Pupils across the UAE were celebrating their GCSE results on Thursday, as this year’s cohort achieved strong performances.
Tears, hugs and smiles marked the culmination of years of effort, resilience and determination — showing that behind every grade was a story of perseverance, family support and triumph.
As Khaleej Times reached Gems Wellington International School this morning, anticipation ran high as students gathered on the second floor, waiting until 11 am to tear open the white envelopes that would guide their subject choices for Years 12 and 13.
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Maths: The biggest challenge
Among the top achievers was Tanay Mohanty, who secured an impressive 10 grade nines.
He told KT, “I thought I’d do well, but I didn’t expect it to be this good. Honestly, I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now. Last night I couldn’t sleep, and this morning as I walked into the school I felt excited because, no matter what my grades turned out to be, I was already proud of the effort I had put in. My family has always supported me, regardless of the outcome — and that support extended to my friends and teachers as well.”
Despite excelling in every subject, Tanay admitted Maths was his biggest challenge. “Maths was never really my strong point. In my first mocks this year, I actually got a grade III. But I just kept working steadily toward my goals, no matter what. In the end, my hard work really paid off.”
His mother, Mona Viswarupa Monhanty, was equally emotional. She said, “I told my son before entering the gate that you’ve already got a 10/10 from us (parents) because of the effort that you’ve put in. I didn’t focus so much on the results and his father kept saying ‘I hope he’ll pass’. We’ve just told him give it your best shot. That way you don’t have any regrets.”
Recalling her first impression of the school, she added, “When he changed schools and came to this one, the first time… and as we were walking past, I saw the ‘wall of fame’ that the school has and secretly hoped that one day Tanay’s picture will be there. But I never put any pressure on him. Hopefully now it will be there.”
10 hours of work every day
Another standout student, Chinese expat Lilou Hien, put in up to 10 hours of work every day.
She said, “Definitely start early in the day… don’t go past midnight. It’s also important to sleep well. I got all nines and eights — six nines in total. In the three sciences I scored an eight, while drama was also an eight.”
She admitted it was not always easy. “I stayed up late doing revision. The high point was after I finished every exam, and when I felt good about the paper…I knew I did well…Oh! I revised that one and I know how to answer that. That’s something that I am really happy about and obviously, results today.”
Her mother credited years of discipline and resilience. “Since my baby was born, I put maximum value to her life. She was a dancer as a child, and that gave her good concentration, resilience and she always worked to achieve her target. In China there is a national championship for dance and eight consecutive times she won the competition. So, she has a strong mind and is self-motivated.”
Overcoming self-doubt, past failures
Ayla Yaieesh also overcame self-doubt to achieve excellent results. She said, “Even during the exam I repeatedly felt I didn’t know what I was doing. I was very hard on myself. But it was better than what I expected. After the exams I set my standards lower. But now I am shaking, I am overjoyed, I am more than happy. I put so much effort and it paid off. I got seven nines.”
Kavya Shah was another who turned things around with perseverance. “I was failing all my subjects back in Year 10 and worked really hard to get to where I am now. I have a lot of brilliant friends who helped me immensely, so good company also helps a lot.”
Across the Gems network, 7,347 entries were awarded top-level grades of 9-8 (A) this year, accounting for 26 per cent of all entries. Meanwhile, 45 per cent achieved 9-7 (A*-A), 65 per cent attained 9-6 (A*-B), and 87 per cent secured 9-4 (A*-C), marking notable improvements on 2024.
Brighton College, Repton schools
At Brighton College Dubai, 25 per cent of students were awarded the top grade nine, making it the most common grade. In total, 45 per cent of exam entries were graded 9–8.
The school also celebrated well-rounded achievers such as Ibrahim Chatha, who secured 11 grade nines while representing the school football team, and Rudayna Yassin, who achieved 10 grade nines alongside her international volleyball and music commitments.
At Repton Al Barsha, 73 per cent of students were awarded A*–B (9–6), while 55 per cent achieved grades 9–7 (A*–A). Repton Abu Dhabi also celebrated record achievements with 85 per cent of students awarded A*–B and 48 per cent attaining the top 9–8 grades, a sharp rise from last year’s 38 per cent.
At Repton Abu Dhabi 85 per cent of students were awarded A*–B (9–6) and an overall pass rate of 98 per cent at grades 9–4 (A*–C). 66 per cent of exam entries achieved grades 9–7 (A*–A), and notably, 48 per cent received the top grades of 9–8 (A*), up from 38 per cent in 2024.
Steven Lupton, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, said, “We are delighted with this year’s results, which highlight the ambition, resilience and determination of our students. The consistent progress we are witnessing each year is a powerful testament to their commitment and our community’s pursuit of excellence.”
Horizon International School
At Horizon International School, overall, 92 per cent of students achieved grades 9-4/A*-C across their GCSEs, 71 per cent achieved grades 9-6/A*-B, 46 per cent achieving grades 9-7/A*-A, and 32 per cent achieved the highest grades 9-8/A**-A*. I
In addition, 98 per cent of students attained grades 9-4/A*-C in English Language, English Literature, and Triple Science, whilst 95 per cent of students attained grades 9-4/A*-C in Maths.
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