Overview
YAEL is the Hebrew proficiency test run by NITE, Israel's National Institute for Testing and Evaluation. It is used with the psychometric entrance test for people who take that test in a language other than Hebrew.
Who can apply
Anyone who registers for the psychometric test in a non-Hebrew language is registered for YAEL automatically, and it is given right after the psychometric exam. NITE states that the paper version cannot be booked separately; separate registration is available only for the computerised version, called YaelNet.
Exam pattern
| Section | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 22 multiple-choice questions each | 20 minutes each |
| 4 | Essay on an assigned topic | 15 minutes |
The multiple-choice questions are of three types: sentence completion (vocabulary, verb forms, prepositions), restatement (vocabulary and syntax) and reading comprehension. Questions get harder as the section goes on, except reading comprehension, which follows the order of the text. Only two of the three multiple-choice sections count towards the score; the third is used for quality control, and test-takers are not told which one it is.
Marking and results
Each essay is rated by two raters on content, structure, language complexity and grammar accuracy. An essay that does not meet the criteria is not checked and gets the minimum score.
Scores run from 50 to 150, and there is no pass or fail mark. You receive a multiple-choice score, an essay score and a total, in which the multiple-choice part counts two thirds and the essay one third.
After the exam
Institutions set their own score requirements, so check what the university or programme you apply to asks for.
Preparation tips
Practise timed sets of 22 questions in 20 minutes.
Treat all three multiple-choice sections equally, since you cannot tell which is unscored.
Practise a short, structured essay within 15 minutes.
What is a passing score on YAEL?
There is no pass mark. The test reports scores from 50 to 150, and each institution decides what it requires.