Ministry of Education Drops Essays From Second Foreign Language Exams
All questions in French, German, Italian, and Spanish exams will now be multiple choice, as part of broader assessment reforms.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has officially announced the removal of essay questions from the second foreign language exams for Grade 12 students enrolled under Egypt’s updated general secondary education system.
According to the ministry, all questions in these language exams—covering French, German, Italian, and Spanish—will now follow a multiple-choice format, beginning with the current academic year. The decision marks a significant shift in the assessment structure, aligning with broader reforms aimed at standardising evaluation methods across subjects.
This change applies exclusively to students under the newly implemented system. Students continuing under the former general secondary framework—including those repeating the year, those who postponed exams, or those retaking for any reason—will still be assessed using the traditional format, which includes essay-based questions. This is due to the subject’s continued inclusion in the total grade calculation under the old system, in contrast to its exclusion in the new model.
