At a glance
- Regulator
- Ministry of Education, private education department
- Common qualification
- Pearson Edexcel International AS and A Level
- Series
- January and May/June (modular IAL)
- Typical Year 12 entry
- Six IGCSE grades of B or 6 and above (KES)
- Time zone
- GMT+3
British sixth forms in the Kuwait City area
| School | Area | Sixth form detail |
|---|---|---|
| The British School of Kuwait | Salwa | 16 to 18 AS and A-Level subjects; reports 69% A*-B at A-Level |
| Kuwait English School | Salwa | AS and A-Level, with entries in the January and June series |
| Gulf English School | Salmiya | AS and A-Level results published each year |
| Kuwait National English School | Hawally | International AS and A Level (IAS and IAL) |
| The English Academy | Kuwait | 16+ A-Level subjects in its sixth form |
Getting into Year 12 in Kuwait
Sixth form places are not automatic. Kuwait English School, for example, publishes its Year 12 requirements: at least six IGCSE or GCSE passes at grade B or 6, at least a C in both English and maths, and usually a B in any subject the student wants to continue at AS. Other schools set similar thresholds. That makes Year 11 results, or the evidence-based grades many Kuwait students received in 2026, the gateway to A-Level choices.
Because International A Levels are modular, a Year 12 student who misses a target in a unit can resit it in a later series rather than waiting a full year. Students who plan this carefully spread the load; those who do not can end up resitting AS units in the same weeks as Year 13 papers.
A-Level exam series for Kuwait students in 2026-27
| Series | What usually happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| October/November 2026 | Cambridge A-Level resits | Only for schools and candidates on Cambridge |
| January 2027 | Edexcel IAL units, often resits or early AS units | Your school decides whether it enters this series |
| May/June 2027 | Main sitting for Cambridge and Edexcel | Pearson's next full series after the 2026 cancellation |
Check the board's final timetable; see our Edexcel May/June 2027 and January 2027 pages.
After 2026: what the cancellation means for current Year 13
Pearson cancelled school exams in Kuwait for May/June 2026 because of the regional conflict and offered grades based on evidence such as mock papers and other assessed work, or the option to defer to May/June 2027. Today's Year 13 students may therefore hold AS grades that were awarded without a full exam, and some will be sitting AS units again alongside A2 units. A realistic plan for the year, unit by unit, is worth more than extra lessons in the final month.
What an online A-Level tutor does for a Kuwait student
A tutor works unit by unit, which suits the modular Edexcel structure: in Pure Mathematics 3 or Mechanics 1, for instance, lessons target the question types that cost marks in recent papers. In the sciences, the focus is on calculation and practical-skills questions. With secondary classes ending at 1:55pm under the ministry's 2026-27 hours, an evening lesson in Kuwait time is easy to keep weekly. Each lesson is 60 minutes and $15, and the first is a free trial.
Common questions
Do Kuwait schools use International A Levels or UK A-Levels?
Many use Pearson Edexcel International A Levels, which are modular with January and June series. Some subjects or schools use Cambridge International. Ask your school for the board in each subject.
What grades do I need for sixth form in Kuwait?
It varies. Kuwait English School asks for six IGCSE/GCSE grades at B or 6, at least C in English and maths, and usually B in the subject chosen for AS.
Can my child resit an A-Level unit in January?
If the school enters the January series, yes, for Edexcel IAL units. Cambridge A-Levels do not run in January.
Are A-Levels accepted by Kuwait University?
Yes, with equivalency and subject rules for foreign certificates. See our Kuwait University admission guide for the details and the official links.
How much do A-Level lessons with LiveTutor cost in Kuwait?
$15 per 60-minute lesson for every A-Level subject, on a plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is free.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.