Education in Qatar: school stages, curricula and exams
A guide to Qatar's education system, Thanaweya Qatar examinations, Education City universities, and Prometric medical licensing.
In short
Qatar's education system is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The state schooling framework encompasses primary, preparatory, and secondary tiers offering specialized scientific, technological, and humanities pathways. Secondary education culminates in the Thanaweya Qatar standardized examinations. Complementing the state system, private academies offer British, American, and International Baccalaureate programmes. Higher education includes Qatar University and established international partner institutions in Qatar Foundation's Education City. For academic advancement and medical licensing, students and healthcare personnel prepare for exams including Thanaweya Qatar, Cambridge A-Level, the IB Diploma, SAT, IELTS and TOEFL, and the healthcare licensing exams of the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP).
School stages
Formal schooling in Qatar spans twelve academic grades structured across three tiers, preceded by early childhood kindergarten. The academic calendar runs from late August or early September until June, split into two semesters.
- Primary Stage (Al-Marhala Al-Ibtida'iyya, Ages 6 to 12): Covers Grade 1 through Grade 6. The curriculum establishes foundations in Arabic language, English language, mathematics, integrated sciences, social studies, Islamic education, and physical education.
- Preparatory Stage (Al-Marhala Al-I'dadiyya, Ages 12 to 15): Covers Grade 7 through Grade 9. Students expand subject knowledge across algebra, geometry, life sciences, physical sciences, world geography, history, and computing. Semester assessments determine progression into secondary tracks.
- Secondary Stage (Al-Marhala Al-Thanawiyya, Ages 15 to 18): Covers Grade 10 through Grade 12. Following a shared tenth grade, public secondary school students select one of three academic tracks:
- Scientific Track: Concentrates on advanced mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.
- Technological Track: Focuses on advanced mathematics, computer science, computing engineering, and information technology.
- Arts and Humanities Track: Emphasizes Arabic literature, history, geography, sociology, and foreign languages.
State schools provide tuition-free instruction in Arabic with English coursework. Private international schools operate in English or other foreign languages.
In addition to standard state schools, Qatar features specialized public schools such as Qatar Banking Studies and Business Administration Secondary Schools, alongside Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys. These specialized academies offer specialized industry-aligned STEM curricula for high-performing secondary students.
Curricula in use
Qatar hosts an internationally diverse range of private and international schools catering to both citizens and expatriates.
| Curriculum | Who follows it | Main exams |
|---|---|---|
| Qatari National Curriculum | Students in government public schools | Thanaweya Qatar |
| British Curriculum (Cambridge / Pearson) | Private international schools | Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A-Level |
| American Curriculum | Private independent schools | American High School Diploma, SAT, AP |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | major academies including Qatar Academy | IB MYP, IB Diploma |
| Indian CBSE Curriculum | Indian community schools | CBSE Class 10, CBSE Class 12 |
Public schools blend national identity and Islamic values with international standards in STEM subjects. Private international schools focus on global qualification boards and experiential learning.
Exams by stage
Assessments in Qatar combine ongoing classroom evaluation with centralized standardized testing managed by the Student Assessment Department.
- Preparatory Graduation: End-of-year examinations in Grade 9 certify completion of basic education and guide pathway selection for secondary schooling.
- Thanaweya Qatar (General Secondary Education Certificate): Administered nationwide at the conclusion of Grade 12. Standardized exams assess core competencies and track-specific specializations. Results are converted into a percentage aggregate that determines university qualification.
- International School Credentials: Pupils enrolled in international schools complete Cambridge A-Level papers, IB Diploma examinations, or American High School Diploma testing to earn globally recognized qualifications.
University entry
Higher education in Qatar combines national research institutions with international branch campuses in Education City.
Qatar University, the national public university, admits secondary graduates based on track prerequisites and Thanaweya Qatar percentage cutoffs. Applicants to scientific, medical, and engineering faculties must demonstrate strong mathematics and science performance alongside English proficiency.
Education City, managed by Qatar Foundation, hosts international branch campuses:
- Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar: Demands top scientific credentials, SAT scores, and strong prerequisite coursework.
- Texas A&M University at Qatar: Focuses on engineering disciplines, evaluating candidates through mathematics proficiency, SAT scores, and academic grades.
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar: Specializes in computer science and business, requiring competitive SAT and English language scores.
- Georgetown University in Qatar: Specializes in international affairs, emphasizing analytical writing, humanities aptitude, and language fluency.
- Northwestern University in Qatar: Focuses on journalism, media, and communication, evaluating analytical portfolios and language credentials.
Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) provides national research-focused graduate programs in law, public policy, sustainable energy, and genomics. Across all English-medium universities in Qatar, applicants must submit official IELTS or TOEFL test scores to verify academic English capability.
Qatar also supports high-achieving national secondary graduates through the Emiri Scholarship Programme and the Ministry's Government Scholarship Scheme. These programmes fund full tuition and living expenses for students gaining admission into selected global universities, conditioning sponsorship upon high Thanaweya percentage standing and competitive IELTS or TOEFL benchmarks.
Professional and licensing exams
Healthcare professionals who want to practise in Qatar are licensed by the Ministry of Public Health. The licensing body has been known as the Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) and is now the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP). Doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and other practitioners sit computer-based licensing exams, delivered through Prometric test centres. Candidates preparing for regional healthcare practice also reviewinations used across neighbouring Gulf health ministries. The subjects, format and pass mark depend on the profession, so check the current rules for your profession on the Ministry of Public Health website before you register.
Practising on GetMyMockTest
These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not the official exams, and we do not claim they match an exam's current format. Free practice for Qatar:
- Thanaweya Qatar: practice questions in advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry, with timed mock tests and a flashcard deck.
- QCHP healthcare licensing: clinical practice questions in medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics, with timed mock tests and a deck.
- Qatar general knowledge: geography, history and civilisation, and governance and economy.
- British and international qualifications: Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level, and the IB Diploma.
- University entry and English: the SAT, IELTS and TOEFL.