Digest of Education Statistics in Testing and Admissions Report for The

DIGEST OF EDUCATION STATISTICS IN TESTING AND ADMISSIONS

REPORT FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2014-2015

Special Release, “Abituriyent” Journal

BAKU - 2015

EDITORIAL COUNCIL CONTENT M.M.Abbaszade N.E.Babayev Introduction ...... 3 F.Sh.Badalbayli A.G.Abiyev School-leaving Examinations ...... 4 A.T.Amiraslanov A.M.Maharramov Admissions for Undergraduate Education (including majors requiring aptitude assessment test) ...... 20 P.A.Naghiyev A.M.Pashayev Scientific-methodical Assistance (for applicants and content/item experts) ...... 22 EDITORIAL BOARD Application of Open-Ended Test Items (Numeric Entry) ...... 22

M.А.Badalov (Editor in chief), Test Administration ...... 23 Kh.S.Azimova М.А.Akbarli Undergraduate Admission Examination ...... 24 V.О.Akbarov N.L.Аliyev Gender Aspects of The Admission Examinations ...... 33 I.М.Allahverdiyev Graduate Admissions ...... 44 А.G.Bagirov Т.А.Badalov Admission to Residency ...... 51 N.N.Bayramova G.М.Baladjanova Admission to VET Institutions А.G.Batieva (on the basis of complete secondary education) ...... 58 А.Е.Habibov А.А.Gasimov Admission to VET Institutions N.Z.Huseynova G.R.Zeynalov (on the basis of general secondary education) ...... 62 Kh.Z.Karimova The Application of ICT in the procedures of Examination and S.S.Mardanov Admissions ...... 66 J.F.Orujov Ch.I.Rustamov Guaranteed Transparency of Admission Procedures ...... 67 Ch.J.Khalilov О.Е.Shelaginov Regional Outreach Meetings ...... 68

Scientific-methodical Monitoring of Textbooks ...... 69

Test Administrations 2014 ...... 71

Strategically Important Engagements, The SSAC joined in 2014 ...... 73

SSAC’s Educational Resources ...... 74

We ought to guarantee that science, knowledge and technology determine our country’s successful and long-lasting development in the future. Scientific and technological progress is the most significant factor in defining any country’s future.Especially in XXI century the future of nation-states will be directly dependent on the level of education and knowledge. Thus, our children, our youth should be educated and become familiar with global innovations. Undoubtedly, teachers should also ensure a high quality of education.

Mr. Ilham Aliyev The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

INTRODUCTION (by M.M.Abbaszade, T.A.Badalov, O.Y.Shelaginov)

Today one of the prioritized sectors of the State is diversified youth policy. Sustainable economic development of the country enables all-round development of its youth by supplementing social programs and supporting innovative ideas through State-funded programs. To exemplify this point, the Presidential decrees such as “State Program on Azerbaijani youth in 2011-2015” are being successfully implemented. “State program for education of Azerbaijani youth abroad in 2007-2015”, “State strategy on development of education”, “New financing mechanism in Higer Education Institutions” are aimed at further improvement of the youth. Moreover, talented young people, distinguished in science, art, culture and social activities are regularly encouraged with the Presidential Awards. Furthermore, Youth Foundation, established after the Presidential decree under the Ministry of Youth and Sport has a special role in increasing an active involvement of young people in social life of Azerbaijan. Every year, new youth centers are built in different regions of Azerbaijan under various State programs in order to support social inclusion of young people in their communities and maintain obejectives of the youth policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Broader vision of the State policy promotes support for the developmental stages of the Azerbaijani youth with the spirit of national and moral values, and gradually creates a sense of community ownership, which would become a national heritage of Azerbaijan in the future. The key objectives of the State youth policy are identified with distinguishing high performing students, developing their XXI century skills, ensuring physical wellbeing, future employment and support of young couples with various social programs.

- 3 -

School-Leaving Examinations

The SSAC conducted recent school-leaving examinations of the pupils graduating from the general secondary education (9-years of school) and the complete secondary education (11-years of school) institutions, empowered by the order № 611 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the amendment dated April 19, 2012. Also, “The Charter of the State Students Admission Commission of the Azerbaijan Republic” was approved by the order № 211 of the President of Azerbaijan dated April 6, 2005. Comprehensive measures have been taken in this direction. The graduates participating in examinations were identified with the help of “Student tracking System”. More than 400 school buildings, including 60 rural school buildings were reviewed promptly and their conformity to examinations was checked out. To ensure convenience of pupils, examinations were held not only in region centers, but also in remote village schools. Invigilators were chosen among regional school teachers for managing examination process. Before examinations took place, the SSAC staff held seminars and trainings in regions for these teachers.

Test Dates, Time and Regional Testing Centers of School-Leaving Examinations

Time

On the basis of On the basis DATE complete Regional Testing Centres of general general education education

Baku city (Narimanov, Sabail, Yasamal, Nasimi, Nizami, Binagadi, 02.06.2015 10:00 15:00 Sabunchu, Khatai, Surakhani, Khazar, Garadag and Pirallahi districts), Sumgait, Absheron

Ganja, Dashkasan, Goygol, Samukh, Naftalan, Goranboy, Shamkir, 06.06.2014 10:00 15:00 Gadabay, Akhstafa, Gazakh, Tovuz, Shaki, Balakan, Gakh, Gabala, Oghuz, Zagatala, Mingachevir, Yevlakh, Sumgait and Absheron

Nakhchivan AR, Aghjabadi, Aghdam, Zardab, Barda, Tartar, 11.06.2014 10:00 15:00 Goychay, Ujar, Kurdamir, Aghdash, Zardab, Ismayilli, Aghsu, Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, Shabran, Siyazan Khizi, Shamakhi and Gobustan

Lankaran, Astara, Masalli, Lerik, Yardimli, Jalilabad, Salyan, 16.06.2014 10:00 15:00 Neftchala, Bilasuvar, Shirvan, Hajigabul, Imishli, Saatli, Sabirabad, Fuzuli, Beylagan and Khocavand

Notes:  School-leaving examinations for graduates of occupied regions were organized in the cities where they settled.  List of schools which had exceptional proper cases was identified. School-leaving examination for the graduates of such kind of schools was held separately due to the schedule organized by the SSAC. Examinations took place in these schools. List of illnesses which restrict participation of students in school-leaving examinations had been defined with the corresponding institutions. Graduates suffering from such deseases did not participate in the examination.

