The GAT (Qudurat) for International & English-Curriculum Students in Saudi Arabia

If you study in an international or English-medium school in Saudi Arabia, the GAT (Qudurat) can feel like a strange obstacle dropped into the middle of your university plans. You have spent years working through the IB, an American diploma, IGCSE, or a British A-Level pathway, almost entirely in English, and now you are told that admission to many Saudi universities depends on a standardized aptitude test that most people around you sit in Arabic. The good news is that the GAT is offered in English, and with the right preparation it is very manageable for English-curriculum students.

This guide explains what the GAT (Qudurat) actually is, who the English version is for, why it matters for international and expat students, and how to prepare for it the smart way: in the language you already think and study in.

What Is the GAT (Qudurat)?

The GAT, known in Arabic as Qudurat, is the General Aptitude Test administered by ETEC (the Education and Training Evaluation Commission) through its Qiyas arm. It is one of the core admission measures used by Saudi universities, and it is designed to test your general reasoning ability rather than the specific content of any school syllabus.

A few essentials worth knowing up front:

• Two sections: Verbal and Quantitative.
• Length: roughly 120 multiple-choice questions.
• Scoring: reported on a scale of 1 to 100.
• Validity: your score is valid for 5 years.
• Weight: the GAT typically counts for around 30 to 50 percent of the university admission composite, alongside your high-school GPA and the SAAT/Tahsili achievement test.

The most important thing to internalize is that the GAT is an aptitude test, not a memorized syllabus. You are not being asked to recall facts you crammed the night before. You are being measured on how well you reason with words and numbers under time pressure. That distinction completely changes how you should prepare.

Can You Take the GAT in English? Yes.

This is the question that worries most international families, so let us be direct: the GAT is available in an English-language version. You do not need to be fluent in Arabic to sit it. The Verbal and Quantitative sections are presented in English, which means a student from an IB, American, British, or IGCSE background can read every question in the language they already use for math, reading, and analysis.

That matters more than it might sound. On a timed aptitude test, a few extra seconds spent translating each question in your head adds up fast across 120 items. Sitting the test in English removes that translation tax entirely, so your score reflects your actual reasoning ability rather than your second-language reading speed. For non-Arabic speakers, taking the GAT in English is not a workaround; it is the natural and intended path.

Who the English GAT Is For

The English version of the GAT is built for exactly the students who are often least prepared for the Arabic one. You should be looking at the English GAT if you fit any of these profiles:

• IB Diploma students finishing the DP and applying to Saudi universities.
• American-curriculum students on a US high-school diploma or AP track.
• British-curriculum students working through IGCSE, GCSE, and A-Levels.
• Other English-medium school students whose entire academic vocabulary is in English.
• Expat and international families in Saudi Arabia who want a smooth route into local higher education.
• Returning Saudi nationals who were educated abroad and are more comfortable testing in English than in Arabic.

If your textbooks, your notes, and your mental math are all in English, the English GAT lets you compete on a level playing field instead of being penalized for a language you do not use academically.

Why English-First Preparation Matters

Here is a trap many international students fall into: they sit the test in English but prepare with Arabic-language materials, tutors, and question banks, because that is what is most widely available. The result is a mismatch. You learn the Verbal reasoning patterns and the math phrasing in Arabic, then have to re-map all of it back into English on test day.

English-first preparation closes that gap. When you practice in the same language you will test in, several things improve at once:

• Verbal section logic translates directly. Analogies, sentence completion, and reading comprehension depend heavily on subtle word relationships, and those simply do not survive translation cleanly. Practicing the English Verbal section in English is the only way to build the right instincts.
• Quantitative phrasing becomes familiar. GAT math is more about reading the question correctly and reasoning quickly than about advanced content. Knowing exactly how problems are worded in English saves you from misreading under pressure.
• Timing improves. Familiar language means faster reading, which means more questions attempted and fewer careless mistakes.

This is precisely the niche ZamaTime\’s GAT course in English was built to serve: English-first GAT prep for international and English-curriculum students in Saudi Arabia, taught entirely in the language you already learn in.

How to Prepare: A Practical Plan

Because the GAT rewards pattern recognition and timing rather than memorization, your preparation should be built around volume of realistic practice and steady review. A sensible approach looks like this:

1. Start with a diagnostic. Before you study anything, take a free Level Test to see where you actually stand on Verbal and Quantitative. This tells you where to spend your time instead of guessing.
2. Learn the question types. Work through chapter-by-chapter recorded video lessons that break down each Verbal and Quantitative category, so you understand the underlying logic rather than just answers.
3. Drill with a large question bank. Aptitude improves with repetition. A practice bank of 4,800+ questions with auto-graded quizzes lets you build speed and immediately see what you got wrong.
4. Study recent exam-style questions. Constantly updated \”tajmeeat\” (collections of recent real exam questions) show you the current style and difficulty, so there are no surprises on test day.
5. Simulate timing. Once your accuracy is solid, practice full sections under the clock so the real ~120-question format feels routine.

ZamaTime offers tiered options to match different needs: GAT Basic (168 SAR) and GAT Advanced (168 SAR), the GAT Comprehensive bundle (297 SAR), and the ZamaGAT e-Book (20 SAR), with a free diagnostic Level Test to get started and new cohorts opening every month. Lessons are delivered by expert instructors, so English-curriculum students get guidance built specifically for the version of the test they will actually sit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GAT (Qudurat) really available in English?

Yes. The GAT is offered in an English-language version with the same Verbal and Quantitative sections, so students from IB, American, British, IGCSE, and other English-medium backgrounds can read and answer every question in English.

Do I need to speak Arabic to take or pass the GAT?

No. If you take the English version of the GAT, you do not need Arabic to sit it. What matters most is your reasoning ability in Verbal and Quantitative, and preparing in English ensures your score reflects that ability rather than your second-language reading speed.

How important is the GAT for university admission in Saudi Arabia?

It is significant. The GAT typically makes up around 30 to 50 percent of the admission composite at Saudi universities, combined with your high-school GPA and the SAAT/Tahsili achievement test. Your score is also valid for 5 years.

How should English-curriculum students prepare for the GAT?

Prepare in English, the same language you will test in. Start with a free diagnostic Level Test, learn each question type through recorded lessons, drill a large practice question bank, review recent exam-style \”tajmeeat\” collections, and practice under timed conditions. ZamaTime\’s GAT course in English is built specifically for this.

The GAT does not have to be the part of your application that keeps you up at night. If you study in English, prepare in English, and walk into the test centre ready for the exact format you will face. Start with a free diagnostic Level Test, then choose the tier that fits your timeline with ZamaTime\’s GAT course in English, the English-first prep built for international and English-curriculum students in Saudi Arabia. New cohorts open every month, so there is no reason to wait.