KSGAAL Joins Forces With Saudi Universities For 'Hamza' Arabic Proficiency Test

The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), in partnership with various Saudi universities, will conduct the academic Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers (Hamza) in person at these universities on Tuesday. This marks the first instance of the test being administered in this manner.

The Hamza test, typically held at Qiyas centers of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission in Saudi Arabia and other educational institutions globally, evaluates proficiency across four Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels, from A2 to C1. The 155-minute test includes four sections: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking.

This test is designed for learners and teachers of Arabic at universities, Arabic language teaching institutes and centers, as well as some employers. Administering the test are Umm Al-Qura University, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, the Islamic University of Madinah, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.

Through the Hamza test, KSGAAL aims to enhance the prominence of the Arabic language locally, regionally, and globally. The goal is to establish a recognized global standard of language proficiency among non-native speakers and provide valuable insights to universities and institutes teaching Arabic.

KSGAAL has already administered the Hamza academic test to 1,664 students within Saudi Arabia and in several other countries including China, Indonesia, and India. This initiative helps assess the language proficiency of non-Arabic speaking students effectively.

The Hamza test's administration at these universities signifies a significant step towards promoting Arabic language education worldwide. It offers a standardized measure for evaluating Arabic proficiency among non-native speakers.

With inputs from SPA