- 4 -

In order to help graduates to get prepared as much as possible, the topics of the essays considered for the school-leaving examinations and assessment criterias along with test item samples on subjects (Native language and Mathematics (in Azerbaijani language for the school graguates with instructional language of Azerbaijani and in Russian language for the school graduates with instructional language of Russian, Chemistry and Foreign language only for the11th graders) have been presented on the website of the Commission (www.tqdk.gov.az). The 9th and 11th graders sat the examinations in the first and the second half of the examination day respectively. The school-leaving examination was a paper-based test on the subjects of the native language and math. The pupils received 30 test items on each subject (60 test items overall). In addition, the pupils composed essays on given topics. The total duration of the examination was determined 2 hours for the 9th graders and 2 hours 45 minutes for the 11th graders. Each test item was assessed with 1 point and incorrect test items did not impact the overall results. The evaluation of the essays did not occur with points, since the essays were considered as additional indicators when exceptional situations occurred. The pupils who got their education in English and Georgian sat their examinations only in mathematics (for the 9th graders) and in mathematics, foreign language or chemistry (for the 11th graders). Irrespective of the reason those who missed school-leaving examination did not get “2”.

Marking of School-Leaving Examination (Grade IX)

Number of Correct Answers Native Language Native Language Marks (With the instructional (With the instructional Mathematics language of Azerbaijani) language of Russian) “2” 0-7 0-7 0-7 “3” 8-16 8-16 8-16 “4” 17-23 17-23 17-22 “5” 24-30 24-30 23-30

Marking of School-Leaving Examination (Grade XI)

Number of Correct Answers Marks Native language Native Language (With the instructional (With the instructional Mathematics Foreign Language language of language of Russian) (Chemistry) Azerbaijani)

“2” 0-7 0-7 0-7 0-5

“3” 8-17 8-17 8-16 6-15

“4” 18-25 18-25 17-24 16-24

“5” 26-30 26-30 25-30 25-30

- 5 -

RESULTS OF SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATIONS SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015

Grade IX Grade XI Categories of Test Takers Number (%) Number (%) Number of Test Takers 105608 86236 - With satisfactory marks on all 68202 55964 subjects (64.58%) (64.90%) - With satisfactory mark on 79991 68981 Native language only (75.89%) (80.12%) - With satisfactory mark on 77215 67659 Mathematics only (73.11%) (78.46%) - With satisfactory mark on 70091 --- Foreign language only (81.28%)

RESULTS OF SECOND SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION*

Test Takers Grade IX Grade XI Number (%) Number (%)

Number of examinees* 588 2693 - With satisfactory marks 87 (14.80%) 308 (11.44%)

MARKS DISTRIBUTION SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATIONS (Grade XI), 2015

Subjects Foreign Categories of Test Takers Native Language Mathematics Language Number(%) (%) (%) 86101 86236 86236 Overall Test Takers’ Population (100 %) (100.00) (100.00) Test Takers’ Correct Answers 52.68 51.59 45.22 18577 16145 - Test takers with mark “2” 17120 (19.88) (21.54) (18.72) 32163 (37.35) 28135 37344 - Test takers with mark “3” (32.63) (43.30) 22252 24718 18366 - Test takers with mark “4” (25.84) (28.66) (21.30) 14566 14806 14381 - Test takers with mark “5” (16.92) (17.17) (16.68)

*Organized for test takers with excused absences only.

- 6 -

MARKS DISTRIBUTION SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATIONS (Grade IX), 2015

Subjects Categories of Test Takers Native Language Mathematics (%) (%) 105402 105608 Overall Test Takers’ Population (100.00) (100.00)

Test Takers’ Correct Answers 44.58 43.96

25411 28393 - Test takers with mark “2” (24.11%) (26.89%)

46653 41955 - Test takers with mark “3” (44.26%) (39.73%)

20719 21407 - Test takers with mark “4” (19.66%) (20.27$)

12619 13853 - Test takers with mark “5” (11.97%) (13.12%)

CORRELATION COEFFICENT SCHOOL-LEAVING (GRADE XI) AND ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS

SPECIALTY GROUPS NATIVE LANGUAGE MATHEMATICS BOTH SUBJECTS

I 0.785 0.732 0.826

II 0.792 0.777 0.840

III 0.838 0.767 0.857

IV 0.848 0.828 0.883

TOTAL 0.809 0.745 0.839

- 7 -

The SSAC simplified the difficulty level of examination questions and test items in accordance with the purpose of examinations. Thereby, some academic themes both on examination subjects considered to be very complicated or still questionable were not reflected in tested content. These themes include:

For Grade IX: Native language: Complex sentence; Direct and Indirect speech; Punctuation (with the exception of Direct speech); Coherence of themes and logical succession. Mathematics: Trigonometric functions; Summation theorem for trigonometric functions; The sequences, Inverse functions.

For Grade XI: Native language: Morphological analysis, Complex sentence; Direct and indirect speech; Punctuation (except direct speech); Punctuation in direct speech; The language; The linguistics; Structure of Azerbaijani language; Stylistics; Literary style, Publisistic style; Scientific and Official styles; Connection between themes and logical succession; samples of academic writing; Various questions related to the text. Mathematics: Trigonometric equations and inequalities; Successions; Straight lines in space; Polyhedrons, their surface and volume; Sequence of limit and the limit function; The theory of compounds; Probability theory; Complex numbers. Chemistry: “The stability of the composition of matter”; Conservation of the mass of the item ; Calculations on chemical equations ; Hybridization , spatial structure of molecules ; Crystal lattice types ; The oxidation -reduction reactions; Iron and steel production; Copper, zinc, chromium; The genetic relationship between organic and inorganic compounds; ethers. English: Phonetics, Phraseological units, Numerals, Verb and Adverb forming suffixes, The Article, Defining pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns, The Adverb, phrasal verbs, The Indicative Mood, The Non-Finite Forms of the Verb, The Infinitive, The Particle, Direct and Indirect Speech. Russian language: Phraseological units, Proverbs and sayings, Homogeneous parts of sentence, Sentences with one member, Complex sentences. German language: Speech etiquettes, Degrees of adjectives, Ordinal Numerals, formation, cases and usages, Degree forming adverbs, Passive Voice, Non-Finite forms of verb, the Infinitive, Compound sentences. French language: Degrees of adjectives, Relative Pronouns, Comparative and Superlative degrees of adverbs, Subjunctive Mood, Passive voice, Complex and compound sentences. Arabian language: Compound nouns, Compound adjectives, Fractional numerals, Expression of percentages, Relative Pronouns, Case adverbs, Absolute object, infinitive, fail and maful forms of derivateve babs, Subjunctive, Imperative and conditional forms of salim verbs, Hamzali verbs, Complex and compound sentences.

