GAT: What is the General Aptitude Test (Qudurat Exam) for UG Students in Saudi Arabia?

The General Aptitude Test (GAT) is an undergraduate university entrance exam in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. The exam is mandatory for both national and international students. In Saudi Arabia, it is known as the Qudurat test. The exam is not based on a specific high school syllabus because it doesn’t test your textbook knowledge but your aptitude. The universities give importance to this exam as it assesses whether you possess the core skills essential for success. In this blog, we have covered everything you need to know, from format and registration process to scoring and the top universities that require test results.

What is the General Aptitude Test GAT?

The General Aptitude Test or the Qudurat is an aptitude test held in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. Students are mandatorily required to take this exam if they want to enroll in any undergraduate program. In fact, the test is so important that it accounts for approximately 30%-40% of your admission weightage. The test is held in Arabic or English. The English version is for international students.  

The exam is available for all courses and academic tracks. This includes science courses such as medicine, IT, and Engineering, as well as humanities courses like Arts, law, and business. The main goal is to assess your skills before you are enrolled in a specific course.

Fun Fact: Qudurat means ‘abilities’ in English.

Format of the GAT Exam

The Qudurat exam is held for a duration of 3 hours and is in MCQ format. The exam sections are divided into a verbal section and a quantitative section and consist of about 120 questions. The scores are calculated on a scale of 1 to 100.

Feature	Details
Scoring	Scale of 1–100
Duration	Approximately 3 hours
Format	Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) only
Total Questions	Around 120 (paper-based); may vary slightly in the computer-based version
Test Sections	Six sections, administered sequentially; grouped into two main parts

GAT English Version Syllabus

The General Aptitude Test, or the GAT, consists of 2 main sections: the verbal section and the quantitative section. The following are the kinds of topics covered in each of these sections. It is important to note that the English version is not just a literal translation. The paper emphasises English language skills(instead of Arabic) and mathematical skills. 

Main Section	Sub-Area / Question Type	Description
Verbal Section (GAT-V)	Reading Comprehension	Tests the ability to understand passages, extract main ideas, and draw logical conclusions.
	Analogy	Measures skill in recognising word relationships and selecting the closest matching pair.
	Sentence Completion	Assesses vocabulary and grammar by choosing words that best complete a sentence.
	Contextual Error	Evaluates the ability to spot words that are misused or contextually incorrect.
Quantitative Section (GAT-Q)	Arithmetic	Involves operations with numbers, ratios, percentages, proportions, and simple applications in finance.
	Geometry	Covers properties of shapes, angles, and calculations of area and volume.
	Algebra	Focuses on solving equations, interpreting graphs, sequences, and basic statistics.
	Data Analysis	Tests the interpretation of numerical data presented in tables, graphs, and charts.
	Analytical Reasoning	Requires solving problems through logical, inductive, or deductive reasoning.

Scoring Pattern

What’s the GAT exam scoring pattern? Well, there is no negative marking as such. Hence, you can attempt all questions. The National Center for Assessment (NCA/ETEC) is responsible for calculating the scores. Since there are different test versions (English and Arabic), the scores are scaled to ensure fairness. 

The score obtained is considered along with your High School Grade Point Average (HSGPA), SAAT, and English proficiency test scores for admission.  The table below showcases the GAT scores and the admission possibility.

Score Level	Score Range	Admission Possibility
Low	1–59	Unlikely to meet competitive admission requirements
Average	60–74	Meets basic eligibility; moderate chance for admission to many programs
High	75–100	Strong candidate; high chance for admission to competitive programs, 90+ is highly competitive

Fun Fact: You can re-take the GAT exam up to 5 times! The universities will only consider your highest score.

GAT Exam Fees for International Students 

The GAT exam fees are the same for national and international students. The fees are set by the National Center for Assessment (ETEC) in Saudi Arabia. They are separate from the tuition fees. So, what are the GAT fees? The exam fees are as follows:

Exam	Fee
GAT / Qudurat Exam	100 SAR ((Saudi Riyal One Hundred)

Qudurat Exam Registration Process

Now that you know the key details about the exam, it’s time to learn about the exam registration process. You can register for the examination online by visiting the offical website of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), also known as the Qiyas (National Center for Assessment). The registration process for international students is as follows:

1. Visit the official website and create a new user account. As an international student, you have to register using your passport number.
2. Thereafter, you can log in and complete the application form. You will be required to fill out your personal information, educational qualifications, and authenticate your account.
3. You can then select the General Aptitude Test (GAT/Qudurat) and enter whether you would like to take the English version or the Arabic version of the exam.
4. Choose whether you want to take the online test or the paper-based exam
5. Choose your exam centre, exam date, and time.
6. Review your application form and submit the fees. 
7. Wait for the confirmation email of registration

Ensure that you bring your valid Iqama or Passport as proof of identification on the exam day. Moreover, note that those applying to a scientific or health-related major also have to register for the Standardized Achievement Admission Test (SAAT).

