Bagrut Exam Accommodations for Olim Students

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   In brief

   The Ministry of Education has established special examination rules for the Bagrut exams for Oleh students, with the goal of supporting their absorption into Israel and taking into account their educational needs and challenges.

2. 2

   Who is eligible?

   You're eligible if you're in grade 10 or above and at least one of the following applies to you:

   • You were born abroad and made Aliyah to Israel.

   Students who made Aliyah from Ethiopia are entitled to accommodations for 12 years, or until age 25 — whichever is later.

   Students who made Aliyah from all other countries are entitled to accommodations for 10 years, or until age 23 — whichever is later.

   The examination conditions for external examinees (those sitting external exams) are identical to those for internal examinees.

3. 3

   Levels of entitlement

   The Bagrut accommodations are determined according to 3 levels:

   • Level A: For students who arrived in Israel and began studying in grades 1–3.
   • Level B: For students who arrived in Israel and began studying in grades 4–8.
   • Level C: For students who arrived in Israel and began studying in grades 9–12.
4. 4

   Accommodations available at all levels of entitlement

   The following accommodations apply to students at all 3 levels:

   • Examination using the Olim questionnaire for Hebrew in writing in the following compulsory subjects: Comprehension, Expression and Language (general, religious, independent); Literature (general, religious, independent); Civics (general, religious, independent); Bible (general, religious, independent); History (general, religious, independent); Toshba (religious); Talmud; Jewish Thought (religious); and Judaism.
   • 25% extra time for all written exams.
   • Spelling errors are disregarded in Hebrew-language examinations — except for Level A students in the subject Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language.
   • Reading aloud of the exam questionnaire in Hebrew for all written exams in Hebrew (the questionnaire will not be read aloud in a bilingual exam).
   • Use of a Hebrew–mother tongue / mother tongue–Hebrew dictionary (including electronic) in all subjects and questionnaires in Hebrew in written examinations — except for Level A students in the subject Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language.
   • Use of an English–mother tongue or mother tongue–English electronic dictionary in written English exams. Students sitting English at 3 or 4 credit units (yechidot limud) will receive the spelling-errors-disregarded accommodation. Students at 3, 4, or 5 credit units will be entitled to having the questionnaire read aloud.
   • Use of a complete Bible translated into various languages without commentaries in the Bagrut Bible exam, for those sitting both the standard questionnaire and the Olim questionnaire.

   Accommodations in Hebrew subjects (Comprehension, Expression and Language)

   In the Bagrut exam in Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language, there is no bilingual exam, no reading aloud, no dictation, and no oral exam.

   Accommodations for Level B:

   • Entitlement to use a dictionary (or small dictionary) Hebrew–mother tongue or Hebrew–Hebrew, and spelling errors are disregarded in writing tasks. These accommodations apply in both the standard questionnaire and the Olim questionnaire.
   • A new questionnaire in Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language for Olim students at Level B who immigrated from Ethiopia only.

   Accommodations for Level C:

   • Entitlement to use a dictionary (or small dictionary) Hebrew–mother tongue or Hebrew–Hebrew, and spelling errors are disregarded in writing tasks. These accommodations apply in both the standard questionnaire and the Olim questionnaire.
   • A new questionnaire in Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language for Olim students at Level C.
5. 5

   Bonus points in standard questionnaires

   Students sitting standard questionnaires — that is, a standard, external, written exam — receive a points bonus on their score, as detailed below.

   No points bonus is given to students who sit an internal exam, Olim questionnaires, bilingual questionnaires, or oral questionnaires.

   For students assessed through alternative assessment in compulsory and elective subjects, in accordance with Director General's Circular עד/7(ד), the school determines the reported school score as it does for all students and does not add bonus points.

   The points bonus is given only if the student sits an external exam. If a student sits an internal exam — and not an external exam — in a given subject, they are not entitled to the points bonus in that subject.