- 8 -

Persian language: Words borrowed from Arabian language, Relative adjectives, Fractional numerals, Decimal fractions and percentage, Usage of dates of the month and year, Structural type of verbs, subscription form of the verb, Subordinate and coordinate conjunctions, Simple sentences with homogenious parts, Complex and compound sentences. Inspite of accessible test difficulty, above-mentioned facts, it was revealed that there were graduates who did not meet mimimal requirements of the core curriculum, and could neither read nor write (76 graduates of Grade IX and 24 graduates of Grade IX). This statistics is based on the examination protocols, completed by test administrators at exams. The number of the11th graders who can neither read, nor write was as follows (by regions): -6 graduate in Sabirabad region, 4 graduates in Lankaran region, 3 graduates in Hajigabul region, 2 graduates in Tovuz region, 1 graduate in Dashkasan, Gadabay, Qazakh, Goranboy, Imishli, Astara, Lerik, Jardimli and Masalli regoins. The number of the 9th graders who can neither read, nor write was as follows (by regions): -12 graduates in Astara region, 9 graduates in Sabirabad region, 8 graduates in Lerik region, 4 graduates in Gadabay, Tovuz, Jalilabad and Masalli regions, 3 graduates in Gazakh, Goranboy and Barda regions, 2 graduates in Dashkasan, Shamkir, Akhstafa, Aghjabedi, Aghdash, Yardimli and Hajigabul regions , 1 graduate in Gakh, Kalbajar, Gabala, Ordubad, Khizi, Aghdam, Khachmaz and Jabrail regions.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF CORRECT ANSWERS OF AN AVERAGE APPLICANT NATIVE LANGUAGE, SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE IX

Balakәn Xaçmaz Zaqatala Qusar Qax Ağstafa Şabran Quba Qazax Şәki Oğuz Tovuz Siyәzәn Samux Qәbәlә Şәmkir İsmayıllı Mingәçevir Şamaxı Xızı Gәncә Sumqayıt Yevlax Göygöl Naftalan Ağdaş Göyçay Gәdәbәy Ağsu Qobustan Bakı Daşkәsәn Goranboy Ucar Bәrdә Abşeron Tәrtәr Zәrdab Kürdәmir Hacıqabul

Kәlbәcәr Ağdam Şirvan Ağcabәdi Sabirabad Xocalı İmişli Saatlı Beylәqan Laçın Sәdәrәk Şuşa Salyan Şәrur Füzuli Xocavәnd Bilәsuvar Şahbuz Kәngәrli Qubadlı Neftçala Babәk Cәbrayıl Cәlilabad Naxçıvan ş. Culfa

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

- 9 -

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF CORRECT ANSWERS OF AN AVERAGE APPLICANT MATHEMATICS, SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE IX

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF AVERAGE SCORES SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE IX

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

- 10 -

DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF MALE AND FEMALE GRADUATES ALLOCATED PER REGIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE IX

Balakәn Xaçmaz Zaqatala Qusar Qax Ağstafa Şabran Quba Qazax Şәki Oğuz Tovuz Siyәzәn Samux Qәbәlә Şәmkir İsmayıllı MALE GRADUATES IN Mingәçevir Şamaxı Xızı Gәncә Sumqayıt OVERALL GRADUATES Yevlax Göygöl Naftalan Ağdaş Göyçay OF A REGION Gәdәbәy Ağsu Qobustan Bakı Daşkәsәn Goranboy Ucar Bәrdә Abşeron Tәrtәr Zәrdab Kürdәmir Hacıqabul

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF CORRECT ANSWERS OF AN AVERAGE APPLICANT NATIVE LANGUAGE, SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE XI

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

- 11 -

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF CORRECT ANSWERS OF AN AVERAGE APPLICANT MATHEMATICS, SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE XI

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

AN AVERAGE APPLICANT REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF CORRECT ANSWERS OF AN AVERAGE APPLICANT FOREIGN LANGUAGE, SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE XI

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

- 12 -

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF AVERAGE SCORES SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE XI

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF MALE AND FEMALE GRADUATES ALLOCATED PER REGIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, GRADE XI

Balakәn Xaçmaz Zaqatala Qusar Qax Ağstafa PERCENTAGE OF MALE Şabran Quba Qazax Şәki GRADUATES IN THE Oğuz Tovuz Siyәzәn OVERALL NUMBER OF Samux Qәbәlә Şәmkir İsmayıllı REGION’S GRADUATES Mingәçevir Şamaxı Xızı Gәncә Sumqayıt Yevlax Göygöl Naftalan Ağdaş Göyçay Gәdәbәy Ağsu Qobustan Bakı Daşkәsәn Goranboy Ucar Bәrdә Abşeron Tәrtәr Zәrdab Kürdәmir Hacıqabul

Ordubad Zәngilan Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

- 13 -

Attendance of graduates of general and complete secondary education, level of their knowledge, dynamics of changes were analized comparatively. School-leaving examinations were held by the SSAC for the first time in 2012. One of important issues for educational statistics was determining the number of pupils by regions. According to the information given by the State Statistic Committe, the quantity of pupils who entered school in 2004 was equal to 125980. In 2013, 117275 graduates of general secondary education took part in school-leaving examinations. Considering the fact that 4268 graduates were exempted from school- leaving examinations, the data of approximately 3.5% of pupils is missing. Generally, the SSAC determines the number of graduates participating in school-leaving examinations, investigates their results in the next step of education, and also tries to identify the number of graduates who didn’t participate in school-leaving examinations and the reasons behind.

In 2013, 117275 graduates participated in school-leaving examinations on the basis of general secondary education. Approximately 21% of them decided to cease continuing their education on this stage and no records are available to track their contuinuing of education in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Distribution of Marks School Leaving Examination, IX Graders, 2013 School-leavers with no record on continuing education

12000

10000

8000

6000 5 Marks on Mathematics 4000 4

Number of applicants 2000 3 2 0 2345 Marks on Native language GENDER AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS (IN %) IX GRADERS WITH NO RECORD OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

MALE FEMALE CITY VILLAGE 51% 49% 28% 72%

As seen from the previous figures, the contingent with no record of continued education is mainly the recepients of “2” or “3” mark in school-leaving examinations. Interestingly, 72% of them are graduates of rural schools and only 7% of these graduates continued their education in vocational education and training (VET) institutions on the basis of general secondary education. Up to 72% of

- 14 - school-leavers finished their complete general education in 2015. As a result, 71% out of 125980 pupils who entered the school in 2004 completed their education and 26% of them completed only general secondary education. 33% of pupils who graduated from school in 2015 (65% of male and 35% of female graduates) decided not to continue their education, hence they didn’t apply for admission to the higher or VET institutions on the basis of complete general education.

Distribution of Marks School leaving examination, XI Graders, 2015 (Graduates, who did not apply for undergraduate education)

12000

10000

8000

6000 Marks on Mathematics

5 4000 Number of Applicants 4 2000 3 2 0 2345

Marks on Native language GENDER AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS (IN %), GRADE XI SCHOOL-LEAVERS DID NOT APPLYING FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

MALE FEMALE CITY VILLAGE 65% 35% 15% 85%

Analyzing the information from above diagrams, mainly, graduates of rural schools (85%) achieved unsatisfactory results in school-leaving examination. In 2015, 59580 graduates applied for the admission examinations to the higher education and VET institutions on the basis of complete general education. The previous figure comprises only 47% of those who entered the 1st grade in 2004. 53% of these applicants are males, 47% of them are females, 43% of them are graduates of city and 57% of them are graduates of rural schools. 28055 applicants received an opportunity to continue their education in higher education institutions, while 4270 applicants entered VET institutions.

