Israeli Education System

Israeli Education System

Instructions

Step 1: Identify Education Query Type

| Query Type | Data Source | Key Topics | |-----------|------------|------------| | Bagrut requirements | Ministry of Education | Subjects, units, passing grades | | Psychometric exam | NITE (nite.org.il) | Sections, scoring, registration | | University admissions | University websites | Sekhem, requirements by program | | School lookup | data.gov.il | School details, location, sector | | Grade conversion | Ministry standards | Bagrut scoring, bonus calculations |

Step 2: Israeli Education System Overview

System structure:

Age 3-6:    Gan -- Kindergarten
            Gan Chova (mandatory, age 5-6)

Age 6-12:   Yesodi -- Elementary School
            Grades 1-6 (Kitah Aleph through Vav)

Age 12-15:  Chativat Beinayim -- Middle School
            Grades 7-9 (Kitah Zayin through Tet)

Age 15-18:  Tichon -- High School
            Grades 10-12 (Kitah Yud through Yud-Bet)
            Bagrut exams during this period

Age 18-21:  Military Service (Sherut Tzva'i) -- Most Israelis
            IDF, National Service, or exemption

Age 21+:    Higher Education (Haskalah Gvoha)
            University, College, Mechina

Education streams (Zeramim): | Stream | Hebrew | Description | |--------|--------|-------------| | State (Mamlachti) | mamlachti | Secular public education | | State-Religious (Mamlachti-Dati) | mamlachti-dati | Religious public education | | Ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) | charedi | Independent religious schools | | Arab | aravi | Arabic-language schools | | Druze | druzi | Druze community schools |

Step 3: Bagrut (Matriculation) Guidance

Mandatory Bagrut subjects: | Subject | Hebrew | Min Units | |---------|--------|-----------| | Hebrew Language | Lashon | 2 | | English | Anglit | 3-5 | | Mathematics | Matematika | 3-5 | | Bible | Tanach | 2 | | Literature | Sifrut | 2 | | History | Historia | 2 | | Civics | Ezrachut | 2 |

Requirements for certificate:

• Pass all mandatory subjects (56+ out of 100)
• Minimum 21 total study units
• Certificate name: Te'udat Bagrut

5-unit bonuses for university admission:

• Mathematics 5 units: +35 bonus points
• English 5 units: +25 bonus points (NOT +35; the +35 bonus is reserved for math)
• Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science) 5 units: +25 each
• Extra-language 5 units (Arabic, French, etc.): +25
• Stacking rule at most universities: math 5yl combined with two science 5yl typically earns +30 per science instead of +25

Note: Exact bonus tables vary by university and program. The values above reflect the canonical 2026 cycle; verify the program's published bonus table before quoting a number to a user.

Step 4: Psychometric Exam (PET) Information

Exam structure: | Section | Hebrew | Score Range | |---------|--------|-------------| | Quantitative Reasoning | Chashiva Kamutit | 50-150 | | Verbal Reasoning | Chashiva Miluliti | 50-150 | | English | Anglit | 50-150 |

Overall score: 200-800 (average ~530)

Score interpretation: | Score | Percentile | Competitiveness | |-------|-----------|-----------------| | 740+ | 99th | Medicine, law at top universities | | 680+ | 95th | CS, engineering at Technion/TAU | | 620+ | 85th | Many university programs | | 550 | 50th | Some university, most colleges | | Below 480 | Below 20th | Consider mechina or retake |

Key facts:

• No cap on retake attempts (NITE removed the prior 8-attempt limit years ago); the highest score counts.
• Available in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish.
• Cost (2026): approximately 560 NIS standard registration (per the NITE price sheet); late registration adds a surcharge. Always verify the current sitting fee on nite.org.il/test-dates-and-prices before quoting.
• Popular prep courses: Kidum, High-Q, Yoel Geva, Psagot.

IMPORTANT, December 2026 PET restructure: NITE is removing English from the main psychometric. From the December 2026 sitting onward:

• The PET shrinks to 2 sections (Verbal + Quantitative), ~2.5 hours total.
• English moves to a separate computerized test called Amirnett (אמירנט).
• The restructure affects admissions only from academic year תשפ"ח (starting October 2027); each institution decides whether to keep using the PET English score in the sekhem until then. Confirm the current schedule on nite.org.il before advising whether a student should sit the legacy 3-section format or the new structure. Universities that previously used the PET English score will gradually migrate to Amirnett.

Step 4.5: English Placement Tests (Distinct from Bagrut English)

Bagrut English measures high-school proficiency. University English placement uses separate NITE tests, and many students don't realize they're different exams:

| Test | Hebrew | Purpose | |------|--------|---------| | Amir | אמי"ר | English-level placement (paper-based). Same content domain as the PET English section. Sat by students who skipped PET English or want to re-sit only English. | | Amiram | אמיר"ם | Computerized equivalent of Amir; more frequent sittings, faster results. | | Yael | יע"ל | Hebrew proficiency for non-Hebrew speakers. Required for most olim and international students. |

English level brackets (universities place students into one of five tracks):

| Bracket | Hebrew | Implication | |---------|--------|-------------| | Pre-Basic | טרום בסיסי | Must take Pre-Basic English course before degree starts | | Basic | בסיסי | Must take Basic English course | | Advanced A | מתקדמים א | Must take Advanced A English course | | Advanced B | מתקדמים ב | Must take Advanced B English course | | Exempt (Patur) | פטור | No English coursework required during the degree |

PET / Amir / Amiram English score determines the bracket. From December 2026, Amirnett replaces PET English as the standalone computerized English test. NITE source: nite.org.il/other-tests/amir, /amiram, /yael.

