Registration Procedures
The YAEL test can be taken via either of two routes:
- Immediately following the Psychometric Entrance Test
Psychometric Entrance Test (PET) examinees do not need to register separately for YAEL or pay an extra fee.
See here for information on taking the PET in languages other than Hebrew and registration procedures for the YAEL test administered immediately after the PET.
- Stand-alone YAEL test
Examinees taking the stand-alone YAEL test need to register separately and pay a test fee.
This page details the registration procedures for the stand-alone YAEL test. You should read all the information carefully. During registration you will be asked to confirm that you have read the procedures, including NITE’s privacy policy.
General Information
Anyone with an Israeli identity document or valid passport can register to take the YAEL test. It is essential that you bring with you to the test the document that you used when registering.
There is no limit to the number of times an examinee can take the test, even on consecutive test administrations. However, you must wait at least 35 days between taking the YAEL test (either between two administrations of YAEL, or between two administrations of YAELNET, or between administrations of YAEL and YAELNET or vice versa). If you take a test less than 35 days after taking a previous test, the test will be invalidated and you will not be entitled to a refund. If your test is invalidated, you will have to wait at least 35 days from the date of the invalidated test before taking another Hebrew proficiency test.
You do not need to have applied to an educational institution in order to take the test. You need take the test only once, even if you are applying to multiple educational institutions. Your scores will be reported to the institutions of your choice (see below for more details).
NITE reserves the right to pursue any course of action it deems appropriate in cases where it suspects that an examinee has registered for the test for a purpose other than that for which the test was designed and/or because of external motivations.
It is forbidden to register for the test in order to infringe on NITE's proprietary rights. This includes copying, disclosing, or conveying test items, whether to provide instruction and preparation for the test or for any other purpose.
Test Scores
The scores of the YAEL test are used by educational institutions for placement of students in Hebrew preparatory courses, or as a part of their entrance requirements. For more details, refer to the institutions’ own handbooks and websites.
Typically, educational institutions will use a candidate’s highest score, but you should confirm that this is the case for the institution of your choice.
Registration Procedures
There are two modes of registration: via the NITE website or by means of the printed registration packet. To obtain such a packet, call the Registration Center.
Registration for the test is contingent on payment of the test fees indicated on the NITE website at the time of registration. Registration must be completed in accordance with the instructions before the registration deadline that appears on the NITE website.
Information with regard to changing the test date, cancelling registration, late registration and same-day registration appear below.
Online Registration via the NITE website
It is important to make sure that the personal details provided during registration, including your email address, are correct.
On the form, you are asked to fill in your 9-digit Israeli ID number. If you do not have an Israeli ID card but have an Israeli passport or Immigrant Card (Teudat Oleh), copy the ID number from that document.
If you do not have any of these means of identification, you may type in your foreign passport number. Use the last 8 digits of your passport number. If your passport number has fewer than 8 digits, fill in the blank spaces on the left with zeroes.
NOTE: Make sure that you use the same identity or passport number to register for the YAEL test and for the educational institution of your choice.
For your information: a registration that is not entered into the system by the final registration deadline (for whatever reason) will not be accepted. We therefore recommend registering in advance and not waiting for the last minute. A confirmation will be issued when the registration process is complete.
Registration Using the Printed Form
Filling out the form
It is important to complete all parts of the registration form, including your email address.
Enter your identity number from your ID Card (Teudat Zehut) or Immigrant Card (Teudat Oleh) onto the form. Enter the check digit into the separate box provided for this purpose. If you do not know your check digit, leave this field blank. If your identity number is less than 8 digits long, fill in the blank spaces on the left with zeroes.
If you do not have an Israeli identity document but do have an Israeli passport, do not enter your passport number, but rather the ID number that appears in the passport. If you have neither an Israeli passport nor an Immigrant Card, copy your foreign passport number with the last digit in the rightmost box (leave the check digit box blank). A form submitted without an identity number or foreign passport number will not be processed.
NOTE: Make sure to use the same ID or foreign passport number in registration for the YAEL test and in the application to the educational institution of your choice.
Bank Payment of Test Fee
After filling out the registration form, sign it and pay the fee at any bank, using the payment voucher attached to the form. Detach the examinee receipt and keep it for reference purposes. If the registration form gets lost, this receipt constitutes proof that you have paid. The last date for which the test fee is valid is noted on the payment voucher. Make sure to pay by this date or your form will not be processed.