- 15 -

Distribution of Marks School-leaving examination, Grade XI, 2015 Graduates, applying for Undergraduate Education

12000

10000

8000 Marks on Marks on Mathematics 6000 5

4000 4 Number of of Number applicants 2000 3 2 0 2345 Marks on Native language GENDER AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS (IN %), GRADE XI SCHOOL-LEAVERS APPLYING FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

MALE FEMALE CITY VILLAGE 54% 46% 45% 55%

Distribution of Marks, Grade XI School-leaving Examination, 2015 Graduates admitted for Undergraduate Education

9000 8000 7000 6000 5000

4000 5 marks on Mathematics 3000 4 2000

Number of applicants 3 1000 2 0 2345

Marks on Native language

- 16 -

GENDER AND GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS (IN %), GRADE XI SCHOOL-LEAVERS ADMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

MALE FEMALE CITY VILLAGE 49% 51% 50% 50%

Referring to the diagrams, the applicants of higher education institutions predominantly attained the marks of “3”, “4” and partially “5” in school-leaving examinations, but those who admitted to the higher education institutions mainly received the marks of “4” or “5”. Again these figures indicate that evaluation of knowledge is held fairly both in school-leaving and in admission examinations. The SSAC forecasts based on the analsis of current statistical data, the percentage of graduates who will apply, but will not be admitted to higher education institutions in next 5 years. Considering the prognosis this number will comprise totally 18% of all applicants. Out of 64% of 125980 pupils, who entered the school in 2004, will start working without having any professional or vocational education.

EDUCATIONAL STAGE DISTRIBUTION PUPILS ENTERING GRADE I IN 2004 (ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2020)

9th graders with no record of continuing 9th graders ceasing to education continue their education 3,5%

19,5% 11th graders rejecting to Admitted to 26,2% apply for the Undergraduate 22,8% higher education education institutions 17,7% 6,8%

3,4%

Admittes to the Admitted to the vocational vocational Not admitted to the education institutions on the higher education institutions on the basis of general institutions basis of complete secondary education secondary education

57038 (54.01%) and 48570 (45.99%) of male and female graduates participated in school- leaving examinations on the basis of general secondary education. 48742 (56,52%) male and 37494 (43.48%) female graduates attended school-leaving examinations on the basis of complete secondary

- 17 - education. Even though this gender factor has a balanced correlation, significant differences in this indicator can be observed in different regions. For instance, in southern regions (Lankaran, Astara, Lerik, Yardimli, Jalilabad, and Masalli regions) 46.74% graduates of the general secondary education were females, however this index is equal to 38.68% among graduates of complete secondary education. As seen from these indicators, the number of female graduates strongly diminished. The Commision strongly assumes that this decrement is closely connected with the fact of early female marriages in southern regions. The SSAC investigated and compared the results of school-leaving examinations on different parameters (education levels, academic years, subjects, instructional language, regions). During comparison of results of school-leaving examinations by education steps (9th and 11th grades) many characteristical facts were discovered. By comparing marks received by the 9th and 11th graders on examination subjects, it is seen that test performance results of the 11th graders excels. For visual observation, results (percentage of number of correct answers) of an average graduate were compared. Average graduate of general secondary education scored 44.53 points on Native language and 43.88 points on Mathematics, while graduate of complete secondary education scored 52.66 and 51.49 on relevant subjects. This shows that, after graduating from general secondary education pupils become more responsible. The Commision supposes that this issue is also related to the fact that pupils are preparing for the admission examinations to the higher education and VET institutions on basis of complete secondary education with the help of tutors. Transparency and objectiveness of admission examinations run by the SSAC make applicants be more prepared and goal-oriented. Statistical analysis demonstrates that results of school-leaving examinations both on the basis of general and complete secondary education differ by regions (education departments). The highest results were achieved by the graduates (both for the 9th and 11th grades) of private high shools and schools subordinated by the Ministry of Education. In school-leaving examinations (both for the 9th and 11th grades) average scores of graduates of private high shools and schools subordinated by the Ministry of Education were equal to 39.6 and 69.4 (The highest scores that can be achieved by the 9th and 11th graders were equal relatively to 60 and 90). In school-leaving examinations (for the 9th grade) the highest results were shown by the graduates of Naftalan, Sumgait, Mingachevir, Nakhchivan, Baku cities, Oghuz, Gakh, Gubadli and Shahbuz regions. Achieved scores in above-mentioned cities and regions were equal to 34.0, 32.8, 32.7, 31.9, 30.7 30.9, 30.6, 30.5 and 29.0 relatively. The lowest results were gained by the graduates of Aghjabedi and Sabirabad regions (19.2, 19.0 and 17.9 scores relatively). In school-leaving examinations (for the 11th grade) the highest results were demonstrated by the graduates of Naftalan, Nakhchivan, Mangachevir, Baku, Sumgait cities, Shahbuz, Gakh, Gubadli and Zangilan regions (62.8, 61.2, 55.6, 54.7, 54.7, 56.9, 55.1, 54.3 and 51.6 scores relatively). These figures show that high results in school-leaving examinations both for the 9th and 11th graders were achieved by the representatives of the same regions. The lowest results were received by the graduates of Dashkesen, Sabirabad regions (28.9, and 27.7 scores relatively). While comparing results of school-leaving examinations of 2014 with the results of early years tendency of decreasement shows itself in the number of graduates wanting to continue their education. Alongside,overall improvement in the results of school-leaving examinations is noticed. There is close a positive correlation between the results of school-leaving examinations in 2013 (for the 9th grade) and 2015 (for the 11th grade). Correlation coefficient is equal to 0.832, 0.797 and 0.716 in all subjects, Native language and Mathematics relatively.