Step 5: University Admissions

Sekhem (composite admission score) calculation: Each university (and each faculty within a university) weights Bagrut and Psychometric differently, and weights shift between admission cycles. The illustrative ranges below are starting points only, always verify on the program's official admissions calculator before quoting a number to a user:

• Typical: 40% Bagrut + 60% Psychometric (varies by program)
• Technion: roughly 35% Bagrut + 65% Psychometric, with program-specific 5-unit-Math / 5-unit-English thresholds for CS and engineering
• Tel Aviv University: roughly 40% Bagrut + 60% Psychometric, with Bagrut average multiplied by ×1.25 in the formula. Medicine requires the centralized MOR Multi-Mini Interview on top of sekhem (see Step 5.5).
• Hebrew University, Ben-Gurion, Bar-Ilan, Haifa: each publishes its own per-faculty formula on its admissions site

Major universities (11 CHE-recognized as of 2026): | University | Hebrew | City | Strengths | |-----------|--------|------|-----------| | Hebrew University | ha-universita ha-ivrit | Jerusalem | Research, humanities, sciences | | Tel Aviv University | universitat tel aviv | Tel Aviv | Largest, diverse programs | | Technion | ha-technion | Haifa | Engineering, CS, technology | | Ben-Gurion University | universitat ben gurion | Beer Sheva | Engineering, desert research | | University of Haifa | universitat haifa | Haifa | Social sciences, marine | | Bar-Ilan University | universitat bar ilan | Ramat Gan | Law, social sciences | | Weizmann Institute | machon weizmann | Rehovot | Graduate science only | | Open University | ha-universita ha-ptuchah | Distance | Open admissions (no Bagrut/PET required for course enrollment) | | Reichman University | universitat raichman | Herzliya | Business, law, government (granted university status by CHE in 2021; formerly IDC) | | Ariel University | universitat ariel | Ariel | Engineering, sciences (granted university status in 2012) | | University of Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee | universitat kiryat shmona ve-ha-galil | Kiryat Shmona | Biotech, education, psychology, nutrition (CHE-approved ~20 Jan 2026, effective 2026/27 academic year (תשפ"ז), 5-year provisional recognition; ex-Tel-Hai Academic College) |

Approximate admission thresholds (sekhem): | Program | Top Universities | Mid-tier | |---------|-----------------|----------| | Medicine | 740+ | N/A | | Computer Science | 700+ | 640+ | | Law | 680+ | 620+ | | Engineering | 660+ | 600+ | | Business | 620+ | 560+ | | Social Sciences | 560+ | 500+ |

Step 5.5: Medicine Admissions (MOR Multi-Mini Interview)

Most Israeli medical schools (TAU, Hebrew U, BGU, Bar-Ilan/Tzfat, Technion, Ariel) require the MOR (מו"ר) selection process (a multi-station assessment center) administered centrally by NITE, in addition to sekhem:

• Registration window: spring to early summer (for 2026 the biographical-questionnaire registration ran in early-mid June; assessment centers run roughly late May to July) via nite.org.il/other-tests/mor. Verify the current cycle's exact dates.
• Format: in-person, multi-station Hebrew interviews
• Capacity-limited: registration closes well before the medical-school application deadline; missing this window means missing the entire admissions cycle for medicine
• Hard pre-screen: a student with sekhem 740+ who skips MOR is auto-rejected from medicine
• Fee: separate from PET, posted annually on nite.org.il
• No exemption for atuda candidates or olim, the MOR is required across the board

A student aiming for medicine who only optimizes Bagrut + Psychometric will fail admissions. Always flag MOR registration windows when advising medicine applicants.

Step 6: Alternative Admission Routes

Not every path into Israeli higher education runs through Bagrut + Psychometric. The major alternatives:

Mechina (pre-academic preparatory program):

• Recognized mechinot are subsidized by the Ministry of Education for periphery residents, post-army, lone soldiers, olim chadashim, and single parents (Vaadat Hatziduk eligibility groups). Many students are entitled to fully-funded mechina but never apply because they default to PET prep.
• Completion grade above the program-specific threshold (often ≥85) substitutes for both Bagrut average AND psychometric in many programs. Verify per-program: not universal.
• Mechina-Aharei-Tzava (post-army mechina) is the most common route. References: gov.il/he/departments/general/preacademicpreparatory_program; kolzchut.org.il "מכינה קדם-אקדמית".

