Tawjihi

Tawjihi (Arabic: توجيهي, also known as the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination ; Arabic: امتحان شهادة الدراسة الثانوية العامة), is the national secondary school examination in Jordan and Palestine. It is taken at the end of upper secondary education. Traditionally, Tawjihi concluded two years of secondary education (Grade 12) following ten years of basic schooling. It was conducted in specific academic (e.g., scientific, literary) or vocational streams. As of the 2024–2025 academic year, the Jordanian Ministry of Education restructured the system. Tawjihi is now a two-year program covering Grades 11 and 12, with students selecting either academic or vocational (BTEC) tracks in Grade 9. In Grade 11, students sit ministerial exams in common subjects: Arabic, English, Jordanian history, and Islamic studies. The Grade 11 average contributes approximately 30% toward the final Tawjihi score. The remaining 70% comes from Grade 12 assessments based on student-selected subjects. Students pick six subjects, four of which are examined, depending on the chosen field in the second semester of Grade 11. The main fields and required subjects (examined subjects only) are: Medical/Health: Chemistry, English, Biology, optional Engineering: Math, Physics, two optional subjects Technology: Math, three optional subjects Languages and Social Sciences: Specialized Arabic, Advanced English, two optional subjects Law and Legislative Science: Specialized Arabic, Specialized Islamic Studies, two optional subjects Business: Business Mathematics, Financial Literacy, Advanced English, one optional subject Students who fail a Grade 11 subject may retake it in Grade 12 without affecting university eligibility. Admission to higher education is determined by Tawjihi scores. Competitive fields, such as medicine and engineering, generally require high averages (typically 85% or above). The restructured Tawjihi program began in the 2024–2025 academic year; the first cohort under this system will graduate in 2026.