While secondary school graduates await their test results to be issued this week, several students have opted to register outside the Kingdom for university, Al-Hayat reported Saturday. Many Saudis are registering at universities in the Gulf because of the heavy emphasis on aptitude test and written exams, which Saudi universities emphasize. As part of the ‘balanced grade system' the importance of secondary school certificates form only 30 percent of their college application. Whereas written exams have increased to 40 percent and aptitude tests are 30 percent. Bahrain and Jordan were the most popular countries which Saudi students chose, followed by Egypt and Lebanon. This is despite the fact that these students will be studying at their own expense. Many have hopes that after receiving good grades for their first year they would be able to join the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques external scholarships program.