Atuda Akademait (IDF-sponsored academic deferral):

• The IDF pays full tuition + monthly stipend in exchange for extended service after the degree (length depends on degree, typically 4-5 years post-graduation).
• Apply via Meitav (IDF Manpower Directorate); registration window opens around age 16.5, before the standard draft age. The Yom Hamiyunim (selection day) is held during high school.
• Atuda is a separate gate ON TOP of regular university admission, a student must be accepted both by the IDF AND the university.
• Strongly STEM-skewed: most slots are CS, engineering, math, physics. Reference: mitgaisim.idf.il/roles/מסלול-העתודה-האקדמית.

Olim Chadashim (new immigrants):

• Most universities exempt olim from the psychometric for the first 3 years post-aliyah. SAT, ACT, IB, or Bagrut Beinleumit are accepted as substitutes.
• Naale (Bagrut in Israel for diaspora teens) is recognized by all universities.
• Foreign credentials require evaluation (haarakhat te'uda) via the Ministry of Education.
• Student Authority (Minhal HaStudentim) provides tuition scholarships and dorm subsidies for first-degree olim. Reference: gov.il/he/departments/units/student_authority.

Open University (Ha'Universita Ha'Petucha) "petuach" model:

• Course enrollment is open to anyone, no Bagrut, no psychometric, no application form required.
• Students accumulate course credits; 120 credit points (engineering degrees differ) with the required core completes a fully CHE-recognized first degree, equivalent in legal status to any other university degree.
• Strongest fit for older students, dropouts, working professionals, and students who failed the psychometric and prefer not to retake. Reference: openu.ac.il/registration.

Elite IDF-academic programs (Mahalol):

• Talpiot (IDF + Hebrew U Math/Physics/CS), Havatzalot (intelligence + BGU), Brakim, Psagot, Tzameret (medicine + IDF), separate selection processes parallel to standard admission, with multi-year service commitments.
• Application gates open in 11th grade for some (e.g., Talpiot Yom Hamiyunim). Students with the academic profile to apply often miss the window because the skill is treated as university-only.

Step 7: Wartime 2023-2025 (Iron Swords) Accommodations

Bagrut and psychometric accommodations from "Charvot Barzel" / "Iron Swords" are still in effect for the 2025/26 cohort and likely later:

• Bagrut: ~15% extra time on written exams, ~20% material reduction, oral exams converted to internal grades for displaced students from north and south, reservists' children, and bereaved siblings.
• Higher education: free academic year for displaced students via Student Authority; tuition deferral for reservists; alternate "Bagrut Iron Swords" portfolio path for some cohorts.
• Filing deadlines apply via the school for Bagrut accommodations and via the Student Authority for tuition rights.
• Always check edu.gov.il/special/iron-swords for the current cohort's accommodations before assuming a standard Bagrut format for evacuee or reservist students.

Step 8: Education Terminology Glossary

| Hebrew | Transliteration | English | |--------|----------------|---------| | bagrut | Bagrut | Matriculation exams | | yechidot limud | Yechidot Limud | Study units (credit level) | | teudat bagrut | Te'udat Bagrut | Matriculation certificate | | psichometri | Psichometri | Psychometric entrance test | | sekhem | Sekhem | Composite admission score | | mechina | Mechina | Pre-academic preparatory program | | megama | Megama | Major/specialization (high school) | | kita | Kita | Class/grade | | moreh/mora | Moreh/Mora | Teacher (m/f) | | menahel | Menahel | Principal | | beit sefer | Beit Sefer | School | | universita | Universita | University | | michlala | Michlala | College | | toar rishon | Toar Rishon | Bachelor's degree | | toar sheni | Toar Sheni | Master's degree | | doktorat | Doktorat | Doctorate (PhD) | | milga | Milga | Scholarship | | schar limud | Schar Limud | Tuition | | meonot | Me'onot | Dormitories |

Examples

Example 1: Bagrut Planning

User says: "My daughter is starting 10th grade, what Bagrut subjects should she take?" Actions:

1. List mandatory subjects and minimum units
2. Ask about her interests and university goals
3. Recommend elective subjects and unit levels
4. Explain 5-unit bonus system for university
5. Calculate estimated units and university readiness

Result: Personalized Bagrut subject plan with university admission context.

Example 2: Psychometric Preparation

User says: "I got 580 on the psychometric, what are my university options?" Actions:

1. Interpret score (slightly above average, ~55th percentile)
2. List eligible programs by university
3. Discuss retake strategy if higher score needed
4. Suggest preparation resources
5. Present alternative pathways (mechina, Open University)

Result: Realistic program options with improvement plan.

Example 3: School Information

User says: "Find elementary schools in Ra'anana" Actions:

1. Query data.gov.il for schools in Ra'anana
2. Filter by elementary level (Yesodi)
3. Present list with stream (Mamlachti, Mamlachti-Dati), size
4. Note any RAMA assessment data if available

Result: Structured school list for the requested city and level.

Bundled Resources

Scripts

• scripts/calculate_sekhem.py, Calculate weighted Bagrut averages with 5-unit bonus points, estimate university admiss

…

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: skills-il
• Source: skills-il/government-services
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.