At a glance
- Run by
- Qiyas, National Center for Assessment (ETEC)
- Qudurat (GAT)
- Verbal and quantitative, 2 h 5 min, 5 attempts
- Tahsili (SAAT)
- Secondary content, 2 h 5 min, up to 4 attempts in 3 years
- STEP
- English: reading 40%, grammar 40%, listening 20%
- Result validity
- GAT and SAAT 5 years; STEP 3 years
- Calculators
- Not allowed in any of them
The three tests side by side
| Qudurat (GAT) | Tahsili, scientific (SAAT) | STEP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measures | Verbal and quantitative reasoning, not recall | Biology, chemistry, physics and maths from the three secondary years | English proficiency, aligned to CEFR |
| Who takes it | Grade 11 and 12 students and graduates, all tracks | Third secondary students and graduates of the General, Health and Life, and Computer Science and Engineering tracks | Applicants to English-taught programmes, scholarships and jobs |
| Format | Paper or computer; multiple choice | Paper or digital; 110 multiple-choice questions | Digital only |
| Language | Arabic | Arabic or English, chosen at registration | English |
| Duration | 2 hours 5 minutes | 2 hours 5 minutes | Set by ETEC; check at booking |
| Attempts | 5 in total | 2 a year, at most 4 within 3 years | See ETEC at booking |
| Results | Paper about 1 month; computer 3 to 5 working days | Paper within 1 month; digital within 5 working days | 3 to 5 working days |
| Validity | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years |
From ETEC's official test pages, checked October 2026. A theoretical Tahsili for the Sharia and Business Administration tracks is paper-based, in Arabic, with 5 sections of 24 questions.
What is in Qudurat, and how much each part weighs
ETEC publishes the weight of each domain. The quantitative weights below are for the scientific tracks; algebra appears only in the scientific version.
| Section | Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal | Verbal analogies | 17% |
| Verbal | Sentence completion | 7% |
| Verbal | Contextual error | 10% |
| Verbal | Reading comprehension | 21% |
| Quantitative | Arithmetic | 23% |
| Quantitative | Geometry | 10% |
| Quantitative | Algebra | 4% |
| Quantitative | Data analysis | 8% |
Arithmetic covers fractions, ratios, percentages, powers and roots, time and motion, and probability; data analysis uses charts, tables and Venn diagrams. Only simple calculation is needed, which is why calculators are banned.
What a Qudurat score means
Qudurat is norm-referenced: the score shows where a test taker stands among everyone who sat it. ETEC publishes this guide.
| Score | Position among test takers |
|---|---|
| 81 or above | Top 5% |
| 78 or above | Top 10% |
| 73 or above | Top 20% |
| 70 or above | Top 30% |
| 65 | Average |
| 60 or below | Bottom 30% |
There is no pass or fail. A score carries whatever weight the university or programme gives it.
Fees and 2026 dates
| Test | Fee | When |
|---|---|---|
| Qudurat, paper | SAR 100 early, SAR 150 late | Paper sessions announced by ETEC |
| Qudurat, computer | SAR 150 | Available year-round in 2026 |
| Tahsili, scientific (paper) | SAR 100 early, SAR 150 late | 2026: 13 to 17 May and 5 to 9 June |
| Any GAT or SAAT outside Saudi Arabia | SAR 200 | Per ETEC schedule |
| STEP | SAR 150 in Saudi Arabia, SAR 200 outside | Available year-round in 2026 |
From ETEC, checked October 2026. The 1448 (2026-27) paper dates were not yet published when we checked; see our Qudurat and Tahsili dates pages and confirm on ETEC before booking.
How the tests feed university admission
Saudi universities rank applicants by a weighted score (النسبة الموزونة) that combines the secondary school average with Qudurat and, for most programmes, Tahsili. Each university sets its own weights, which can differ between programmes. ETEC automatically sends each applicant's highest approved Qudurat and Tahsili scores to the Unified Admission Platform, so a better later attempt replaces an earlier one.
Because Qudurat can be sat from Grade 11 and allows five attempts, many students take it once early to see where they stand, then again after preparation. Tahsili tests all three secondary years, so it rewards steady revision from the first secondary year rather than a final cram.
What families often get wrong
- Treating Qudurat as a knowledge test. It measures reasoning speed and accuracy; practice with timed sets matters more than new content.
- Using a calculator in practice. Calculators are banned in all three tests, so mental arithmetic and estimation must be fluent.
- Leaving Tahsili until third secondary. First and second secondary physics, chemistry and maths make up much of the test.
- Forgetting the English option. Students from English-medium or international schools can choose to sit the scientific Tahsili in English.
How one-to-one lessons help, and the language question
For Qudurat quantitative, a tutor drills arithmetic, ratios, percentages, geometry and data questions without a calculator, then builds speed with timed sets. For Tahsili, a tutor reviews biology, chemistry, physics and maths topic by topic across the three secondary years and practises ETEC-style multiple-choice questions. For STEP, lessons target reading comprehension and grammar structures, which together make up 80% of the test, plus listening.
Be aware of language. Qudurat verbal and the theoretical Tahsili are in Arabic, and only a small number of LiveTutor tutors teach in Arabic: Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book. English-medium help is the reliable offer here: STEP, the scientific Tahsili taken in English, and the maths and science behind both tests. Lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, in our own online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard.
Common questions
What is the difference between Qudurat and Tahsili?
Qudurat measures the ability to understand, reason and analyse through verbal and quantitative questions, and does not depend on recalling school content. Tahsili measures knowledge of specific secondary school subjects, such as biology, chemistry, physics and maths for the scientific version.
What is a good Qudurat score?
ETEC's guide puts 65 at the average, 70 or above in the top 30%, and 81 or above in the top 5%. What counts as good depends on the weights and cut-offs of the programmes you are applying to.
How many times can my child take Qudurat and Tahsili?
Qudurat can be taken five times. Tahsili can be taken twice a year, with a maximum of four attempts within three years. Results for both are valid for five years.
Can Tahsili be taken in English?
Yes. ETEC offers the scientific Tahsili in Arabic and English; the student chooses the language when registering. The theoretical Tahsili is in Arabic only.
How much does Qudurat or Tahsili preparation cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial, one per household. Ask when you book if you need an Arabic-speaking tutor.
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.