The Israeli high school system prepares students to take the Bagrut (matriculation) exams. These exams are necessary in order to be accepted into universities or vocational colleges. Bagrut exams are given from 10th through 12th grade.
It can be very daunting for teenagers who make Aliyah to be confronted by this series of rigorous Israeli tests. However, the Bagrut system accommodates new Olim and makes certain allowances to help students succeed in the exams. New Olim are eligible for certain leniencies which are detailed in the chart below.
Translation of a Hebrew Announcement from Misrad Hachinuch
(Ministry of Education) חוזר מנכ"ל תשס"ט ./3 (א) 11.09
Children who arrive in Israel when they are entering the 10th grade (or when they are 15 years of age or older) are classified as Olim Chadashim (new Olim).
Children who arrive in Israel before 10th grade, or before they reach the age of 15, are classified as Olim Vatikim (veteran Olim).
This status determines their rights and will hold true for ten years. Namely, if your child arrives in 3rd grade or thereafter, he or she will be provided with special accommodations for the duration of his or her primary and secondary education.
In order to receive the special test booklets and Oleh accommodations, you will need to get approval from the school's guidance counselor. There are three caveats to the provision of Oleh Bagrut leniencies: one applying to budgets, one applying to minimum requirement of students in school requesting the accommodations, and one applying to the availability of staff to administer the accommodations. These caveats basically give the Misrad HaChinuch the ability to rescind the leniencies.
To determine the eligibility of your child, you will need to be proactive with your child's homeroom teacher (mechanech/et) and school's guidance counselor.
All of these leniencies apply only for Bagrut tests that take place in the "summer" testing period (i.e. the second semester of the year when the majority of the Bagrut exams are offered).
|
Subject |
Oleh Vatik (Veteran Oleh: came before the age of 15 or before 10th grade) |
Oleh Chadash (New Oleh: came at age 15 or in 10th grade) |
|
Tanach, Literature, History, and Civics (mandatory) |
|
If you answer in Hebrew:
If you answer in English:
Students who make Aliyah in 11th or 12th grade can be tested orally. |
|
Tanach (mandatory) |
Can use English translated Tanach |
Can use English translated Tanach |
|
Math (mandatory) |
Regular exam with no additional points |
If you answer in Hebrew:
If you answer in English:
|
|
Optional subjects that are heavily based on reading comprehension skills |
Regular exam plus 10 points |
Only answer in Hebrew: |
|
Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Electronics (optional) |
|
Answer in Hebrew:
Answer in English:
Test can be read to student orally |
|
All subjects |
|
|
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