First semester exams: 40 marks and penalties for mobile phone violations 1447

The Ministry of Education will launch the end-of-semester exams for the first semester in all public schools across the Kingdom tomorrow morning, Sunday, in accordance with the technical standards outlined in the "Fourth Edition" of the new Examination Systems and Procedures Manual for the year 1447 AH (2025 CE). This educational milestone comes amidst intensive administrative and technical preparations to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination process.

Context of developing the educational assessment system

These stringent measures come within the framework of the Ministry of Education's ongoing efforts to raise the quality of educational outcomes and enhance the credibility of academic certificates. Centralized and final examinations are vital assessment tools that reflect the true level of students' academic achievement, contributing to the realization of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals for educational development. This examination cycle is particularly important as it applies updated standards aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for millions of students and eliminating negative practices that could compromise the fairness of the assessment process.

40 degrees... the dividing line

Students enter the examination halls with their eyes on the 40 marks allocated to the final written exams, which form the cornerstone of their cumulative grade point averages. These marks carry significant weight in their academic achievement, making the examination period a pivotal stage for students' progression to the next academic level. The Ministry has mandated that teachers exercise meticulous accuracy in marking and recording, and strictly adhere to the centrally approved answer keys to ensure that every student receives their full due without any additions or omissions.

Mobile phone ban: graduated measures and penalties

As part of its "zero tolerance for violations" policy, the Ministry emphasized the prohibition of bringing smartphones or smartwatches into examination halls. Regulations stipulate that the mere possession of a mobile phone by a student inside the hall, even if switched off, constitutes a clear violation warranting punishment. Penalties are graduated to ensure deterrence, as follows:

• First violation: Cancel the grade for the question in which the violation was detected, while taking a written pledge.
• The second violation: canceling the entire subject exam and deducting points from conduct grades, which puts the student at risk of failing.
• The third violation: total deprivation from taking the remaining exams, which means the student will fail the entire academic year and his educational progress will be delayed.

Combating fraud and impersonation

The measures were not limited to technical aspects but also included behavioral and ethical considerations. The regulations stipulated strict penalties for impersonation, including the cancellation of the student's exam and referral of the impersonator (if from outside the school) to security authorities. The Ministry also drew a red line regarding ideological transgressions; any student whose paper contains insults to religion or its fundamental principles will fail the entire academic year and be referred to student guidance counselors. This comprehensive system of controls underscores the Ministry's commitment to providing a fair and competitive environment that promotes integrity and diligence.