Mixed Reactions from Students on Preparatory Certificate Exams Across Various Provinces

Preparatory Certificate Exam.

On Sunday, students across various provinces in Egypt took their preparatory certificate exams for the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. The subjects included social studies, English language, science, and geometry, with exam schedules varying by province.

According to Abeer Ahmed, founder of the Egyptian Mothers Union for Educational Advancement and the Parents Coalition, most exams were relatively easy, although some students found them to vary significantly in difficulty.

In Cairo, opinions about the social studies exam were divided; some students described it as challenging with indirect questions, while others felt it was appropriate for average students. In Kafr El Sheikh, many students and parents reported that the English language exam was at a suitable level for average learners. Similar sentiments were echoed by students in Aswan regarding their social studies exam.

In Assiut, student opinions on the science exam varied between easy and difficult. Meanwhile, students in Giza expressed frustration over the geometry exam’s complexity, citing several challenging questions.

Abeer Ahmed emphasized the importance of focus for upcoming exams and encouraged parents to create a supportive environment at home that promotes study without distractions. She wished success to all students.

Preparatory Certificate Exams 2026

The second semester exams for the preparatory certificate will continue until Thursday, June 11, 2026, following their commencement last Thursday across all provinces.

The Ministry of Education and Technical Education has instructed educational directors to maintain strict oversight during these examinations and combat cheating attempts. This includes enforcing Law No. 205 of 2020 concerning examination integrity and Ministerial Resolution No. 24 of 2018 regarding examination cancellations or prohibitions.

Most provinces are implementing a booklet system for these exams as per Ministry directives to minimize cheating and prevent the circulation of exam papers through online platforms. This system merges question papers with answer sheets.

The preparatory certificate exams are crucial for students as their scores determine the type of secondary education they will pursue—whether general secondary school or vocational education—along with access to specialized schools requiring specific admission criteria such as STEM schools for gifted students in science and technology or applied technology schools.

Exams are conducted over two semesters with a total score of 280 points available—140 points allocated per semester solely for examination results without including continuous assessment scores.

A student needs more than 200 points to enroll in general secondary school or applied technology schools and over 250 points for admission into gifted schools.