For anyone who matriculated from high school and/or took their university entrance exams in a language other than Hebrew, the YAEL Test will almost surely be a requisite to pursuing a higher education in Israel. 

This exam is one of the most popular Hebrew proficiency tests, aimed at testing both the receptive and productive abilities of the test-taker with a specific focus on academic language. YAEL Test scores are used by Israeli educational institutions to screen applicants; many of these institutions specify a minimum score on the YAEL Test as one of their entrance requirements. The higher your score, the more likely you are to be exempted from taking Hebrew language courses during your studies at university.

It’s worth noting that Israeli universities consistently rank among the top universities in the world. Studying in Israel means gaining access to some of the best and brightest academic institutions and minds. 

If you have any interest in advancing your studies in Israel, make sure you prepare yourself for the YAEL Test. Taking it will get you up to speed so you can attain the level of comprehension and production you need to keep up with the demanding pace of Israeli academics in Hebrew. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at what the exam looks like, what you can expect on the day of the exam, and how best to study for it.

1. General Information About the YAEL Exam
2. Overview of the Test Format
3. Grading
4. Tips on Preparing for the YAEL Test
5. Make Use of HebrewPod101’s Wealth of Online Resources to Study for the YAEL Test

1. General Information About the YAEL Exam

The YAEL Test, or  בחינת יע”ל (B’khinat YAEL), is a Hebrew proficiency exam aimed at assessing the Hebrew language knowledge of non-native speakers intending to pursue enrollment in Israeli institutions of higher education. The exam is required for anyone who has not completed their high school studies and/or the Israeli university entrance exam, known as הבחינה הפסיכומטרית (Ha-B’khina ha-Psikhometrit) or “The Psychometric Entrance Test,” in the Hebrew language. This includes immigrants, exchange students, and students who studied in Israel in languages other than Hebrew (most often Arabic).

The YAEL Test is offered once every two to three months at various testing locations throughout the country, generally in university and college lecture halls. Registration is available either online, via the NITE (National Institute for Testing & Evaluation) website, or by mail using a special registration form that must be requested from the NITE registration center. Depending on the number of applicants, the test is occasionally offered outside of Israel. Further information on testing outside of Israel can be requested from NITE’s Overseas Tests Unit.

There are two ways to take the YAEL Test: either as a stand-alone test or in conjunction with the aforementioned Psychometric Entrance Test. Often, transfer students from non-Israeli academic institutions who have taken university entry exams, such as the SAT, may be exempted from the latter exam, and thus will only need to take the YAEL Test.

To take the exam in conjunction with the Psychometric Entrance Test, when the same is taken in any language other than Hebrew, no separate registration or registration fee is necessary. In such cases, examinees will automatically be signed up for the YAEL Test upon registering for the Psychometric Entrance Test; both exams will be administered on the same day. Examinees wishing to take the Psychometric Entrance and YAEL tests on separate occasions will, on the other hand, need to register and pay a fee separately for each one.

Those exempted from the Psychometric Entrance Exam should apply to take the YAEL Test separately, and pay the relevant fee.

During the YAEL Test, examinees are prohibited from using:

• Dictionaries
• Books
• Papers
• Any other study aids (calculators, watches, or clocks that produce any sound, cellular phones, laptops, or any other electronic devices)

The YAEL Test is available in a special format to accommodate applicants with special needs, on the same date as the regular test. However, these conditions are offered only in Israel. If you’re interested in making a request for testing with special accommodations, NITE advises that you make such requests at least three months prior to the date you plan on taking the exam. More information on special accommodations is available on the official website.

2. Overview of the Test Format

The YAEL Test consists of four sections, three of which contain multiple-choice questions, and a final section which is an open-format writing task. The first three sections contain 22 questions each, combining different question types (which are further explained below). Examinees are given 20 minutes for each of these sections. For the writing section, examinees are allotted 15 minutes.

A- Multiple-Choice Sections

As mentioned, there are three multiple-choice sections for the YAEL Hebrew competency exam, each of which contain a mixture of the following types of questions: Sentence Completion, Restatement, and Reading Comprehension.

1- Sentence Completion Questions

In this section, you’ll be presented with sentences that are missing a word or phrase. You’ll need to complete the sentence using one answer from among the four multiple-choice options provided. These questions are aimed at testing your knowledge of Hebrew vocabulary and grammar, including verb conjugation and preposition use.

2- Restatement Questions

For these questions, you’ll be presented sentences followed by four possible restatements of that same sentence. You must choose the restatement that most closely captures the meaning of the original sentence, despite the alterations in structure and wording. Here, the focus is on assessing your knowledge of vocabulary and syntax, as well as your comprehension of various kinds of Hebrew sentence structures.

