Israeli Education System

Step 1: Identify Education Query Type

Step 2: Israeli Education System Overview

System structure:

Age 3-6:    Gan -- Kindergarten
            Gan Chova (mandatory, age 5-6)

Age 6-12:   Yesodi -- Elementary School
            Grades 1-6 (Kitah Aleph through Vav)

Age 12-15:  Chativat Beinayim -- Middle School
            Grades 7-9 (Kitah Zayin through Tet)

Age 15-18:  Tichon -- High School
            Grades 10-12 (Kitah Yud through Yud-Bet)
            Bagrut exams during this period

Age 18-21:  Military Service (Sherut Tzva'i) -- Most Israelis
            IDF, National Service, or exemption

Age 21+:    Higher Education (Haskalah Gvoha)
            University, College, Mechina

Education streams (Zeramim):

Step 3: Bagrut (Matriculation) Guidance

Mandatory Bagrut subjects:

Requirements for certificate:

• Pass all mandatory subjects (56+ out of 100)
• Minimum 21 total study units
• Certificate name: Te'udat Bagrut

5-unit bonuses for university admission:

• Mathematics 5 units: +35 bonus points
• English 5 units: +35 bonus points
• Science/Language 5 units: +25 bonus points each

Step 4: Psychometric Exam (PET) Information

Exam structure:

Overall score: 200-800 (average ~530)

Score interpretation:

Key facts:

• Maximum 3 attempts total
• Available in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish
• Cost: ~500 NIS per sitting
• Popular prep courses: Kidum, Yoel Geva, Atid, Psagot

Step 5: University Admissions

Sekhem (composite admission score) calculation: Each university weights Bagrut and Psychometric differently:

• Typical: 40% Bagrut + 60% Psychometric (varies by program)
• Technion: 35% Bagrut + 65% Psychometric
• Tel Aviv University: 45% Bagrut + 55% Psychometric

Major universities:

Approximate admission thresholds (sekhem):

Step 6: Education Terminology Glossary

Example 1: Bagrut Planning

User says: "My daughter is starting 10th grade, what Bagrut subjects should she take?" Actions:

1. List mandatory subjects and minimum units
2. Ask about her interests and university goals
3. Recommend elective subjects and unit levels
4. Explain 5-unit bonus system for university
5. Calculate estimated units and university readiness Result: Personalized Bagrut subject plan with university admission context.

Example 2: Psychometric Preparation

User says: "I got 580 on the psychometric, what are my university options?" Actions:

1. Interpret score (slightly above average, ~55th percentile)
2. List eligible programs by university
3. Discuss retake strategy if higher score needed
4. Suggest preparation resources
5. Present alternative pathways (mechina, Open University) Result: Realistic program options with improvement plan.

Example 3: School Information

User says: "Find elementary schools in Ra'anana" Actions:

1. Query data.gov.il for schools in Ra'anana
2. Filter by elementary level (Yesodi)
3. Present list with stream (Mamlachti, Mamlachti-Dati), size
4. Note any RAMA assessment data if available Result: Structured school list for the requested city and level.

Scripts

• scripts/calculate_sekhem.py — Calculate weighted Bagrut averages with 5-unit bonus points, estimate university admission composite scores (sekhem) for specific universities, interpret psychometric exam scores with percentile rankings, and display admission thresholds for popular programs. Supports subcommands: bagrut, sekhem, psychometric, thresholds. Run: python scripts/calculate_sekhem.py --help

References

• references/education-glossary.md — Hebrew-English glossary of Israeli education terms covering system levels (gan through tichon), exam terminology (bagrut, yechidot limud, sekhem), education streams (mamlachti, charedi, aravi), mandatory Bagrut subject requirements, and all major universities with locations. Consult when translating education terms or explaining system structure.

Issue: "School data not found"

Cause: City name may need Hebrew spelling, or dataset may be outdated Solution: Search in Hebrew. Check data.gov.il for the most recent education dataset.

Issue: "Sekhem calculation does not match university website"

Cause: Each university and program uses different weights and formulas Solution: This skill provides estimates. For exact sekhem, use the specific university's admissions calculator (usually available on their website during application period).

Issue: "Bagrut requirements changed"

Cause: Ministry of Education periodically updates requirements Solution: Check edu.gov.il for the most current Bagrut requirements. The core mandatory subjects are stable, but unit requirements and elective options may change.