Thousands of pupils across the UAE received their A-level and IGCSE results on Thursday and many rejoiced at securing places at their first-choice universities.
After two years of teacher-assessed grades, given as exams could not be held during the Covid-19 pandemic, pupils were able to sit them in person in May.
Pupils received lower A-level grades this year compared with the past two years, official figures showed on Thursday.
For Muneeb Alvi, 18, a pupil at Pristine Private School in Dubai, it was a day of celebrations as he achieved the three A* grades in physics, chemistry and mathematics he required to attend New York University Abu Dhabi on a full scholarship.
The Pakistani will be studying computer science with a minor in mathematics.
“A lot of my friends got unsatisfactory results,” he said. “But I had my predicted grades, and they were three A* as well.
“I had already applied to university in October as they had an early admission process and had a conditional acceptance offer and I needed to maintain these grades.
“I was pretty happy with my grades. When I gave the exams, I knew kind of that I did the best I could.
“With some of my friends, I know that they put in a lot of effort and they were pretty confident once they came out of the exam hall that they would get a good grade and the complete opposite has happened.”
Delighted teen is Bristol bound
Isabelle Darling, an Australian 18-year-old, was ecstatic after getting an A* in English literature, an A* in psychology and an A in biology. The pupil will be studying law at Bristol University in the UK in the autumn.
“I'm ecstatic, to be honest. I went through about I think 15 different emotions. I was very, very nervous beforehand and did not know what to expect,” said the pupil at British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“I thought I'd done well and was happy with how my exams had gone … but obviously hearing everything around it I started to doubt things and was thinking about clearing choices when results.
“I actually cried. I was so overwhelmed at getting into Bristol University which was my top choice. It's just kind of crazy for me to think that this is actually happening. I'm so excited.”
The pupil said that after getting her results she felt like a weight had lifted off her shoulders.
Top marks lead to London
Ahmed Mohamed, 18, a Sudanese pupil at British School Al Khubairat, will be pursuing a degree in medicine at Imperial College London. The pupil achieved an A* and three As.
He needed an A* and three As to get into university and was just able to get his spot at the university, though his predicted scores were two A* grades and two As.
“I still got in to my university of first choice, I can't really complain. I am still happy,” he said.
“I've spoken to all my friends, from what I've been hearing. I don't know if this is just because we're the year right after last year when they didn't have exams or anything but I've been hearing they [the exam boards] have been a bit harsh this year.”
The pupil hopes to specialise in paediatrics.
Hard work pays off for Ukrainian pupil
Kateryna Golovko, 18, a Ukrainian pupil at Gems Metropole School, achieved two A* grades and two As and will be studying medicine at First Faculty of Medicine Charles University in Prague. The pupil was predicted to get four A* grades but was happy with her scores.
“I feel so amazing and grateful because all the nights when I studied and the stressful times that I had to live through paid off in the end,” said the teenager.
“I think the results were consistent and it's even better than what I hoped for, especially in chemistry.”
Julia Medeiros, a pupil from Brazil at Gems Metropole School, said she was extremely excited as she had managed to get an A in biology.
“I worked really hard for it and I am very, very, very happy,” said the 17-year-old.
“I am satisfied with most of my grades. I didn't get into a university yet. I'm planning to go to Brazil to study agricultural engineering and have to do a national exam to get into the university.”
Tears of joy as Oxford awaits
Ashna Chaturvedi, an 18-year-old Indian at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, will be heading to Oxford University to study law after earning four A* in biology, chemistry, mathematics and economics.
“I was extremely shocked. When I saw the grades, I just screamed, and then I started crying I was predicted three A *and one A, so I actually exceeded my predicted grades,” said the pupil, who aims to become a solicitor.
“These were our first public exams ever. Based on how the exams went, I really didn't think that I would get these grades, I thought I would get two A and two B.
“Every single day that I woke up the past week, the first thing I would do was check the news and see the media coverage and every single morning it would be a headline saying something like be prepared to be disappointed or lowest grades ever… it was, it was definitely very scary for myself and for many of my peers.”
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
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What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
More on animal trafficking
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Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
