At a glance
- Components
- School average, Qudurat, Tahsili
- Common weights
- 30% / 30% / 40%
- Qudurat attempts
- 5 in total; valid 5 years
- Tahsili
- Spring of Grade 12 (2026: May and June)
- Who sets minimums
- Each university, by college
The three scores
| Score | What it measures | When it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school average (المعدل التراكمي) | Cumulative school results across secondary | Built over Grades 10 to 12 |
| Qudurat (General Aptitude Test) | Verbal and quantitative reasoning, scored out of 100 | Digital test all year from Grade 11; paper test for Grade 12 (10 to 14 December 2026) |
| Tahsili (Achievement Test) | Scientific track: biology, chemistry, physics and maths from all three secondary grades, 25% each | Spring of Grade 12; in 2026 it ran 13 to 17 May and 5 to 9 June |
Qudurat and Tahsili facts from ETEC, checked 6 October 2026. The 1448 Tahsili dates were not yet published on that date.
How the weighted percentage works
Each score is multiplied by its weight and the results are added. Saudipedia gives the common formula as (school average x 0.3) + (Qudurat x 0.3) + (Tahsili x 0.4), and stresses that each university decides the weighted percentage each of its colleges and programmes requires. Applicants are then ranked within the seats available, so the published minimum lets a student into the competition but does not guarantee a place.
Worked example: a student with a 96% school average, 76 in Qudurat and 82 in Tahsili scores 0.3 x 96 + 0.3 x 76 + 0.4 x 82 = 28.8 + 22.8 + 32.8 = 84.4%. On a formula that weights the school average more heavily, say 50 / 20 / 30, the same student scores 48 + 15.2 + 24.6 = 87.8%. That difference is why the formula of each target programme matters before deciding where to spend study time.
Example: how one university set its conditions
King Faisal University's published conditions for 1442/1443 illustrate how weights, school minimums and weighted minimums differ by college. They are an older year and an example only.
| College | School average minimum | Weights (school / Qudurat / Tahsili) | Weighted minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 90% | 30 / 30 / 40, then 20 / 25 / 30 plus 25% health test | 80% (male), 85% (female) to sit the health test |
| Computer science and IT | 80% (male), 85% (female) | 30 / 30 / 40 | 80% |
| Sciences | 75% (male), 80% (female) | 30 / 30 / 40 | 75% (male), 80% (female) |
| Agriculture (male) | 75% | 60 / 40 / none | 70% |
| Agriculture (female) | 80% | 50 / 20 / 30 | 75% |
Source: King Faisal University admission conditions 1442/1443. Medicine and health colleges also required an English placement test, an interview and medical fitness. Check the current year's guide for any university you apply to.
A plan from Grade 10 to Grade 12
- Grade 10: protect the school average from the start, since every year counts towards it. Fix weak maths and science foundations now; Tahsili tests material from all three secondary grades.
- Grade 11: take a first digital Qudurat once practice scores are stable. There are five attempts in total, and universities receive the highest valid score.
- Grade 11 summer: identify the weakest Qudurat section and the weakest Tahsili subject, and work on both.
- Grade 12 autumn: register for the paper Qudurat if a retake is needed (December), and start structured Tahsili revision across all three grades.
- Grade 12 spring: sit Tahsili, keep the school average up through final exams, and read each target university's admission guide for its weights and minimums.
International-curriculum and non-Saudi students
Students finishing an American, British or IB programme in the Kingdom usually need their certificate evaluated for equivalency before applying, and some universities set separate conditions for them, including Qudurat and Tahsili in many cases. Read the admission conditions for non-Saudi or international-certificate applicants on each university's site, and see our guide to certificate equivalency in Saudi Arabia.
Where tutoring helps
The weighted percentage rewards balance: a few points gained in each of three scores often beats a large gain in one. A tutor can rebuild Tahsili maths and science across all three grades, train Qudurat speed and accuracy, and support school subjects in term time so the average holds. LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes and online, and Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book.
Common questions
What weighted percentage do I need for medicine?
Each university sets its own, and the minimum changes yearly with applicants and seats. Medicine has the highest bars and usually adds a written test, interview and fitness check.
Is Tahsili required for all programmes?
Most scientific and health programmes use it. Some colleges and humanities programmes have used formulas without Tahsili. Check the programme's admission guide.
Which Qudurat score is used if my child sits it several times?
ETEC sends the highest valid score to the unified admission platform automatically.
Can my child retake Tahsili?
Tahsili attempts are limited to Grade 12 and the year after, so plan to sit it once properly prepared.
How much do Qudurat and Tahsili lessons cost with LiveTutor?
Each one-to-one 60-minute lesson is $15, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
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.