   Bonus points added to the annual school score

   A points bonus is added to the annual (internal) score reported by the school to the Ministry of Education, for students who meet both of the following conditions:

   1. During the assessment period leading up to the Bagrut exam, the student studied and was examined using the standard questionnaire.
   2. The student sat the external Bagrut exam — using a standard questionnaire, in writing, and in Hebrew.

   The bonus applies in all subjects, including mathematics and science subjects (not including English).

   The bonus is given according to level of entitlement:

   • Level A: 10 points.
   • Levels B and C: 15 points.

   The bonus is added by the school. The annual score reported to the Ministry of Education already includes the bonus points — the Ministry does not add further points to the annual score.

   Bonus points added to the Bagrut exam score — by the Ministry of Education

   A points bonus on the Bagrut exam score is given to students who sit the external Bagrut exam — using a standard questionnaire, in writing, and in Hebrew.

   The bonus applies in all subjects examined in an external exam, including mathematics and science subjects (not including English).

   The bonus is given according to level of entitlement:

   • Level A: 10 points.
   • Levels B and C: 15 points.

   The bonus is added automatically to the Bagrut exam score by the Ministry of Education.

   Bonus points on the English Bagrut exam score

   A points bonus is given to students who sit an external written Bagrut exam in English.

   The bonus is added by the Ministry of Education to the final weighted score.

   At all levels of entitlement (A, B, and C), a bonus of 10 points is added to the final weighted score.

   No points bonus is given to students who came from countries where the official language is English.

6. 6

   Bilingual exams

   At Levels B and C, you're entitled to sit written bilingual exams — where the exam paper is written in both your mother tongue and Hebrew — in the following subjects:

   Compulsory subjects:

   • Bible, Literature, Civics, History, Toshba (in Olim exams), Mathematics (in standard exam).

   Elective subjects (in standard exams):

   • Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computer Science, Electronics and Computers, Science and Technology for All, and Social Sciences — Sociology, Psychology and Research Methods.

   The bilingual exams are translated into the following languages only:

   • Russian
   • Amharic
   • English
   • French
   • Spanish

   Translation of questionnaires into these languages takes place only if there is a minimum number of students who speak the language, as determined by the Ministry of Education. You can find the list of translated Bagrut questionnaires for each exam sitting on the website of the Department for the Absorption of Olim Students at the Ministry of Education.

   In general, for the 5 languages into which questionnaires are translated, you may answer in your mother tongue or in Hebrew. However, the option to answer in a given language depends on the number of assessors who meet the established criteria. The list of questionnaires with the option to answer in a mother tongue for each exam sitting is also available on the Department for the Absorption of Olim Students website.

   In subjects where a bilingual professional glossary exists in these languages, it will be provided to examinees.

   Students sitting a bilingual Bagrut exam questionnaire are not entitled to a points bonus on their exam score, to having the questionnaire read aloud, or to use of a dictionary.

7. 7

   Oral examination in Hebrew

   At Level C, you're entitled to sit an oral exam in Hebrew in all subjects using standard questionnaires and Oleh questionnaires — except for Hebrew: Comprehension, Expression and Language, and language subjects. Note that some subjects cannot be examined orally by their nature (for example, Physics).

   Students sitting an oral exam are not entitled to a points bonus on their exam score, to having the questionnaire read aloud, or to use of a dictionary.

8. 8

   Students with learning disabilities

   If you've been diagnosed with learning disabilities, you're entitled to these accommodations in addition to the accommodations granted for learning disabilities in Bagrut exams.

   Accommodations for learning disabilities are given in both standard exams and Oleh exams.

   Students with a learning disability who have received approval to sit an oral exam will not receive bonus points.

9. 9

   How to exercise this right

   Your entitlement to accommodations should be granted automatically.

   If you have questions, or if your educational institution refuses to allow you to sit exams with accommodations, get in touch with the Ministry of Education.