AZE.US
University admission scores in Azerbaijan may decline this year after many applicants performed below expectations in the school-leaving exams.
The results have caused concern among high school graduates, especially those aiming for competitive fields such as law, medicine, economics and other popular specialties.
Some applicants say the exam was harder than expected and that their scores came in 30 to 40 points below what they had received in trial tests.
Experts say this year’s school-leaving exam for the first group was more difficult and produced weaker results. One of the clearest indicators is the number of students who reached the maximum score. Last year, 23 applicants achieved the top result. This year, only three did.
That drop may affect admission thresholds. According to preliminary expert estimates, passing scores in some fields could fall by around 20 to 50 points. For applicants who missed their target score, even a modest decline could improve their chances of entering a preferred university or program.
But officials say it is still too early to make a firm forecast.
The State Examination Center says the admission picture will become clearer only after the remaining exam stages are completed. Passing scores are shaped not only by exam difficulty, but also by the number of applicants, their final results and the number of available seats.
If demand for a specialty is high, the passing score usually rises. If the number of applicants falls or the number of seats increases, the score may go down. If places are reduced, the threshold can rise even when overall results are weaker.
That is why even one point can decide whether an applicant is admitted. If a program has 25 seats, the top 25 applicants in the ranking are accepted. The next applicant may be left out even if the gap is only one point.
Some education specialists argue that school-leaving exams should be easier, since they are not taken only by students applying to Azerbaijani universities. They are also taken by graduates who plan to study abroad or do not intend to enter higher education at all.
For now, applicants will have to wait for the next stages of the process. Passing scores may indeed fall in some areas, but the final outcome will depend on competition, seat numbers and the overall performance of applicants across the full admission cycle.
AZE.US