Khaberni - The director of the Unified Admissions Coordination Unit in the Ministry of Higher Education, Mohannad Al-Khatib, stated that the decision to cancel the comprehensive exam for intermediate diploma students followed a detailed study and consideration of students' interests, aligned with the developments in the technical and vocational education sector in Jordan.
Al-Khatib explained to "Al-Mamlaka" channel that the comprehensive exam is currently unnecessary as a tool for evaluating students, noting that students undergo various known academic evaluation methods throughout their study period, such as monthly, quarterly, and final exams, in addition to graduation projects, ensuring precise measurement of the student’s level without the need for an additional exam.
He added that the original purpose of the comprehensive exam was to confirm the student's readiness to enroll in the bachelor's degree program after completing the intermediate diploma, especially for students whose high school GPA did not directly qualify them, but it has become unnecessary today after the existence of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, which ensures all higher education institutions meet accreditation standards and the quality of outputs, including community colleges and intermediate diploma graduates.
He indicated that Jordan is moving towards expanding technical and vocational education and encourages official universities to inaugurate technical colleges and specializations at the intermediate diploma level, as occurred in Al al-Bayt University and Mutah University. It is unacceptable for an official university to hold an exam for students belonging to another university, which contradicts the laws of Jordanian universities and the law of higher education.
Al-Khatib stated that canceling the comprehensive exam will provide an incentive for students to enroll in intermediate diploma specializations in vocational and applied fields since some students previously chose to retake the general secondary education to achieve a GPA that qualifies them for private universities, instead of engaging in intermediate diploma programs for fear of the comprehensive exam.
Al-Khatib clarified that the ministry has put in place practical alternatives for evaluating students, explaining that bridging in the official universities in the parallel program or private universities will depend on the cumulative GPA at the college or the previous comprehensive exam average if the student passed it, whichever best serves the student's interest. As for the regular program, students will undergo an acceptance exam organized by the Unified Admission Coordination Unit, assigned by the Higher Education Council, a one-session exam aimed at distinguishing between students and ensuring academic fairness without inflating grades.
He confirmed that the decision includes all current and former students who have previously applied for the comprehensive exam, whether they passed it or were unable to do so, pointing out that each college will determine the top 5% of its students to compete for bridging seats, rather than being determined at the kingdom level as was previously the case, which offers greater opportunities for outstanding students.
Al-Khatib explained that the acceptance exam will be an achievement exam that measures the general level of the student who obtained an intermediate diploma degree, maintaining the quality of educational outputs and equality of opportunities.
Regarding bridging criteria, Al-Khatib indicated that the minimum cumulative GPA for general specializations is 68%, and for engineering and veterinary medicine specializations, 70%. He added that students whose GPA does not reach these percentages will only be affected by the decision during the upcoming comprehensive exam cycle, ensuring that the council will continue to monitor all cases to ensure the inclusiveness of the decision and address any potentially affected groups.
Al-Khatib affirmed that the goal of these procedures is to motivate students, maintain the quality of outputs, and provide fair opportunities for academic excellence to all intermediate diploma students.
And on February 17, 2026, the Higher Education Council canceled the comprehensive exam held by Al-Balqa Applied University for all diploma students who complete the requirements of the approved study plan for the intermediate diploma degree, effective from February 16, 2026, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