3- Reading Comprehension Questions

In the Reading Comprehension section, you’ll be presented with a text followed by questions about its content. These questions may test your understanding of the content, the function of an individual sentence or word within the text, or the ideas expressed in the text and the interconnections between them.

B- Writing Section

The final section of this Hebrew language exam is aimed at assessing your academic writing ability in Hebrew. You’ll be provided with a brief prompt, based on which you will be expected to write a 12-15 line essay. You’ll be given 15 minutes to complete this section, including any brainstorming or outlining. This section is graded based on the relevance of your content vis-à-vis the prompt, the level of coherence and organization found within your composition, the richness of the vocabulary you use, and the precision of the language you employ.

3. Grading

Your total score on the YAEL Test is derived from the combination of your scores on the first three sections and the written section, and will fall between 50 and 150. The grading scheme works by counting each correct multiple-choice answer as one point, adding these points together, and converting the sum into a standardized total score for the three multiple-choice sections. This score is weighted as two-thirds of your final score, while the essay is weighted as one-third.

Your essay will be graded by two independent graders, based on, as mentioned previously, four criteria: organization, coherence, richness of vocabulary, and precision. Your final essay score is calculated as the average of the two separate scores you’re awarded by the two graders.

Further grading information, as well as the table for converting your raw score on the multiple-choice sections to the standardized score, is available on the NITE website.

4. Tips on Preparing for the YAEL Test

Considering the fact that the YAEL Test is designed to assess academic Hebrew, its expectations are considerable. That being the case, it’s definitely a good idea to begin preparing for the exam well in advance of when you plan to take it. Let’s have a look at some of the most effective YAEL preparation methods.

1. Fully familiarize yourself with the test format and instructions.

It should go without saying that a key element in scoring high on any exam, including the YAEL, is being able to focus all of your energy and attention on the content of the exam when you take it, rather than wasting your time trying to understand what the questions are asking or perplexing over an unfamiliar exam format. Take the time to read up on the exam before you take it, studying multiple examples of it and reading the instructions carefully. Also note the format and the different question types.

There are several practice exams available on the NITE website and here. Spend time looking these over, including the explanations provided with the correct answers.

2. Take lots of practice exams.

The NITE website exams are a good place to start, but you can also purchase books with further sample exams. Take these with a timer, and without the aid of anything that’s prohibited during the real exam (i.e. your cell phone or any study aids). Grade your exams with the provided answer keys, and focus on studying up on the grammar points, vocabulary, etc., that you find you haven’t quite mastered. Try to find native Hebrew speakers with an academic background to check your practice essays for you and give you pointers for how to improve your writing.

3. Invest in study materials and make use of them.

Websites like this one offer various study materials, such as test prep books, vocabulary lists, online exams, and Hebrew lessons tailored to the language knowledge content the YAEL Test assesses. Choose materials that are similar to others you’ve found helpful in your past academic experiences, as well as those focused on areas of Hebrew where you know you need work.

4. Register for a YAEL preparatory course.

There’s a number of private companies that offer preparatory courses designed to prepare students for the YAEL Test, some online and others in person. For example, the American School, or בית הספר האמריקאי (Beyt ha-Sefer ha-Amerika’i), offers such courses, as does Machon Noam, or מכון נועם (Makhon No’am).

5. Study with others who are preparing for the exam.

Moral support is always a good thing, as is pooling knowledge. By studying with others who are preparing for the YAEL Test, you can complement each other’s knowledge and give each other a bit of needed encouragement. This is especially helpful when you get caught up on a tricky language topic or score lower than you had wished on a practice exam.

5. Make Use of HebrewPod101’s Wealth of Online Resources to Study for the YAEL Test

We hope you found today’s overview of the YAEL Test informative and useful. Remember that HebrewPod101.com is one of the largest online resources for Hebrew learning. So, in addition to the above tips, feel free to use our site to practice the skills you need to work on with fun, informative, and relevant lessons.

HebrewPod101 is here for you in all of your Hebrew language goals. If you’re planning to pursue an academic career in an Israeli institution, we can help you hone not only your academic language, but also your general language skills so that you’re better-equipped to navigate the ins and outs of life in Hebrew, without breaking a sweat—unless it’s from the warm and sunny Israeli weather, that is.

Let us know if you need any further information or pointers regarding the YAEL Test. We would be happy to be of assistance in all of your Hebrew endeavors. Shalom!