KUWAIT: The AlWatani Test in Kuwait is a new examination recently introduced, aimed at evaluating the level of students across the country in a standardized and organized manner. Kuwait’s educational authorities applied this test to reflect students’ academic performance across various subjects and provide accurate data about the quality of education in schools.

The test may include subjects such as mathematics, science, Arabic, and English, and it could be part of a comprehensive evaluation of school and student performance within the Kuwaiti education system. AlWatani Unified Test is now mandatory for students who want to study medicine or engineering for their bachelor’s degree. However, to many students, especially those graduating from public schools, is a major concern and is considered an obstacle. Mariam and Abdulrahman, two students studying in a public school, shared with Kuwait Times their thoughts about this new test.

Maryam talked about the AlWatani Test, stating that she is about to enter high school, choosing science section because she aspires to study medicine and wants to apply for an external scholarship. “However, things are no longer as easy as they were before, as the educational system in Kuwait has introduced a new requirement, which is the AlWatani Unified Test.

This test is a source of fear among students. It has caused significant anxiety for those with dreams and aspirations in the sciences due to widespread talk among students about its difficulty. It differs in terms of difficulty from previous aptitude tests, which are still in place, and students are required to take both the aptitude tests and the AlWatani Test,” she said. Maryam expressed her dissatisfaction with this text, describing it as mandatory and difficult, which she feels creates an obstacle in achieving her goals.

On his part, Abdulrahman added that although there is a positive aspect about this test as students have three attempts, and the best score among these attempts is considered. The problem yet remains in the test’s difficulty compared to what is taught in public schools in Kuwait. “For instance, the level of English language instruction is very weak in public schools, and this is no secret. Therefore, I hope that the level of the AlWatani Test will be aligned with the English language education provided in public schools,” he explained.

He also expressed concern about fairness, saying that the difficulty of the English language might give an advantage to those who study in private English schools, thus limiting scholarship opportunities and the chance to study medicine to a specific group, which Abdulrahman believes is unfair and biased.