Egypt launches 2026 high school examinations for over 900,000 students

On 21 June 2026 Egypt began the first day of the national high‑school examinations, known as the Thannaweya Ammah. More than 921,000 students attended the tests across 613 examination centres, with 918,306 following the new exam system and 3,403 using the older format.

In Cairo, exam committees reported full regularity and strict organisational measures, including continuous on‑site monitoring by education officials, police and medical services to ensure a calm environment for candidates. The Ministry of Education, led by Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif, oversaw the process from a central operations room, emphasizing the transition toward competency‑based assessment and digital transformation of the education system.

The exams cover both core and non‑core subjects; non‑core subjects such as religious education require a 70 % pass mark, while core subjects combine multiple‑choice questions with a limited essay component. Scores will determine university placement for the coming year, making the examinations a pivotal moment for Egyptian students’ academic and career prospects.