At a glance
- Parts
- Reading 40%, grammatical structures 40%, listening 20%
- Delivery
- Digital only, available all year
- Fee
- SAR 150 in Saudi Arabia; SAR 200 outside
- Results
- 3 to 5 working days
- Validity
- 3 years from the test date
STEP at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Run by | National Center for Assessment (Qiyas), Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) |
| Purpose | Measures English proficiency of speakers of English as a foreign language; used for admission and placement by bodies that require it |
| Who takes it | Secondary and university graduates, students joining English programmes at Saudi universities and scholarship programmes, and anyone who needs a certificate of English level |
| Content | Reading comprehension 40%, grammatical structures 40%, listening comprehension 20% |
| Delivery and dates | Digital only; ETEC lists it as available throughout 2026 |
| Changing a booking | Possible after payment up to 48 hours before the test |
| Calculator | Not allowed |
| ID on the day | National ID for Saudis, iqama for residents, passport or Saudi driving licence |
Source: ETEC STEP test page, checked 6 October 2026. ETEC's page does not state the number of questions or the test length; your booking confirmation and the ETEC portal give the current details. Some older guides describe a fourth, writing-analysis part; ETEC's current page lists only the three parts above.
What each part asks for
Reading comprehension is the largest part with grammar. Expect passages followed by questions on the main idea, details, inference, reference (what a pronoun refers to) and vocabulary in context. Students lose marks by reading every word slowly and then running short of time, or by choosing an answer that repeats words from the passage but changes the meaning.
Grammatical structures carries the same 40% weight. These questions test the grammar of written English: verb tenses and forms, subject and verb agreement, articles, prepositions, conditionals, relative clauses, comparatives and word order. Arabic-speaking students tend to lose marks in predictable places, such as articles (a, an, the), the present perfect, and prepositions that do not map onto Arabic ones.
Listening comprehension is 20%. Students listen to recorded English and answer questions on what they heard. Accent, speed and keeping up with the question while listening are the usual difficulties, and they improve with regular, short listening practice.
Where STEP marks are lost
- Articles and prepositions: small words that many Arabic speakers handle by feel, and that STEP tests repeatedly.
- Tense choice, especially present perfect versus past simple, and the sequence of tenses in reported speech and conditionals.
- Reading too slowly to finish, and not reading the question before the passage.
- Vocabulary in context: choosing a familiar meaning that does not fit the sentence.
- Listening: losing the thread after one missed word instead of continuing to the next answer.
How one-to-one STEP lessons work
The first lesson includes a short diagnostic of grammar, reading and listening so the tutor knows where the marks are. Grammar is usually the fastest to improve, because the tested structures repeat: the tutor teaches one area at a time, has your child explain why an answer is correct, and drills it with short sets. Reading lessons build a method (question first, then targeted reading) and speed. Listening is practised in short daily doses between lessons, with the tutor reviewing what was missed.
Because STEP is an English test, our English tutors can prepare students for it directly. Many of our tutors have British or American accents, and you can state an accent preference when booking. Explanations of difficult grammar can also be given in Arabic by Arabic-speaking tutors, who are available for some subjects; ask when you book.
STEP is digital and runs all year, so the plan can be built backwards from a test date that suits your child, with a final week of timed practice.
Check the score you actually need
There is no pass or fail on STEP. Each university, programme or employer sets its own minimum STEP score, and some also accept IELTS or TOEFL. Check the exact requirement on the admission page of each programme before setting a target.
Common questions
What is in the STEP test?
According to ETEC's current page: reading comprehension (40%), grammatical structures (40%) and listening comprehension (20%).
Is STEP on paper or computer?
Digital only. ETEC lists it as available throughout the year, and results arrive within 3 to 5 working days.
How long is a STEP score valid?
Three years from the test date, according to ETEC.
STEP or IELTS: which should my child take?
It depends on where the score is going. Saudi universities and programmes that require STEP will say so; others accept IELTS or TOEFL, and universities abroad usually want IELTS or TOEFL. Check each programme's admission page.
How much do STEP lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week 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.