Teen Survival Guide to Aliyah
Enhancing Your Aliyah Experience
Information Database
What You Will Find:
-
Bagrut/Teudat Bagrut
-
Different Types of Bagruyot
-
Special Benefits
-
Ulpan and Efes Sheva
-
Other Important Info
Bagrut
Yechidot
Magen
Efes Sheva
Hakalot
Misrad Hachinuch
Bagrut Pnimit
Ha'aracha Chalufit
Bagruyot
Yichedot
Magen
What is a Teudat Bagrut?
A teudat bagrut is a certificate student's receive after having successfully passed Israel's high school matriculation examination. A teudat bagrut is a prerequisite for higher education and is required to get into many colleges in Israel.
Bagrut Chitzonit
Bagrut Pnimit
Ha'aracha Chalufit
To receive a teudat bagrut, students must take certain exams called bagruyot. Bagruyot test students on the material they learnt in grades 9th-12th by subject. Bagruyot usually take place in 11th and 12th grade (and sometimes even 10th grade).
Every bagrut is worth a certain number of points, called yechidot. Yechidot can raise or lower a student’s average on their teudat bagrut. The more yechidot, the harder the bagrut. In many schools, students can choose how many yechidot they wish to take in Math and English. However, when it comes to other subjects, like History and Ezrachut (Civics) there is no choice. Most subjects are worth one or two yechidot. A passing score on every bagrut is a 56%. The final bagrut grade for each exam is the average between the actual exam mark and the magen which is the mark the teacher gives based on the students grades, attendance, efforts and behavior in that class. The school is also required to give the olim chadashim 15 extra points on the magen of each subject (excluding english, unless the student is from a non-English speaking country).
A bagrut chitzonit is a standard bagrut test written by Misrad Hachinuch - The Ministry of Education and given on a date that they decide for the whole country.
A bagrut pnimit is a bagrut that the teacher creates and gets approved by Misrad Hachinuch. It's given out on any date and is graded by the teacher.
Ha'aracha Chalufit - there are some bagruyot where 70% is taken from the actual exam and 30% is an assignment called ha'aracha chalufit.
What is required to receive a teudat bagrut?
Calculating a Teudat Bagrut
-
The mandatory bagruyot: Tanach, English, Math, Sifrut (Hebrew Literature), Ezrachut (Civics), History, Lashon (Hebrew Language and Grammar), and Talmud (only mandatory in some schools)
-
At least one 5 yechidot bagrut (not including english)
-
Other bagruyot: Misrad Hachinuch has decided that there are other bagruyot that students will be required to take and pass, in order to graduate. However, which bagruyot or how they will be taken will be determined by the school itself:
-
Exercise, Introduction to Biology, volunteering hours
-
השכלה כללית- for example: first-aid, psychology and health
-
Misrad Hachinuch multiplies the passing grade of each bagrut with the amount of yechidot the student completed in that subject. If a student took a bagrut that was worth 5 yechidot, then it adds more points to his/her average.
Hakalot
Special Benefits on Every Bagrut
-
25% extra time
-
You can write your answers in any language (If you write in Hebrew you will receive 15 extra bonus points!)
-
You can use a dictionary (digital or book)
-
You can use an english Tanach for the Tanach Bagrut
-
No penalties for spelling or grammar mistakes
-
You can have your test read to you (this is called הקראת שאלון). The school does not need to give you someone who speaks your language, but it's worth it to ask since they can then translate the exam as they read it (you still receive the 15 bonus points if you write in Hebrew).
-
You can have someone write the answers for you but then you do not get any bonus points (this is called מבחן בעל פה)
-
Your school adds 15 points to your magen in every subject besides english
-
You can take the regular bagrut, the bagrut oleh, or translated bagrut:
Bagrut Oleh (Special Immigrant Exam)
Offered in the following subjects: Lashon (Hebrew/Grammar), Sifrut (Hebrew literature), Ezrachut (Civics), Tanach, History, Talmud and Machshevet Yisrael (Jewish Thought).
-Some bagruyot olot are only given in 3 yechidot and not 5
-The same benefits apply, except the 15 bonus points
Translated Bagrut
Offered in English in the following subjects: Tanach, Sifrut (Hebrew literature), Ezrachut (Civics), Toshba (Talmud), History, Math, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Biology, Phycology, Sociology, Science, Technology and others!
You can answer in any language
and no dictionary is allowed.
Note: You do not recieve any extra bonus points if you take the bagrut oleh or translated bagrut
Ulpan
Misrad Hachinuch offers 6 hours of Ulpan every week to schools who have students who made aliyah in the past two years. The schools are able to give the hours to the students either as a group or as individual lessons. If the school decides to offer individual hours, then the students will have less Ulpan per week since the school only gives a total of 6 hours all together. If a school has many olim in their student body, then the government will allow the school to give even more hours.
Note: the school/student can decide to use his/her hour of Ulpan as tutoring instead.
A student is considered “efes sheva” if s/he has a condition that effects their learning. If a student feels that s/he falls under this category they can apply through their school and, if accepted, can get more benefits. For example, someone who wears a hearing aid or is ADHD is considered efes sheva. This allows students to have a modified test and free private tutoring hours.
Efes Sheva
Important:
You do not need a teudat bagrut to succeed in high school! There are plenty of students who don’t graduate with a teudat bagrut, new immigrants and Israelis alike. Some schools don’t even offer it. There are other options you can look into that are administered through your native country (while living in Israel).
Be Your Own Advocate
Many times, schools don’t know what benefits their students are entitled to or will not give them until a student asks. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to ask your school for help. A school is allowed (not a must) to offer help on your tests and studies. For example, your school may be willing to give you a translator for your test, extra time etc.
The Rakez/et Olim or Rakez/et Hakalah Vi'heshtalvut are just two of the faculty staff your school might have who can help you!
*Ask your school if they have tochnit peleh which allows you to get free tutoring hours.