- 18 -

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF THE 11th GRADERS WITH MARK “2” SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, 2013 (ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION) Native Language Mathematics (25% of pupils) (23% of pupils)

0,8% 0,9%

6,2% 6,8%

42,7% 35,6% 56,8% 50,2%

"2" "3" "4" "5" "2" "3" "4" "5"

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF THE 11th GRADERS WITH MARK “3” SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, 2013 (ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION)

Native Language Mathematics (42% of pupils) (39% of pupils)

5,2% 3,1% 15,3% 19,7%

53,2% 51,2% 26,3% 26,1%

"2" "3" "4" "5" "2" "3" "4" "5"

- 19 -

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF THE 11th GRADERS WITH MARK “4” SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, 2013 (ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION) Native Language Mathematics (21% of pupils) (21% of pupils)

0,9%

1,9% 19,6% 20,6%

50,5% 19,3% 58,2% 29,0%

"2" "3" "4" "5" "2" "3" "4" "5"

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF THE 11th GRADERS WITH MARK “5” SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAMINATION, 2013 (ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION)

Native Language Mathematics (12% of pupils) (18% of pupils) 2,1% 2,4% 0,2% 0,4%

24,9% 29,5%

72,8% 67,8%

"2" "3" "4" "5" "2" "3" "4" "5"

- 20 -

Testing and Admissions Undergraduate Education (including specialties requiring aptitude assessment exam)

At the beginning of each year up to the end of admission process, the SSAC starts publishing a set of consecutive issues of “Abiturent” journal, which provides the public with: 1. A detailed description of admission programs1 for admission to undergraduate degree programs of the higher education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan including admission programs to selective state-led schools2; 2. Calls for applications, instructions of online registration for the exam and admission in separate; 3. List of undergraduate degree programs in public and private higher schools, established in the country3; 4. Procedures and requirements of the standardized examination and unified admissions, including: - samples of test items (closed and open-ended) with all levels of difficulty, used at the admission examinations; 5. A list of responses to frequently asked questions about admission and examinations, including: - correct answers, scoring tables and reports of all applicants’ scores; - reports of cut scores and the names of all admitted applicants for the current academic year; 6. Tips for applicants, consultative articles on career planning, including: -a platform for high scorers to share their experience and success stories.

Registration for the exam as well as admission for the higher education institutions and specialized secondary education institutions was carried out online, which simplified not only application procedure, but also prevented the applicants from common mistakes. In practice, to make online registration system considerably more effective, the SSAC joined the state inter-office automated information search system “Entrance-exit and registration”, run by most state institutions. Thus, now the applicants can easily fullfil their “Online Application” account page with the identification requirements met through the state identification detector and submit it with respect to the deadlines, set by the SSAC. Two groups of applicant population were classified for the confirmation of applications. The group of applicants, whose applications were confirmed in the registration system, without visiting Application Registration Commissions: - The graduates of complete general education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the current academic year;

1 Admission programs for undergraduate education are based on the core curriculum of subjects, being assessed. 2 The state-led schools are the state funded Academies of Security, Defence and other academic institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 3 The list of specialties for admission, the number of enrolment openings and the names of education institutions taking part in the fulfillment of the state order are annually presented as a prognosis.

- 21 -

- The female graduates of complete general education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the academic years of 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014; - The female graduates of vocational education institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the academic year of 2012-2013; - The female graduates who applied for the higher education institutions and specialized secondary education institutions on the basis of complete general education in the academic year of 2011/2012 and earlier. The rest of the applicants were able to have their applications confirmed at the Application Registration Commissions by only submitting required documents. The overall content of the Application was published and presented to the public in the second issue of “Abiturient” journal in 2015. To support the applicants favouring specialties requiring aptitude, the SSAC issued such publications as “Fine Arts”, “Music Art”, “Architecture and Design”, “Theatre, Cinema and Choreography”, “Physical Education and Sport”, which contain scientific-methodical assistance1. These applicants can find a set of characteristics of aptitudes, requirements of every speciality, admission programs of aptitude examinations, assessment standards for the juries as well as the conduct of behaviours of applicants and jury members. Additionally, samples of required tasks, visual reproductions, pictures, tables, norms, etc. are published in the journal to better guide this segment of applicants. Initial pre-selections of the applicants selecting specialties with aptitudes were held not only in the capital Baku, but also in other regional testing centres before the main deadline of registration. In this selection round, the match of the applicants with the basic requirements of the specialties requiring aptitudes was assessed by the admission commission and those who passed the selection stage successfully were reregistered online for the aptitude examination itself. Specialties open to admission and the number of the enrolment openings were presented in the fourth issue of “Abiturient” journal. One of the recent changes was the application of aptitude examination in the undergraduate admission to the speciality of Journalism. At the beginning of the year Press Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan addressed the proposal for the consideration of the SSAC, which was extensively discussed among the experts of both stakeholders. A special task force was established, in order to develop rules of examinations, admission procedures and evaluation standards. Information on this regard was regularly presented to the public online as well as in various issues of “Abiturient” journal. With new rules, applicants of speciality group III willing to be admitted to the speciality of journalism registered online, after having their electronic application approved by the regulatory system. Overall, 341 of registered applicants gained a right to participate in the aptitude assessment examination. During the aptitude assessment exam, applicants were required to write an essay (a composition) on social, economical, cultural, educational, or environmental themes as well as on prominent figures of Azerbaijan and global challenges. Requirements for the essay (composition), including assessment rubrics developed by the Jury were posted online for the applicants to prepare prior to the examination day.

1 A set of methodical procedures, which are based on the data analysis, produced every year.

- 22 -

Examinations were held in the capital Baku as well as in the cities where the regional branches of the SSAC are operating - Nakhchivan, Ganja, Shaki, Lankaran, Khachmaz, Goychay, Shirvan and Aghjabadi. Before the examination started, the members of the jury (delegates of the Press Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, officials from the SSAC and some representatives of the local Mass Media) randomly selected themes for the applicants to be assessed on that day. So, out of 200 previously announced themes only 3 were selected for that day of the exam and streamed via live broadcast to all test centres. During the examination applicants had to compose an essay on one of presented themes, in either Azerbaijani or Russian language depending on the language of instruction of the applicant in school. Out of 341 applicants, 178 did not participate at the exam, although they had gained a right to attend the examination in earlier stage. In conclusion, 57 out of 163 applicants have successfully passed the examination (51 of them were Azerbaijani and 6 Russian high school graduates). As a result of this stage, the applicants passing the aptitude assessment examination successfully were given a chance to choose other specialties along with the speciality journalism in list of preferred majors for the admission to undergraduate degree programs. 55 out of 57 successful applicants chose Journalism, whereas only 2 applicants chose other speciality within group III.

Scientific-methodical Assistance (for applicants and content/item experts)

To support the applicants to prepare independently for the admission examinations, the SSAC launches series of instructional activities throughout the year. As a result of regularly held professional development seminars, conducted at the SSAC, scientifically grounded methodic instructions and feedback of councils of experts, a wide range of scientific and methodical materials are being developed and presented for the use of applicants online, such as: a) admission programs of all subjects; b) instructions on how to prepare for the admission exam; c) notes on inaccurate textbook content and themes insufficiently covered in the school textbooks; d) content experts’ remarks on different themes reflected in the admission programs and other instructional materials. In addition, a number of test samples and updated versions of testbooks on all examination subjects have been published. For example, within the project “Video Lecture”, lectures covering themes of admission programs, new models of test items and recommendations of experienced experts on different subjects were placed online on the SSAC’s Youtube channel. Furthermore, after the exam, challenging test items were explained and common mistakes made by applicants were investigated and presented for the public on live TV program. Regional branches of the SSAC have considerably helped to decentralize the administration of exam as well as the enrichment of instructional seminars. Due to the intensive involvement of the SSAC’s regional branches at the promotion of the SSAC’s projects, community of teachers working in regions has been engaged not only in the administration of exams, but also contributed to the course of scientific discussions and the development of methodical resources for item writers. Live broadcast established at the SSAC’s headquarters has already been connecting the regional branches of the SSAC with the main course, led at the headquarters since 2008, which provides an

- 23 - opportunity for the SSAC to encourage the participation of teachers and experts from regions in the instructional seminars on examination subjects, organized at the central office of the SSAC and enables the provision of reflective feedback by the experts, involved at grass-roots level.