NOTE: The test fee payment deadline and the final date for test registration are separate, independent deadlines.
Make sure that the registration form is stamped in all three designated places. If your form arrives at NITE without a bank stamp it will not be processed until payment is verified. This may prevent you from registering for the desired test date.
Mailing the Form
The form should be mailed according to the instructions appearing on it. Keep in mind that payment of the test fee does not constitute registration for the test (the bank does not forward your personal data to NITE). Your registration is processed only after the form is received at NITE. Do not send the registration form by fax.
NOTE: Your registration form must reach NITE by the registration deadline stipulated for the test administration date for which you are registering.
If the form arrives after the deadline, the registration will be for the following test administration.
Registration Procedures
Special Registration
Late Registration
If you miss the registration deadline and do not wish to wait for the next test administration, you may try to register late, up to eight working days before the first day of the test administration period. Late registration will only be approved if there is space available at one of the campuses at which the test is administered. The only way to register late is to do so online. Information about late registration will be posted on the Home Page of the NITE website; there is no need to telephone the Registration Center. The late registration fee is 150% of the regular test fee. You will be assigned to whichever location has spaces available. Those registering late will not be able to choose their test location.
Because of the complex arrangements required for those entitled to special test accommodations, late registration is not available in these cases.
Registration on the Day of the Test
It may be possible for those who have not registered previously to register on the day of the test.
This requires calling the Registration Center during the six working days prior to the test date to ascertain whether spaces are available and to receive precise instructions regarding the procedure. Registration of this type necessitates special arrangements that make it expensive: 250% of the regular test fee. The following conditions also apply to a test taken with same-day registration:
- The test will be administered at one location only.
- The number of places is limited and seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. It is not possible to reserve places in advance.
- Examinees must arrive at the test location two hours before the start of the test to complete the necessary procedures, including payment, preparation of test materials and assignment to test hall.
- Payment is made at the test site, in cash or by credit card only. It is not possible to pay by check. It is not possible to divide the fee into multiple payments.
Late registrants should note that, due to the expense and the fact that places are not guaranteed, this form of registration is not recommended and is intended for emergency situations only.
About the Test
Test Administration Dates
The YAEL Test is administered four times a year (winter, spring, summer and fall). The test dates are published on the website.
NOTE: When there are two test days for a given test administration, you will not necessarily be assigned to the day of your choice.
Before selecting a test date you should ensure that the date is appropriate for the educational institution of your choice. We recommend taking the test as early as possible and not waiting until the last date before registration for the institution.
You should ascertain that the test date does not clash with other commitments you may have, such as matriculation (Bagrut) tests, travel abroad, or army reserve duty.
For your information: Test scores are not affected by test date, or form, or by the population being tested in any particular test administration. Scores are comparable across all test dates, languages and forms.
Test Locations
The test is administered at several locations around the country. You may state your preference for the test location most convenient for you from among the locations offered, regardless of the institutions to which you have applied. The earlier you register, the more likely it is that your preferences can be taken into account. If there is no place available at the location of your choice, you will be assigned to the nearest alternative.
The YAEL Test is administered in several locations outside Israel (depending on the number of applicants).
Those wishing to take the test outside Israel must contact the Overseas Tests Unit at NITE. Special test accommodations are not available outside Israel.
Testing Conditions
The test is usually administered in university lecture halls. As at any university, these halls vary in terms of size, seating facilities, etc. You are required to take the test in the lecture hall to which you are assigned.
During the test, use of the following is strictly prohibited: calculators (including those on wristwatches), clocks (including stopwatches) that produce sound, cellular telephones, other communication devices, laptops and electronic instruments of any kind, dictionaries, books, papers or any other study aids.
Smoking is prohibited in all the examination halls.
Registration Procedures
Special Test Accommodations
NITE offers special test accommodations for applicants with special needs. Special accommodations are offered only for tests administered in Israel.
For every test date, a test with special accommodations will be administered on the same day as the regular test or within a few weeks after it. Applicants who receive approval for special accommodations will be sent a notification of the exact date.
Who May Submit a Request for Special Accommodations?