Universities Accepting the GAT Exam Score

All public universities in Saudi Arabia accept the Qudurat exam scores. What is the top university accepting GAT? It is the King Saud University. Below, we have listed some other top universities where you can apply with a high score in this exam. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Ranking or the KSA Rank is also provided for your reference.

Rank (KSA)	University Name	QS World Ranking 2026	GAT Score Importance / Weighting
1	King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals	67	Very high; weighted 30–50% in competitive tracks
2	King Saud University	143	High: part of the composite score with SAAT and GPA
3	King Abdulaziz University	163	High; core component of all track scores
4	Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University	491	High; mandatory in weighted admission score
5	King Khalid University	535	High-weighted formula used for engineering admissions
6	Prince Sultan University	535	High; part of the weighted formula with GAT/SAT/ACT
7	Umm Al-Qura University	622	High; essential for final admission score calculation
8	King Faisal University	648	High; required for all undergraduate admissions
9	Alfaisal University	801–850	Required; combines GAT/SAT and high school grades
10	Qassim University	801–850	High; mandatory in weighted admission score

Also Read: 8 Best Fully Funded Scholarships in UAE for International Students 

GAT Test Results: Timeline

The Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) releases the test results after each testing window. The test results day varies depending on when you took the test. However, in general, the results are announced after a few weeks of taking the test. You will get a notification by email or SMS.

Test Format	Result Release Time
Computer-Based Test (CBT)	Usually, within 2–14 days after the test
Paper-Based Test	Typically, 2–3 weeks after the test

You can view your results by visiting the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas). You can log in to your account and enter your National ID/Iqama number and password to view your results.

GAT Exam Centres

The GAT exam centres are generally located in Saudi Arabia. The exam centres are mostly in these cities:

1. Riyadh
2. Makkah
3. Jeddah
4. Madinah
5. Abha
6. Dammam/Khobar
7. Jizan
8. Taif

However, the Qiyas also makes arrangements for testing in a limited number of international centers. These centres are often in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Hence, students of other nationalities have to visit Saudi Arabia to take the test.

Also Read: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): Format, Registration Dates, Scores, Test Centres, and Universities Accepting Results 

What is the Difficulty Level of the GAT Exam?

The GAT or the Qudurat exam difficulty level is often described as moderate to high. The exam is considered challenging because it focuses on aptitude and not textbook knowledge. Your ability to solve problems, reason, and understand relationships is tested. The quantitative questions are of high school level, and you need strong English langauge proficiency to clear the verbal reasoning section.

Moreover, the questions are designed to be tricky and there is time pressure. You have less than 2 minutes to answer a question. Many students often claim that the test was different from their high school curriculum.

5 Tips to Prepare for the GAT Exam

Now you know what GAT is. The exam is tricky, and hence preparation is essential. Here are some useful tips that you can follow to ace this examination as an international student.

1. This is a skill test. Hence, the first thing to focus on is understanding the question types and the key concepts. You need to learn the shortcuts and logical thinking required to solve questions. This is something that only comes with practice.
2. Secondly, go through the previous year’s question papers and find out the repeated questions or concepts. You can also use the previous year’s papers to understand your weak areas, where more dedicated study is required.
3. Time management is the biggest obstacle for most students. You can use mock tests and ensure that you are managing time well.
4. While you practise, ensure that you are focusing on the quality of the answers rather than completing all questions. You can also do some guesswork ,as there is no negative marking.
5. Lastly, ensure that you are starting early and have created a soild study plan. Last-minute preparations are not helpful for this exam.

To learn more about GAT and how you can prepare for it, watch this video:

What is GAT? The GAT exam is also known as the Qudurat exam in Saudi Arabia. You need to take this test if you want to enrol in an undergraduate course in the country. All public universities accept the test results, and in fact, the test weighs heavily in your overall application. The test is available in both English and Arabic.

FAQs

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