The Application of Open-Ended Test Items (Numeric Entry)

The SSAC continues the construction of open-ended test items in its test development practice and maximizes their application in the examination disciplines. The open-ended test questions do not have answer choices, and examinees have to generate their own answers. A number of such open-ended test samples and their coding on Answer Sheet were illustrated in the 1st issue of “Abiturient” journal. These new models of test items were first pre-tested in the trial examinations held not only in the capital Baku, but also in the regions and only after validation these models were included into the Item Pool. The presentation of samples in distributed journals and the organization of trial examinations help prepare applicants for new test models, carefully instruct and familiarize them with new coding procedures prior to the actual exam. Overall, 205 406 applicants were registered to take part in trial examinations. Meanwhile, an online software program was generated and launched by the SSAC to let applicants take trial examinations online whenever requested by individuals. Open-ended test items have been included in the test blocks of three subjects within each group. 4 out of 25 test items have been open-ended on: - mathematics, physics and chemistry in group I; - mathematics, geography and native language in group II; - mathematics, history and native language in group III; - mathematics, chemistry and biology in group IV. Application of open-ended test items allows to distinguish applicants with high mathematical and analytical thinking ability and particularly, applicants with well-sustained preparation. It also helps to assess applicants’ knowledge on four levels: knowledge, comprehension, application and skills. To provide an alternative testing resource for teachers to assess pupils’ learning outcomes as well as the degree of readiness for the admission test, a new workbook with two parts based on the new curriculum was introduced to the public: 1) open-ended test items, evaluation standards and 2) traditional multiple - choice items.

Test Administration

The State Students Admission Commission held admission examinations on the following dates:  admission examinations for the graduates of previous years, classified in groups II and III were held on May 18;  admission examinations for the graduates of previous years, classified in groups I and IV were held on May 25;  admission examinations for the graduates of the current year were held on July 15 (I and IV groups) and July 27 (II and III groups).

- 24 -

After all admission examinations for the graduates of the current and previous academic years were over, the selection of speciality was carried out in the period of July 30 - August 11, 2015. The SSAC conducts the unified admission examinations in the capital city of Baku and in 11 more regions of the country (the examinations were conducted only in 3 regions a couple of years ago), which ensures the convenience of applicants as well as their parents. For example, 50% of the total applicants took their admission examinations in regional testing centres. Transportation of applicants to the examination centres was arranged with the support of local executive bodies for free, which was applauded by the public through number of letters received by the SSAC from applicants and their parents. In conclusion, regardless of the place of the administering the standardized exams, unified standards and regulations of the exam were equally respected overall the country, which ensured the quality of the examination nationwide. The centres where examinations were held and relevant regions were as follows:

Regional Testing Cities and Surrounding Regions Centers

Baku Baku, Absheron, Shamaxi, Gobustan, Neftchala, Salyan and Bilasuvar

Sumgait Sumgait, Khizi, və Siyazan

Ganja, Dashkasan, Shemkir, Goygol, Samukh, Gadabay, Gazakh, Akhstafa, Tovuz, Ganja Naftalan and Goranboy

Shaki Balakan, Gakh, Gabala, Zagatala, Oguz and Shaki

Lankaran Astara, Yardimli, Lerik, Lankaran, Masalli and Jalilabad

Khachmaz Gusar və Khachmaz and Shabran

Agjabadi Agjabadi, Khojavand, Aghdam, Zardab, Fuzuli and Beylagan

Shirvan Shirvan, Saatli, Sabirabad, Hacigabul and Imishli

Goychay Goychay, Aghdash, Ujar, Kurdamir, Ismayıllı and Akhsu

Nakhchivan Nakhchivan, Sadarak, Sharur, Shahbuz, Babak, Julfa, Kangarli and Ordubad

Mingachevir Mingachevir, Tartar, Yevlax and Barda

Planning and administration of the examinations require the involvement of numerous representatives of different state institutions. Prior to the exam date, test books of examination are assembled and reviewed at the Headquarters in Baku and then multiplied copies of these test books are distributed to the regional branches via highly secured transportation means. Every required action has been taken together with the Special State Security Service of the Presidential Administration prior to the final check-up of the buildings to prevent from any insecure circumstances. For instance, this year nearly 11000 teachers from the general secondary schools and up to 800 specialists from different state agencies have become part of examination as invigilators and examination managers, respectively. Task forces of the Special State Security Service highly secured the overall examination process. Furthermore, support provided by the personnel of the Ministry of Internal

- 25 -

Affairs, “Azerbaijan Airlines” Closed Joint Stock Company, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies and the Ministry of Emergency Situations has immensely contributed to the quality of organizing the examination. Sets of events were held not only in Baku, but also in different regions in order to enlighten examination managers and invigilators. To increase the number of professional examination managers, representatives of Azerbaijan National Scientific Academy have also been engaged as examination managers. Newly envolved examination managers go through required seminars, practise the examination regulations and standards in a number of trial examinations, being monitored, who, if successful, take positions in the actual examinations. During introductory trainings, management of examination process is fully explained to the teachers and educative film on examination technology is demonstrated. Beginning from November 2014 more than 100 buildings considered for the potential testing centres were inspected, their compliance with the requirements was identified. To exclude any identified shortcomings, national, regional and local state authorities are in regular communication. Respectively, updated information on testing centres is entered in the “database of testing centres”. The personnel of the Special State Security Service provide security of testing centres.

Undergraduate Admissions

The SSAC has always maintained its focus on introducing the admission rules and the technology of admission examinations to the applicants. Guidelines reflecting information on admission strategies and recommendations about different aspects, approaches and stages of the student admission process have been published. The SSAC issued a special publication titled “What should be paid attention to during the speciality selection?” for the applicants of each group in order to help them in the selection of proper and correct speciality. Education forms (on the state order and on paid basis), admission quotas on the contest of Azerbaijani and Russian sectors both separately and together, as well as the information on the distribution of scores of the applicants who gained the right to participate in the contest were presented in the issues. The SSAC published manuals and made them available online for the applicants in order to ensure the applicants’ decisiveness while selecting speciality. With the purpose of assistance to the applicants in the selection of a proper speciality, the information on the previous years’ pass scores formed in the admission examinations to higher and specialized secondary education institutions, were also published in other guidance-related aids. Descriptive statistics on examination and admissions In 2015, 88791 applicants participated in the admission examinations to the higher education institutions in the country. 36.96% of those applicants scored 0-100 points, 22.35% scored 100-200 points, 15.21% 200-300 points, 17.84% scored 300-500 points, 7.64% scored 500-700 points. 2096 applicants scored higher than 600 points. The applicants with high scores represent almost all cities and regions including some rural schools of the republic.

