studied with other exam boards – will receive their results next Thursday.
Pupils and teachers at Pristine Private School in Dubai were overjoyed to see hours of hard work rewarded.
Indian pupil Yash Sockalingham, 18, secured a clean sweep of top A* grades in biology, chemistry, physics and maths.
“I am really happy with these results,” he said. “I am glad that my consistent studying over the past two years has paid off.
“I think the A-levels really challenged me with tougher topics, which will strengthen my foundation for university.
“The assessments have helped me learn to deal with and overcome stress, as well as schedule my time so that I can balance both studies and my personal life.”
He plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering before going on to study aerospace engineering.
Studying for 12 hours a day
Pakistani pupil Aliya Sarfaraz is another star pupil, earning A* results in biology, chemistry, physics and maths.
“After an entire year of hard work and challenges, it's an absolute delight to see your results unfold the way you had wanted them to,” she said.
“Times like these really elevate the gratitude and respect we have for our parents, teachers and mentors, who back us tirelessly through the highs and lows.”
Ms Sarfaraz said she prepared for her exams by “religiously” following a monthly timetable.
This included regular intervals to prevent burnout and which allowed her to study for 10 to 12 hours each day.
She plans to study software engineering at university.
Tasneem Usman, head of secondary at Pristine, said she was proud of her pupils.
“Many of our students have excelled in their exams. Students have especially performed well in all sciences, economics, accounting and computer science at the A-level,” she said.
“We congratulate all our students, their parents and teachers for contributing towards each student’s success.”
A "Remarkable" day
Private education operator Gems had 926 pupils sitting Cambridge board exams at nine of its British curriculum schools in the Emirates.
Gems WesGreen International School in Sharjah enjoyed an impressive showing, with 52 per cent of all exam papers returning a grade between A* and B.
Ismail Majid, 17, and Muhammad Zaidi, 18, both celebrated four A* grades.
“What a remarkable day for GEMS Wesgreen International School," said James McDonald, principal at the school.
"Our students have demonstrated their academic excellence and skill in a wide range of subjects, from maths and physics to English and business studies.”
Gems Cambridge International School entered 203 A-level candidates in 491 subjects, of which nearly a third resulted in either an A* or A grade.
Dhairya Chopra achieved four A* grades and another A, and is now heading to the University of British Columbia to study computer science.
Fellow pupils Srikrishnaja Karthik and Syed Mohammad Ali Akbar each recorded four A* grades
Praise for pupils
Rod Smith, group managing director for International Education at the Cambridge examination board, praised the pupils' achievements.
'I congratulate Cambridge students for their hard work in achieving these results,” he said.
“They have shown great resilience over the past few years and have kept on moving forward with their education. With these qualifications our students can feel confident that they have developed the skills they need for the future, so they can embrace whatever opportunities lie ahead.
'I also want to thank Cambridge schools and teachers, who once again have displayed tremendous commitment and passion for education that has been core to their students’ success.”
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Mobile phone packages comparison
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Cricket World Cup League Two
Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
More from Neighbourhood Watch
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
MATCH INFO
Bangla Tigers 108-5 (10 ovs)
Ingram 37, Rossouw 26, Pretorius 2-10
Deccan Gladiators 109-4 (9.5 ovs)
Watson 41, Devcich 27, Wiese 2-15
Gladiators win by six wickets
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5