Applicants with medical, physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities, attention disorders or ASD, may submit a request for special test accommodations. Applicants with a physical condition (e.g. advanced pregnancy, size, confinement to a wheelchair, etc.) that prevents them from entering a regular classroom or sitting in chairs with attached writing surfaces may also request special test accommodations.
Details, requirements, and criteria for requesting special accommodations can be found here. Failure to meet the prerequisites and criteria for special accommodations will result in the application being denied. It is therefore imperative to read the guidelines carefully and follow them closely.
Timetable for Submitting Special Accommodations Requests
NOTE: Those requesting special accommodations must register for the YAEL Test and ensure that all the required documents reach NITE in one of the ways detailed in the registration procedures no later than the registration deadline. No appeals, updates or amendments to medical assessment documentation will be accepted after this deadline. It can take up to 25 working days to process your application once it has arrived.
NITE reserves the right to request that an applicant submit additional information or assessments. Applicants whose request is submitted in the last month of the registration period will almost certainly not have time to submit additional material or to appeal the decision and request a reassessment. Once the registration deadline has passed, applicants will not be permitted to appeal, add to, or correct medical reports, diagnoses or other required documents. It is therefore advisable to submit the request and accompanying documents as early as possible and at least two months before the registration deadline.
You may track the processing of your request by logging onto the NITE website and clicking on “status of application”.
Examinees who received approval for special test accommodations for the YAEL and who wish to change their test date or who intend to retake the test on another date must submit an additional request for special accommodations for the new test date, according to these instructions. This request, too, must reach NITE no later than the registration deadline.
Additional Information
The educational institutions that receive your test scores are entitled to receive information regarding the conditions under which the test was administered. Your application for special accommodations constitutes permission for NITE to disclose such information.
After Registering
Test Notification
You will receive email confirmation when the Registration Center has processed your application. This confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided.
It is your responsibility to make sure that all the information in the notification you receive is accurate (name, ID/passport number, and test date). If there are any errors, correct them immediately by logging onto the NITE website or by calling the Registration Center.
Once registration is closed, details of the test date and location you have been assigned will be sent by email or mailed to the address you provided on your form. You may also log on to the website to view them.
Changing Your Test Location
If you wish to change your test location, you may do so for about a week after you receive your assigned date and location, as long as there is room available. Changes can be made by logging on to the website or by calling the Registration Center.
Changing Your Test Date
If you wish to change your test date after you have registered, you may do so by logging onto the NITE website or by contacting the Registration Center by phone. The following conditions apply:
- If your request reaches the Registration Center before the registration deadline for the test administration that you originally requested, it can be accommodated at no extra charge.
- A change of test date can only be made beginning one week after the test date that you were originally assigned. This will entail a service charge of 18% of the current test fee.
- If you have special accommodations approved for a particular test date, and you postpone your test date, you will have to contact the Special Test Accommodations Unit according to the instructions that appear here.
Canceling Registration
If you wish to cancel your registration for the test, you may do so by logging onto the NITE website. Your test fee will be reimbursed after a service charge has been deducted, as prescribed by law.
If your cancellation request is submitted within 48 hours after registering, there will be no service charge.
If your cancellation request is submitted within 14 days after registering, the service charge will be 5% of the test fee.
If your cancellation request is submitted over 14 days after registering, and before the registration deadline for the relevant test administration, the service charge will be 30% of the test fee.
If your cancellation request is submitted over 14 days after registering, and after the registration deadline for the relevant test administration, the service charge will be 45% of the test fee.
Refunds will be processed by direct bank deposit. Please ensure that your bank details are entered accurately.
Registration Procedures
Reporting Test Scores
Reporting Test Scores to the Educational Institutions
Your scores will be reported directly to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bar-Ilan University, Haifa University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv University, the Technion, Ariel University and the Open University of Israel within 45 days of the test date. Your scores will also be reported to the other institutions that you selected on the registration form. The institutions to which NITE can report scores are listed here. NITE does not report test scores to educational institutions other than those listed, or those specified on your registration form. All of the institutions guarantee that the scores will be used solely for their own admissions purposes. The educational institutions process candidates' applications on the basis of the scores reported directly to them by NITE. Candidates cannot report their scores themselves.
Reporting Test Scores to the Examinee
Within 45 days of the test administration, around the same time the scores are reported to the institutions, your scores will be available on the NITE website. To access your scores, you will need the ID number or foreign passport number with which you registered for the test, and associated password. Your scores will also be emailed to you.