- 26 -

The number of the applicants scoring more than 600 points was as follows in each group: - 581 applicants in group I; - 422 applicants in group II; - 662 applicants in group III; - 431 applicants in group IV. Additionally, 15 applicants scored the maximum score of 700 points. Of 15 applicants scoring 700 points, 7 were the applicants of group I, 3 were the applicants of group II, 3 were applicants of group III and 2 were applicants from group IV. The 11th issue of “Abiturient” journal was entirely dedicated to the high scoring applicants - their scores, admission results and personal feedback on the examination process and tips for perspective students. The electronic version of journal was also set on the official website of the SSAC.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION EXAMINATION

ADMISSION QUOTA TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2015-2016

State-funded Private Universities 11553; 6554; 29,69% 16,84%

32360; 27361; 83,16% 70,31%

Privately-funded Public Universities

THE SECTOR (INSTRUCTIONAL LANGUAGE) FACTOR UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS 2015

ATTENDED: ADMITTED: TOTAL 88791** TOTAL 31699 - For Azerbaijani sector 81679 - For Azerbaijani sector 28366 - For Russian sector 7144 - For Russian sector 3333

** As admission of applications was held separately for speciality groups I-IV and V, those who applied for one of I-IV groups were also able to apply for the V group.

- 27 -

Applying to I-IV Applying only groups and to V to V group Applying to the group colleges (on the basis of complete secondary DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF Applying to I-IV APPLICATION ADMISSION groups and to the colleges (on the basis of complete secondary education) Applying only to I-IV groups

300-500 500-700 points points 200-300 7,64% 17,84% points SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM 15,21% OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS 36,96% (I-IV GROUPS, IN POINTS) 22,35%

100-200 0-100 pionts points

100-200 points 200-300 0,72% points 500-700 34,09% points SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM 19,56% ADMITTED APPLICANTS

(I-IV GROUPS, IN POINTS) 45,63%

300-500 points

- 28 -

70-90 points 50-70 points 4,50% 0-20 20,93% points 40-50 9,42% SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM points 19,06%

OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS 22,86%

(V GROUP, IN POINTS) 23,23%

20-30 30-40 points points

20-30 points 2,34% 70-90 30-40 points 40-50 points 8,03% 14,85% points 13,29% SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM ADMITTED APPLICANTS (V GROUP, IN POINTS) 61,49%

50-70 points

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION TO UNIVERSITIES THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2015-2016

Admitted Admitted to the state higher education institutions on the state order

35,70% Admitted to the state higher education institutions on the paid basis

64,30%

Admitted to the private higher education Admitted to the private higher education institutions on the Not admitted institutions on the paid basis state order

- 29 -

THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

a) ON SPECIALITY GROUPS

Admitted (including on state-funded seats) Admission Admission № Specialty groups quota % Azerbaijani Russian Total sector sector

Mathematics, physics, I engineering, architecture, and 12131 8815 (4527) 1229 (581) 10044 (5108) 82.80 design specialities

Economics, management, international relations, regional II 11672 7926 (1783) 1076 (140) 9002 (1923) 77.12 studies, sociology, and geography specialities

Humanities and pedagogics III 9534 7573 (2452) 636 (107) 8209 (2559) 86.10 specialities

Medicine, chemistry, biology, IV agrarian and psychology 3139 2250 (1264) 155 (64) 2405 (1328) 76.62 specialities

V Art, music and sport specialities 2355 1802 (632) 237 (102) 2039 (734) 86.58

28366 31699 Total 38831 3333 (994) 81.63 (10658) (11652)

b) ON EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Admitted

Admission (including state-funded seats) Admission № Education Institutions Quota percentage Azerbaijani Russian Total number sector sector

1 State 32277 25155 (10074) 3228 (963) 28383 (11037) 87.94

2 Private 6554 3211 (584) 105 (31) 3316 (615) 50.60

28366 Total 38831 3333 (994) 31699 (11652) 81.63 (10658)

- 30 -

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS STATUS

Baku State University Azerbaijan State Oil Academy Azerbaijan Technical University Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Azerbaijan Medical University Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University Azerbaijan State Economic University Azerbaijan University of Languages Baku Slavic University Azerbaijan Institute of Teachers Academy of Public Adminstration under the President of AR ADA University Baku Musical Academy Azerbaijan National Conservatory Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management Baku Choreography Academy Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports National Aviation Academy Azerbaijan State Marine Academy Baku High Oil Academy Academy of State Custom Committee Nakhchivan State University Nakhchivan Teachers Institute Azerbaijan State Agrarian University (Ganja city) Ganja State University Azerbaijan University of Technology (Ganja city) Sumgait State University Mingachevir State University Lankaran State University Azerbaijan Cooperation University Baku Islamic University Azerbaijan University Western University Khazar University Qafqaz Univeesity Centre of Science and Education "Tafaccur" University Baku Euroasia University Baku Girls University "Odlar Yurdu" University Baku Business University Nakhchivan University Azәrbaycan Labour and Social Relations Academy

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% state order paid basis vacant quota

- 31 -

AVERAGE POINTS OF APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO UNIVERSITIES (I-IV GROUPS)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

Baku State University Azerbaijan State Oil Academy Azerbaijan Technical University Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Azerbaijan Medical University Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University Azerbaijan State Economic University Azerbaijan University of Languages Baku Slavic University Azerbaijan Teachers Institute Academy of Public Adminstration under the President of AR ADA University Azerbaijan State Culture and Art University Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management National Aviation Academy Azerbaijan State Marine Academy Baku High Oil Academy Academy of State Custom Committee Nakhchivan State University Nakhchivan Teachers Institute Azerbaijan State Agrarian University(Ganja city) Ganja State University Azerbaijan University of Technology (Ganja city) Sumgait State University Mingachevir State University Lankaran State University Azerbaijan Cooperation University Baku Islamic University Azerbaijan University Western University Khazar Universitety Qafqaz University Centre of Sciense and Education "Tafakkur" University Baku Euroasia University Baku Girls University "Odlar Yurdu" University Baku Business University Nakhchivan University Azerbaijan Labour and Social Relations Academy

- 32 -

SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM

(IN POINTS) (IN POINTS)

APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO PUBLIC APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITIES

100-200 points 0,71% 200-300 100-200 500-700 points 500-700 points 300-500 points 29,43% points 20,32% points 13,97% 0,82% 16,69%

49,55% 68,53%

300-500 points 200-300 points

Holding trial examinations in different regions of the republic, regular publication of methodological asisstance in “Abituriyent” journal, publication of test collections, and online conduction of trial examinations have played an effective role in preparation of youth to take admission examinations successfully. All these actions were run by the SSAC systematically and regularly throughout the year.

