National curriculum students at Qlive
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the countries where we teach the most students. Most of our families there follow Indian or international curricula, but we also teach students in government schools and in private schools that follow the UAE Ministry of Education curriculum or the Saudi national curriculum. Families usually come to us for maths and science, which are often taught in English, for English itself, or for Arabic.
How the national curricula are structured
Both countries organise school from kindergarten to Grade 12, in stages that broadly run as primary, intermediate or middle, and secondary school. Both ministries have revised their curricula a great deal over recent years, so details vary by school and year.
Primary grades. Arabic literacy, maths, science and English, alongside Islamic education and social studies. Strong reading in both Arabic and English matters a great deal here.
Middle grades. Maths and science become more formal, with algebra, geometry and separate science topics. In many schools maths and science are taught in English, which means students have to learn the subject and its language at the same time.
Secondary grades. Students in the UAE usually follow a stream, such as general or advanced, with the advanced stream carrying more demanding maths and science. In Saudi Arabia, secondary students follow a common first year and then a track, such as a general track or a specialised track in areas like computing and engineering or health and life sciences. The stream or track decides how much maths, physics, chemistry and biology a student takes.
How assessment works
Marks usually combine continuous assessment during the term, such as quizzes, assignments, projects and class participation, with exams at the end of each term. Many schools also use centralised or standardised exams set by the ministry, especially in the higher grades.
Students heading to university in Saudi Arabia usually also sit national aptitude and achievement tests. In the UAE, the EmSAT is no longer required for university admission, and universities set their own entry criteria, often looking closely at grades in the relevant school subjects. We do not offer specific preparation for admission tests, but secure school maths, science and English make them far more manageable. Assessment arrangements change from time to time, so the school is the best guide to what applies this year.
What students commonly find hard
- Learning in two languages: understanding a maths or science idea while also learning its English terms
- Word problems: reading a long question in English and turning it into maths
- Algebra and geometry: in the middle grades, where earlier gaps start to show
- Advanced stream maths and physics: a faster pace and harder problem-solving in secondary school
- Arabic grammar and writing: especially for students who read well but find written expression hard
- English reading and writing: keeping up with texts and written tasks as they get longer
How a one-to-one teacher helps
A one-to-one teacher can slow down where your child needs it and move ahead where they are ready. In class, your child works through activities and problems in Qlive Space, Qlive’s AI-powered learning platform, and the teacher goes through their working with them on Google Meet. Where it helps, a teacher who speaks Arabic can explain an idea in Arabic, then make sure your child can answer in the English used in school.
Lessons follow your child’s school textbook and current unit. Worksheets and a checkpoint every two to three weeks in Qlive Pulse show which topics are secure. Written answers are photographed and marked by your child’s teacher or Qlive’s academic team with comments.
Your Student Success Partner is the person at Qlive on your side, focused on your goal for your child, whether that is passing a hard term in physics or reading Arabic with confidence. They bring in what helps, such as extra classes before exams or a change of teacher, and keep you updated in the Qlive Learn app, where every class shows in Gulf time.
Arabic
Arabic is one of our most requested subjects. Teachers help with reading, writing, grammar and comprehension, and our Foundation programme gives children who have fallen behind a structured path back to the basics, level by level.
Subjects we teach
Maths, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Arabic and Computer Science, plus French and other languages. We do not teach Islamic education or social studies in Arabic.
Getting started
We have taught 100,000+ hours of live classes to families in 30+ countries. Start with the free assessment: about 40 adaptive questions, guided live by a Qlive counsellor, with a report on your child’s strengths and gaps. Fees are shared after the assessment, and you can pay in AED.