Please note the following points before contacting NITE with regard to your scores:
- All scores for examinees tested on a particular test date are calculated on the same day and no individual score can be issued in advance of this date.
- NITE does not release test scores by telephone or fax.
- An additional copy of test scores can be mailed to examinees at no extra charge for a period of three months following the test administration.
- NITE does not commit to reporting scores to institutions or examinees before the registration deadline for the next test date.
Requests for Changes to Score Reporting
If, after registration, you wish your scores to be reported to different institutions from those indicated during registration, or wish to prevent your scores from being reported to one or more of the institutions, or do not wish to receive them via email, you may request this via NITE's website (recommended) or by sending an email to the Scoring Department. There is no fee for this service. It is your responsibility to ensure that you receive written confirmation of the request from the Scoring Department.
Requests for Reevaluation of the Test Answer Sheet
Test answer sheets are read by an optical scanner. This method is extremely accurate. Nevertheless, you have the right to request that your answer sheet be reevaluated. The reevaluation is conducted manually. The reevaluation does not include a reassessment of the writing task, but only verifies that all of the scoring details were recorded accurately.
A fee is charged for this procedure. However, if it is discovered that an error did occur in processing the answer sheet, this fee will be refunded.
A request for reevaluation can be submitted via the website or by sending an email to the Scoring Department. You are entitled to request a reevaluation for up to three months after the test date. The results of the reevaluation will be sent to you seven working days after receipt of the request and payment.
Inquiries and Complaints
Any complaint regarding the test should be addressed in writing to the Customer Relations Bureau via the form available on the website, or by fax or mail within one week of the test date. A complaint received later than this will not be processed. Among other reasons, this is because concerns about the test administration can only be investigated in close proximity to the event.
All correspondence with NITE should specify your name, the ID or foreign passport number with which you registered for the test, type of test and test date.
Compromising the Integrity of the Test and Cheating
NITE views very seriously any attempt to compromise the integrity of its tests, including any behavior that infringes on the confidentiality of the test or the use of its results. We also view very seriously any attempt to obtain a score by illegal means, such as copying during the test or impersonating someone else. Among other things, cheating may lead to situations in which unsuitable candidates are accepted, sometimes even at the expense of candidates who are better qualified for the study program in question. The National Institute for Testing and Evaluation has methods for detecting cheating and attempts to compromise test integrity, and reserves the right to react to such situations using all means at its disposal and at its discretion. These may include:
- Invalidating the test
- Prohibiting an examinee from taking any test administered by NITE for a period of 12 months
- Filing a civil suit
- Submitting a complaint to university or college disciplinary committees
Please note: Impersonating another person (such as sending someone to take the test in your place) is a criminal offense. If someone is suspected of committing such an offense, a complaint will be filed with the police and with university disciplinary committees.
Summons for Retesting
During the scoring process, NITE conducts routine checks to ensure that each examinee's scores accurately reflect his or her ability. One such procedure is comparison of the examinees' answer sheets. Sometimes these procedures indicate problems such as irregular or inconsistent test results or technical problems.
In the event that the reliability of any test or score is in doubt for any reason, the examinee will be summoned to retake the test at NITE's offices in Jerusalem, and his or her test scores will be withheld until the matter has been resolved. Only after the examinee is retested will NITE make a decision how to proceed.
A written summons for retesting is generally sent to such examinees within six weeks of the test date; however, it may also be issued at a later date.
Furthermore, in any case where additional information of any kind is discovered or brought to NITE’s attention, which casts doubt on the reliability of any score issued to an examinee, including data relating to subsequent tests taken by the same examinee, and information conveyed to NITE by third parties, including educational institutions, NITE reserves the right to withhold or annul the said score at any time and to summon the examinee for reexamination and investigation (and, if relevant, to inform the educational institutions to which the score was previously reported that it has been annulled).
In addition, in response to any attempt at cheating, copying, or receiving a score through illegal means, NITE has the authority to prohibit the examinee from taking any test it administers for a period of 12 months.
Contact Us
National Institute for Testing and Evaluation
POB 39020 Jerusalem 9139001
Tel: 02-6759555
Fax: 02-6759543
Sun.-Thurs. 8:30-15:30
