Education: Oral exams will be banned before finals, and continuous assessment will be adopted

In a radical reform aimed at restructuring the assessment process in Saudi schools, the Ministry of Education an end to a long-standing problem: the accumulation of oral exams and performance-based assignments in the final days of the school term. The Ministry has adopted a strict organizational methodology requiring schools and teachers to complete all oral and practical assessments two full weeks before the final written exams.

Context of transformation: From “test phobia” to constructive assessment

These decisions come within the context of a historic transformation in the Kingdom's education sector. For years, families and students have suffered from what is known as "Decision Week," or the days leading up to final exams, which were marked by immense psychological pressure due to the accumulation of oral assessments and final review sessions. This step aligns with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program , one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs, which focuses on improving educational outcomes and alleviating undue psychological pressure on students to ensure a stimulating and engaging learning environment.

Details of the new mechanism: First-hand calendar

According to the new regulations based on the 2025 curriculum grade distribution guide, carrying over assessments to the end of the semester is no longer permitted. Instead, the Ministry has mandated a continuous "formative assessment" system, which requires:

• Conduct assessments immediately after the completion of each study unit.
• Grades are monitored in the central system instantly and cumulatively.
• It is mandatory to enter grades at least twice during the semester to ensure transparency and to keep parents informed about their children's progress.

Grade distribution: 60% in the student's pocket

Perhaps the most notable feature of the new system is the redistribution of the relative weight of grades in favor of the student who has worked hard throughout the year. Under the adopted model, a student can now guarantee 60% of their total grade before entering the final exam hall. This percentage is divided as follows:

• 40 points: allocated for performance tasks, class participation, and practical applications.
• 20 marks: allocated for short tests and continuous assessments during the semester.

With this distribution, the final exam (which is allocated only 40 marks) becomes a complementary tool for measuring achievement, and not a “bogeyman” that completely determines the student’s fate, thus reducing the severity of stress and anxiety.

Expected educational and social impact

This regulation is expected to have a broad positive impact on both educational and social levels. Educationally, continuous assessment allows teachers to identify and address students' weaknesses immediately, rather than discovering them too late at the end of the term. Socially, the decision will contribute to strengthening family stability by eliminating the state of alert and emergency that Saudi households used to experience before exam seasons, thus giving students the opportunity for mental clarity and high concentration in preparation for their final written exams.