Qiyas, Tahsili, and Cognitive Ability Test: Full Comparison

The tests administered by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) are a core gateway to university admission and government employment in Saudi Arabia. Confusing the three (Qiyas, Tahsili, and the Cognitive Ability Test) is common، each has a distinct purpose, audience, and set of rules. This guide clarifies the differences, dates, test locations, and how many retakes are allowed.

Quick comparison table of the three tests

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1. Qiyas (General Aptitude Test)

Purpose

Measures a student's analytical and reasoning ability، independent of any specific school subject. It tests the thinking skills a student has built up over years of education, not memorized content.

Main sections

1. Verbal section (60 questions):

• Reading comprehension
• Verbal analogies (word-to-word relationships)
• Sentence completion
• Contextual error detection

2. Quantitative section (60 questions):

• Arithmetic
• Geometry
• Basic algebra
• Data analysis

Who is it for?

General high-school students، anyone planning to apply to Saudi public or private universities. Most universities require a minimum Qiyas score (varying by university and major).

The weighted score

Most universities do not rely on Qiyas alone; they calculate a weighted score that combines:

• High-school GPA
• Qiyas score
• Tahsili score (for science majors)

Weighting varies by university and major. Check each university's admissions guide.

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2. The Tahsili (Standardized Achievement Test)

Purpose

Measures how well a high-school student has absorbed the science subjects they actually studied، unlike Qiyas, which tests general aptitude. Required for majors including:

• Medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy
• All engineering disciplines
• Sciences (physics, chemistry, biology)
• Some computer science tracks

Question distribution

Note: The exact distribution differs between the traditional science track and the developed track.

How it differs from Qiyas

A student who never seriously studied a subject can still pass Qiyas because it tests thinking ability. Tahsili, on the other hand, will fail anyone who did not actually absorb the curriculum، it tests curriculum content directly.

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3. The Cognitive Ability Test

Purpose

Measures cognitive ability for employment، mainly for government jobs. ETEC launched it to standardize evaluation criteria in employment competitions.

Sections

• Verbal comprehension and linguistic reasoning
• Quantitative reasoning
• Logical / deductive reasoning
• Spatial and pattern reasoning

Who is it for?

• Applicants to government jobs through the Jadarat platform or public-sector competitions
• Some large private-sector employers require it
• New graduates strengthening their employment profile

Does it replace Qiyas?

No. Qiyas is for universities; the Cognitive Ability Test is for employment. Passing one does not substitute for the other if the other is required.

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When are the tests held?

All tests run in windows across the year:

Qiyas and Tahsili

• First window: autumn/winter (typically October – December)
• Second window: spring/summer (typically March – June)

Each window spans several weeks, and the student picks a specific date and center at registration.

Cognitive Ability Test

Available almost continuously throughout the year, with new sittings opened based on demand.

For exact dates: always check the official Qiyas platform at etec.gov.sa, since the schedule is updated annually.

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Where are the tests held?

Test centers are spread across every region of Saudi Arabia. Major cities host multiple centers:

• Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar
• Taif, Hail, Tabuk, Buraidah, Arar, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran
• Mid-sized cities each host one or more centers

Booking a center

When registering on the Qiyas platform, you choose:

1. The city you want to test in
2. The specific center (with available seats)
3. Gender (male and female centers are separate)
4. The date and time available

Tip: Registering early gives you a wider choice of centers and dates. Latecomers may have to travel to a different city.

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How many retakes are allowed?

Qiyas and Tahsili

Maximum: 5 attempts within the 5-year score validity. The rules:

• Every attempt counts, whether you show up or not (once registered and paid).
• The highest score you achieved is the one used for admission.
• Once the 5 attempts are exhausted, you cannot retake until the score validity (5 years) expires.

Cognitive Ability Test

Retakes are handled more flexibly, but the rules vary by employer. Check the specific job or competition requirements.

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Which first: Qiyas or Tahsili?

A common question among high-school students. The recommended order:

1. Qiyas first, at the end of grade 11 or start of grade 12. It requires no specific curriculum prep.
2. Tahsili at the end of grade 12، the curriculum is complete and the material is still fresh.

This order leaves you enough time to retake either test if the score falls below expectations.

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Preparation tips

For Qiyas

• Learn question-solving techniques, not content memorization.
• Practice with past Qiyas prep books (available in bookstores).
• Apply time management، many questions, tight time.

For Tahsili

• Review the full science-track high-school curriculum (physics/chemistry/biology/math).
• Focus on fundamentals and laws, not complex derivations.
• Use past Tahsili papers، the style repeats.

For the Cognitive Ability Test

• Practice logical reasoning (series/analogies).
• Build mental arithmetic speed.
• Review basic Arabic grammar.

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Official sources

• Qiyas platform (ETEC): etec.gov.sa
• Unified university admission portal: varies by region
• Jadarat government employment platform: jadarat.sa

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See also: KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) · Saudi Universities