At a glance
- Format
- 110 questions, 5 sections of 22, 125 minutes
- Subjects
- Biology, chemistry, physics, maths: 25% each
- Content
- All three secondary years
- Calculator
- Not allowed
- Results valid
- 5 years
Tahsili (scientific) facts that shape the plan
| Item | Detail | What it means for revision |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Biology and environment, chemistry, physics, maths, 25% each | No subject can be dropped; the weakest one has the most room to gain |
| Content | Everything studied in the three secondary years | First-year topics need as much review as current ones |
| Length | 110 questions in 125 minutes | About 68 seconds per question: recall must be quick |
| Calculator | Not allowed | Practise arithmetic with powers of ten, fractions and exact trig values by hand |
| Attempts (paper, inside Saudi Arabia) | Four: two in grade 12 and two in the first year after graduating | A first attempt in grade 12 leaves room for another |
| Results | Paper about a month after the test; digital 3 to 5 working days; valid five years | Plan the attempt around university application deadlines |
Source: ETEC Achievement Test guide for scientific tracks, July 2026. Test dates for 1448 are on our Tahsili dates page and on ETEC's site.
A 12-week plan
Five study days a week of 60 to 90 minutes, plus one timed practice session at the weekend. Rotate subjects so each one is touched every week.
| Weeks | Focus | Each week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnosis | Take ETEC's official practice questions under timed conditions; list weak topics per subject and per school year |
| 2 to 4 | First secondary year content | One topic block per subject per week; 15 quick recall questions after each block |
| 5 to 7 | Second secondary year content | Same rotation; add a 22-question mixed timed section every weekend |
| 8 to 10 | Third secondary year content and weak topics | Current-year content plus targeted repair of the weakest list from week 1 |
| 11 | Full timed practice | Two full-length timed sittings; review every wrong and every slow answer |
| 12 | Light review | Formula and fact sheets, sleep and routine; no new topics in the last three days |
Four short worked examples in the Tahsili style
Original questions, one per subject, each meant to take about a minute without a calculator.
- Maths: find the vertex of y = 2x^2 - 8x + 3. The x-coordinate is -b/(2a) = 8/4 = 2. Then y = 2(4) - 16 + 3 = -5. Vertex (2, -5).
- Physics: a car starts from rest and accelerates at 2 m/s^2 for 5 s. Final speed v = at = 2 × 5 = 10 m/s. Distance s = (1/2)at^2 = 0.5 × 2 × 25 = 25 m.
- Chemistry: how many molecules are in 22 g of carbon dioxide (molar mass 44 g/mol)? Moles = 22/44 = 0.5. Molecules = 0.5 × 6.02 × 10^23 = 3.01 × 10^23.
- Biology: two parents are both Aa for a recessive trait. In the cross Aa × Aa the offspring are AA, Aa, Aa, aa, so the probability of aa is 1/4 (25%).
Common planning mistakes
- Revising only the current school year. Tahsili covers all three years, and first-year topics are the most forgotten.
- Spending all the time on the favourite subject. Each subject is a quarter of the test, so the weakest one is where marks are cheapest.
- Doing untimed practice only. Recall that takes three minutes will not survive a 125-minute paper.
- Leaving full practice tests to the last week, which leaves no time to fix what they reveal.
- Relying on a calculator at home. Practise exactly as the test runs.
- Starting Tahsili revision during school finals without a plan for both. Blend the two, because Tahsili review also strengthens current-year work.
How tutoring fits into a Tahsili plan
Most families do not need a tutor for all four subjects. A sensible pattern is one or two lessons a week in the weakest subject, with the student following the rotation above for the others. In lessons the tutor reviews one topic family, checks recall with quick questions on the shared whiteboard, and ends with a short timed set; between lessons the student does the plan's daily work. Some families book separate tutors for physics, chemistry and maths, since each tutor teaches the subjects they list.
Most students in Saudi schools sit Tahsili in Arabic, and ETEC also offers it in English. Our tutors can map English terms to the Arabic ones in the official material. Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book.
Self-check before you start week 1
- Do you know the date of your Tahsili attempt and the university deadlines it feeds?
- Do you have ETEC's official guide and practice questions for scientific tracks?
- Can you list your three weakest topics in each subject?
- Can you state, without notes, the exact value of sin 30°, the mole number 6.02 × 10^23 and v = u + at?
- Have you set a fixed weekly slot for a timed mixed section?
Common questions
How long before Tahsili should my child start revising?
Twelve weeks of steady work suits most students; start earlier if one subject is well behind. Because the test covers three years, short regular sessions beat a last-month cram.
Is maths in every Tahsili test?
Maths is 25% of the scientific-track test. ETEC also runs a separate Tahsili for theoretical tracks with different subjects; check which one your child's track requires.
How is Tahsili different from Qudurat?
ETEC describes Tahsili as measuring the knowledge gained from school subjects, while Qudurat measures understanding and reasoning through language and maths rather than stored information. Tahsili rewards subject review; Qudurat rewards reasoning speed.
Can my child take Tahsili more than once?
Yes. For the paper test inside Saudi Arabia, ETEC's guide gives four attempts: two in grade 12 and two in the first year after graduating. Results are valid for five years.
What do LiveTutor lessons for Tahsili cost?
Every lesson is one to one, online and 60 minutes at $15. Families pick a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly, and the first lesson is a free trial in the subject you choose.
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.