At a glance
- Stages
- Primary (6 years), intermediate (3), secondary (3)
- Semesters in 1448
- Two, after the Cabinet approved the change
- Riyadh school start
- Sunday 23 August 2026
- End of year
- Thursday 24 June 2027
What the Saudi curriculum looks like in 2026-27
The Ministry of Education sets the curriculum, textbooks and calendar for every public school and every private national school (المدارس الأهلية) in Riyadh. After primary, students spend three years in the intermediate stage and three in the secondary stage. Secondary school now runs on the Pathways system (نظام المسارات): a common first year, then a track. The tracks named in Qiyas's admission tests are the General track, Computer Science and Engineering, Health and Life Sciences, Business Administration, and Sharia.
In August 2025 the Cabinet approved a return to two semesters for general education, keeping the four-year calendar framework the ministry had already published. 1448 is the second year under that change, so the familiar pattern of three shorter terms has gone and each semester carries more content before its final exams.
Private schools in Riyadh teaching the Saudi curriculum
Private national schools teach the Ministry curriculum, often with extra English or an international track. Checked on 6 October 2026.
| School | Area | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh Najed Schools | Al Hamra | Saudi national curriculum and an international track |
| Dar Assalam Schools | Al Rahmaniyah | A national school and an international school on the same group |
| Al Bayan National Schools | Al Rabwa | Saudi curriculum with Arabic and English language programmes |
| Al Faisaliah National Schools | Al Murabba | Private national school following the Ministry curriculum |
| Misk Schools | Riyadh | Cambridge-based, but national identity subjects are taught in Arabic and all students sit Qudurat and Tahsili |
Public schools teach the same curriculum. Fees, tracks offered and English hours vary widely between private national schools, so ask each one.
Key dates in Riyadh, 1448 (2026-27)
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Students return | Sunday 23 August 2026 |
| National Day holiday | 23 to 26 September 2026 |
| Autumn break | 20 to 28 November 2026 |
| Mid-year break | 8 to 16 January 2027 |
| Founding Day holiday | 19 to 22 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr holiday | 26 February to 13 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha holiday | 7 to 22 May 2027 |
| Last day of the year | Thursday 24 June 2027 |
From the published 1448 general education calendar. Check moe.gov.sa or your school for any change.
How online tutoring helps a Saudi-curriculum student
The usual needs are secondary maths and physics, where the jump from intermediate is steep, and English, which carries more weight in tracks leading to engineering, health and computing degrees. A tutor works from the Ministry textbook chapter the class is on, sets short practice between lessons, and spends the last weeks of each semester on past final exam questions. For students heading to Qudurat and Tahsili, the same lessons lay the maths and science foundation those tests draw on.
Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, in LiveTutor's online classroom, at Riyadh time (UTC+3), usually Sunday to Thursday after school or on Friday and Saturday. Our tutors mostly teach in English. Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book; we will tell you honestly whether we can match an Arabic-speaking tutor for your child's subject and grade.
Common questions
Do you have tutors who teach the Saudi curriculum in Arabic?
We have a small number of Arabic-speaking tutors, so Arabic-language lessons are available for some subjects only. Tell us the subject and grade when you book and we will say honestly whether we can match one.
Is the 1448 school year two semesters or three?
Two. The Cabinet approved the return to two semesters for general education, and the 1448 calendar runs from 23 August 2026 to 24 June 2027 in Riyadh.
Which secondary track is hardest in maths?
The General track and the Computer Science and Engineering track carry the most maths and physics. Health and Life Sciences adds more biology and chemistry. Your child's school confirms which tracks it offers.
How much do lessons cost?
$15 a lesson for any grade or subject. Plans run from 1 to 5 lessons a week, billed monthly, for example $120 a month for two lessons a week. The first lesson is a free trial.
Can lessons help with English in a national school?
Yes. A tutor can follow the Ministry English textbook chapter by chapter while building speaking and writing confidence, which school classes rarely have time for.
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.
- Saudi Ministry of Education: two semesters approved for 1447 and 1448 (Arabic)
- General education calendar 1448 (2026-27), Royal Commission education directorate (Arabic)
- Okaz: 1448 school year start dates by region (Arabic)
- Saudipedia: university admission tests in Saudi Arabia
- Mdares: Riyadh Najed National Schools, national and international tracks
- Dar Assalam School, Riyadh: national and international schools
- Mdares: Al Bayan National Schools, Saudi curriculum
- Mdares: Al Faisaliah National Schools
- Misk Schools: national identity subjects and Qiyas tests