Education in Saudi Arabia: school stages, curricula and exams
A guide to the Saudi education system, secondary tracks, Qudurat GAT university admissions, and professional licensing tests.
In short
The education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is supervised by the Ministry of Education and guided by Vision 2030 initiatives that emphasize foundational literacy, digital literacy, and modern STEM capabilities. Schooling spans twelve compulsory grades across elementary, intermediate, and secondary tiers, operating on a three-semester annual calendar. Secondary students progress through a pathways model that prepares them for higher learning and technical careers. Admission into Saudi universities and competitive scholarship programmes depends directly on standardized national metrics administered by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, specifically the Qudurat General Aptitude Test, alongside international tests like the SAT, IELTS, TOEFL.
School stages
Compulsory schooling in Saudi Arabia encompasses twelve years of general education organized into three distinct structural cycles, preceded by optional kindergarten. The academic calendar features a three-semester system, running from late August through June, with scheduled inter-term breaks.
- Elementary Stage (Ibtidai, Ages 6 to 12): Covers Grade 1 through Grade 6. Core instruction emphasizes Arabic language, Islamic studies, mathematics, natural science, social studies, physical education, and life skills. Foundational English instruction commences in early elementary grades.
- Intermediate Stage (Mutawassit, Ages 12 to 15): Covers Grade 7 through Grade 9. Learners explore subject-specific disciplines including algebra, biology, physical sciences, world geography, history, and computer science. Continuous classroom assessments determine qualification for secondary progression.
- Secondary Stage (Thanawi, Ages 15 to 18): Covers Grade 10 through Grade 12. Public secondary schools operate under the modern Tracks System (Nizam Al-Masarat). Following a common core first year, students specialize in tracks such as the General Track, Computer Science and Engineering Track, Health and Life Sciences Track, Business Administration Track, or Sharia and Humanities Track.
Public schools provide tuition-free instruction in Arabic, with substantial English coursework in science and computing tracks. Private and international schools operate across major urban centres such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, delivering foreign curricula in English or French while incorporating mandatory national studies.
Gifted learners are supported nationally by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhibah). In partnership with the Ministry, Mawhibah identifies high-potential students through national talent screening assessments, providing advanced enrichment camps, scientific research apprenticeships, and international olympiad training in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Curricula in use
A wide selection of educational frameworks serves citizens and the expatriate population across the Kingdom.
| Curriculum | Who follows it | Main exams |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi National Curriculum (Tracks System) | Majority of Saudi citizens in public and private institutions | Secondary Diploma, Qudurat GAT (Saudi Arabia) |
| American Curriculum | Saudi and expatriate students preparing for international colleges | American High School Diploma, SAT, AP |
| British Curriculum | International families and private school pupils | Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A-Level |
| Indian CBSE Curriculum | Substantial Indian expatriate community in urban centres | CBSE Class 10, CBSE Class 12 |
| International Baccalaureate | Selective private academies in Riyadh and Jeddah | IB MYP, IB Diploma |
The national tracks curriculum blends academic theory with applied workplace learning, volunteer service requirements, and capstone graduation research projects. International schools deliver standardized global syllabi while complying with ministerial requirements for Arabic language, Islamic culture, and national history.
Exams by stage
Student achievement combines continuous school evaluation with centralized standardized assessments managed by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC / Qiyas).
- Intermediate Milestones: Schools administer semester examinations in Grade 9 to evaluate readiness for specialized secondary academic tracks.
- Secondary School Exit: Students complete Grade 12 evaluations to earn the General Secondary School Certificate.
- National Standardized Admissions Batteries:
- Qudurat GAT (General Aptitude Test): Evaluates verbal analytical ability, reading comprehension, inductive reasoning, and mathematical problem-solving. It is offered in both Arabic and English formats.
- Tahsili (Scholastic Achievement Admission Test - SAAT): Assesses subject mastery in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics for science track graduates, or humanities subjects for literary graduates.
- International Benchmarks: Private school candidates take Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A-Level, and College Board SAT examinations to fulfill external diploma requirements.
University entry
Higher education admissions in Saudi Arabia operate through coordinated regional university portals using a composite weighted index known as the Mawzoonah score.
major research universities—including King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran—select applicants using a mathematical formula combining:
- Cumulative Secondary School GPA (as of 2026, balanced according to university criteria)
- Qudurat General Aptitude Test score (as of 2026, balanced according to university criteria)
- Tahsili Scholastic Achievement Test score (weighted by institutional criteria)
Highly competitive specializations, such as medicine, dentistry, artificial intelligence, and engineering, require exceptional composite scores. Overseas universities and English-medium institutions like King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University expect demonstrated English proficiency via IELTS or TOEFL certifications. Expatriate students frequently submit digital SAT results to satisfy international admissions criteria.
The Ministry of Education also oversees the national Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Programme. This overseas initiative sponsors high-achieving Saudi scholars across targeted tracks including Pioneers (Ruwad), Research and Development (Wa'ed), and Supply (Imdad), funding undergraduate and graduate study at universities abroad, based on academic standing and IELTS or TOEFL results.
Professional and licensing exams
Healthcare professionals who want to practise in the Kingdom register with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). Medical graduates sit the Saudi Medical Licensing Examination (SMLE). Other health professionals sit licensing or classification exams set by SCFHS and delivered through Prometric test centres. The subjects, format and pass mark depend on the profession, so check the current rules for yours on the SCFHS website before you register.
The Standardized Test of English Proficiency (STEP), run by Qiyas, is the national English test used by many Saudi universities.
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 Saudi Arabia:
- Qudurat GAT and Tahsili: practice questions, timed mock tests with sections, and flashcards for the two national university tests.
- Saudi secondary school certificate: practice in advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry, and computer science.
- STEP: English grammar and reading practice, with timed mock tests.
- SMLE: clinical practice questions for medical graduates, with timed mock tests.
- Saudi general knowledge: geography, history and culture, and government and economy.
- University entry abroad: the SAT, IELTS and TOEFL.