At the end of the school stages and after the student successfully completes 36 terms, he sits the general exam i.e. “General Examination for the School Stages.” The student can also successfully complete the stage without taking the general exam; there are industrial and vocational institutes that do not in principle require the student’s attaining the general examination for the school stages.

- The “General Examination” is held twice every year. The first time in the month of Jumada Al-Awwal every year, and the second time in the month of Shawwal. Experts will assign the date for sitting and timetable of the exam every year. The student chooses whether to sit the exam in the month of Jumada Al-Awwal or Shawwal via his pre-registering for the exam.

- Separate exams are held for each of the third school stage options. There is an exam for the cultural, scientific, industrial and other options. Each option has a specific timetable.

- The exam covers what the student studied in all the three school stages, but with focus upon the subjects the student studied in the last 6 courses (31 to 36).