IGCSE exam dates, mocks and results day: a term-by-term guide to Year 11 in Dubai
IGCSE exam dates, entry deadlines, mocks, results day and November resits for Cambridge, Edexcel and OxfordAQA, laid out as a Year 11 plan for Dubai families.
THE CL NOTEBOOK
Useful reads for the decisions ahead.
Clear, practical guidance for families weighing school choices, subjects, entrance exams and university pathways in the UAE.
Revision that actually works: what the research says, applied to IGCSE and the IB Diploma
How to revise effectively for IGCSE and IB: what research says works, what only feels productive, and a weekly routine built on past papers and self-testing.
IB Maths AA or AI: how to choose, and what each course really demands
IB Maths AA vs AI, SL or HL: the real differences in papers, calculator use and the exploration, and which university courses ask for Analysis and Approaches.
The IB core, demystified: TOK, the Extended Essay, CAS and the three points
The IB Extended Essay, TOK and CAS explained: what each requires, how the 3 core points are awarded, what fails the diploma, and a two-year deadline plan.
Predicted grades: how Dubai schools set them, how universities use them, and what to do if yours look low
How IB and A Level predicted grades are set, when they are finalised for UCAS and US deadlines, what IGCSEs add, and what to do if a prediction looks low.
Switching curricula in Dubai: how to move between CBSE, IGCSE and IB without losing a year
Switching from CBSE to IGCSE, IB or A Levels in Dubai? A year-group equivalence table, the windows that work, KHDA placement rules and a readiness checklist.
AP classes in Dubai: how Advanced Placement works, where to sit the exams, and which courses are worth taking
AP classes in Dubai explained: how AP exams work in the UAE, testing if your school is not an AP school, the 1 to 5 scale, and which courses suit which degree.
The CAET exam, explained: the entrance test for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi and how to prepare from a UAE school
The CAET exam for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi: who can take it, the 60-question pattern, marking, eligibility, how it differs from JEE and a prep timeline.
Medicine from the UAE: NEET, UCAT, or both, and how to decide before Year 12 decides for you
UCAT preparation UAE guide: NEET or UCAT for medicine from Dubai, the 2026 test windows, subject traps, and a Year 12 to 13 plan for students sitting both.
Using AI to study: what actually helps, what backfires, and the rules your exam board has written
AI tools for studying, done properly: prompts that build real recall, uses that quietly backfire, and what IB, JCQ and Cambridge rules say about coursework.
Commerce students in Dubai: 90% in Class 12 is a result, not a plan
Board marks now decide eligibility. Entrance exams decide admission. A clear guide for commerce students in Dubai on choosing a field early and preparing for CLAT, IPMAT and CUET.
Indian or international curriculum in Dubai: how to decide without guessing
A practical comparison of CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and IB for families in Dubai, covering cost, university routes, subject depth and the exit exam your child will actually sit.
AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge: what actually separates the three exam boards
How OxfordAQA, Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge International differ in paper structure, grading, practical science and subject choice, and what that means for students in Dubai.
CBSE or ICSE: the honest comparison, and why the answer changes after Class 10
ICSE builds stronger students up to Class 10. CBSE serves Class 11 and 12 better if your child is targeting Indian entrance exams. A clear, practical comparison for UAE families.
IGCSE or MYP: which one should your child be doing in Years 9 to 11?
IGCSE gives an external certificate at sixteen. MYP gives a skills framework with no exam. Here is how UAE families should choose between them, and the risks of each.
How to choose a school and curriculum in Dubai without regretting it in three years
A practical framework for UAE parents: how to use KHDA ratings properly, read fees over six years, judge a school by its exit results and avoid the most common admission mistakes.
IB Diploma or A Levels: choosing the right sixth form route in Dubai
Six subjects and a research core, or three subjects taken deep. A clear comparison of IBDP and A Levels for UAE families, covering workload, university offers and risk.
Choosing Grade 11 subjects: work backwards from the degree, not forwards from the marks
The subject combination your child picks at sixteen decides which degrees stay open. A practical guide for UAE families on stream selection, A Level choices and IB subject groups.
The digital SAT from Dubai: when to start, when to sit it, and when to stop
When UAE students should start SAT preparation, how the adaptive digital format changes strategy, how many attempts to plan, and how to fit it around IB, A Level and CBSE.
Preparing for NEET and JEE from the UAE: what changes when you are not in India
Exam centres, eligibility, quotas, NCERT dependence and the two year timeline. What UAE families need to know about preparing for NEET and JEE from Dubai.
IELTS, Duolingo or PTE: Which English Test Should You Actually Take
IELTS, Duolingo English Test or PTE Academic? Acceptance, format, scoring and cost compared, and the visa trap that catches UAE students every year.
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