Students petition for A Level exams to be held in May/June as well

A petition has been launched calling on the Ministry of Education to hold A Level examinations in May/June as well, citing difficulties with the current schedule.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, A Level exams were held in May and June. In 2020, the academic year was extended and the examinations were moved to October/November- a schedule that has remained in place ever since.

Students argue that the current timing creates significant challenges. Poor results mean they must wait a full year for a resit, limiting opportunities to improve their grades and to qualify for the A Level top 10, announced shortly after the examination results or qualify for scholarships.

Under the current system, resits are only offered during the Grade 12 A2 tests in October/November in Maldives. Students say this leaves little time to study, as all exams must be taken at once. Those who wish to sit the test earlier must travel abroad, usually to Sri Lanka, which they say is costly and disruptive.

“Not every student can afford to go to Sri Lanka. The cost of tickets, accommodation, food and the examination itself is very high,” one student said. “Travelling also means missing critical lessons here. When students return, they have fallen behind on material that is essential for the A2 test.”

Students also raised concerns about the timing of top 10 announcements and scholarship awards, which are made after Grade 12. “As it stands, students can only make the top 10 if they do well in Grade 11. Many students don’t take the A Level seriously in Grade 11, or struggle because it is a new examination,” a student said.

Petitioners argue that holding exams in May/June as well would allow more preparation time, improve results, and increase the number of students passing the A Level examinations.