ADMISSION INDICATORS OF APPLICANTS REPRESENTING LARGE CITIES OF THE REPUBLIC

a) Total CITY Number of applicants Admitted Admission percentage Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total 1 Republic of Azerbaijan 88791 46979 41812 31699 15277 16422 35.70 32.52 39.28

2 Baku 29874 15497 14377 12160 5801 6359 40.70 37.43 44.23

3 Mingachevir 1050 542 508 423 203 220 40.29 37.45 43.31

4 Nakhchiıvan 1386 748 638 526 233 293 37.95 31.15 45.92

5 Sumgait 4285 2142 2143 1619 748 871 37.78 34.92 40.64

6 Ganja 3656 1836 1820 1107 498 609 30.28 27.12 33.46

- 33 -

b) State-Funded Seats № CITY Number of applicants Admitted Admission percentage Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female 1 The Republic of 88791 46979 41812 11652 5090 6562 13.12 10.83 15.69 Azerbaijan 2 Mingachevir 1050 542 508 181 71 110 17.24 13.10 21.65 3 Sumgait 4285 2142 2143 681 284 397 15.89 13.26 18.53 4 Nakhchivan 1386 748 638 211 77 134 15.22 10.29 21.00 5 Baku 29874 15497 14377 4171 1863 2308 13.96 12.02 16.05 6 Ganja 3656 1836 1820 457 177 280 12.50 9.64 15.38

CORRELATION COEFFICIENT OF TRIAL AND ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS TESTED SUBJECTS Total History № SPECIALTY GROUPs Native Litera- Mathe- Bio- Geogra- score Physics Chemistry History Of English Language ture matisc logy phy Azerbaijan

Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, I 0.878 0.744 0.759 0.736 0.773 0.809 Architecture, and Design specialities

Economics, Management, International II relations, Regional 0.870 0.690 0.754 0.752 0.720 0.807 studies, Sociology, and Geography specialities

Humanities and III Pedagogics 0.887 0.765 0.773 0.818 0.787 0.822 specialities

Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculturer IV 0.939 0.827 0.869 0.823 0.885 0.821 and Psychology, specialities

As seen from the previous table, there is a close correlation, seen in every major group, between applicants’ results in trial and admission examination . This correlation justifies itself both between relative scores of examination subjects and total scores. The highest correlation is observed in the results of the applicants representing the major group IV. In this group density level of linear correlation between overall scores of applicants in trial and admission examinations is tremendous and correlation coefficient equals to 0.939. In this major group the correlation coefficient rating, which expresses density of linear correlations between the relative scores of applicants achieved in trial and admission examinations on different examination subjects, varies from 0.821 (on native language subject) to 0.885 (on chemisrty subject). As we see, variation of correlation coefficient is low on subjects. Comparatively weak correlation is observed in the major group II. Here, the minimum rating of correlation coefficient is estimated in native language subject (0.690) and the maximum one in English language subject (0.807). Such close correlations, which exist among the applicants’ scores in trial and admission examinations, displays high-level reliability of test items used in the admission examinations.

- 34 -

THE SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015

TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - PARTICIPATED IN THE ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS : 54496 graduates - ADMITTED : 27113 graduates

SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM (IN POINTS) SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM (IN POINTS)

SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015 PARTICIPATED SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015 ADMITTED TO IN ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (I-IV GROUPS) (I-IV GROUPS)

300-500 points 100-200 points 0,55% 500-700 500-700 200-300 200-300 25,44% points points points points 11,87% 30,96% 18,72% 21,76%

19,87% 24,10% 46,73%

100-200 0-100 points points 300-500

points

SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM (IN POINTS) SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM (IN POINTS) SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015 PARTICIPATED IN ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS SCHOOL GRADUATES OF 2015 ADMITTED (V GROUP) TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (V GROUP)

60-70 points70-90 points 0-20 points 20-30 points 30-40 points 7,30% 6,62% 0,84%0,00%3,74% 10,06% 70-90 40-50 points points 50-60 20-30 8,70% bal points 21,23% 19,53% 16,26% 37,14% 28,34% 20,08% 20,14%

40-50 points 30-40 60-70 50-60 points points points

- 35 -

The comparison of certificate grades of high school graduates’ with scores of the admission examinations shows that regardless of the range of certificate grades, in the admission examinations the applicants displayed the level of knowledge covering the score interval (0-700 scores) from the lowest result up to the highest result and providing the existence of a very weak correlation between these two indicators. For example, 19.7 % of the applicants whose average certificate grade is in the range of 4.0-4.5, attained score in 0-100 interval, 25.3 % in 100-200 interval, 24.3 % received score in 200-300 interval, 25.6 percent gained in 300-500 interval, and 5.1 % obtained score in 500-700 interval. But according the opinion of the experts, a certain interconnection should exist between the certificate grades and admission scores of the applicants; moreover, the distribution interval on the scores of the admission examination should be rather narrow. As a comparison it can be mentioned that, referring to the experts, 75% of applicants,whose average certificate grade is in the range of 4.0- 4.5,should score in 300-500 interval, but the score of 25% of these applicants should be in 500-700 interval. The above mentioned problem of the assessment, alongside with other factors, came out from the fact that generally described secondary education standards are not applied in the same way nationwide. As a result of a clear difference in grading criteria at different schools, the knowledge of the students with the same preparation level can be estimated as “excellent” at one school or district area, but “satisfying” at another school or district area.

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF SCHOOL CERTIFICATE GRADES AND ADMISSION EXAMINATION SCORES OF APPLICANTS

Examination participants 37,0 22,4 15,2 17,8 7,6

Examination participants (Graduates of 2015) 24,1 19,9 18,7 25,4 11,9 0,4 2,6

Graduates of 2015 (excellent graduates) 9,6 39,0 48,5

graduates with an average certificate grade 4.5-5 8,9 16,5 21,2 37,5 16,0

graduates with an average certificate grade 4-4.5 19,7 25,3 24,3 25,6 5,1 1,2

graduates with an average certificate grade 3.5-4 40,7 27,9 18,3 11,9 4,5 0,2

graduates with an average certificate grade 3-3.5 60,9 23,1 11,3 2,6 0,4

graduates with an average certificate grade 3 86,9 10,1

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

0-100 100-200 200-300 300-500 500-700

- 36 -

APPLICANTS WITH “EXCELLENT”(“5”) MARKS IN THEIR SCHOOL CERTIFICATES BY RELATIVE SCORE INTERVALS (Graduates of 2015)

2,5 Native language 9,4 19,6 30,9 37,6

Literature 20,3 21,6 21,2 20,0 16,8

Mathematics (I, II groups) 9,7 19,7 23,8 26,6 20,2

Mathematics (III, IV groups) 3,4 14,8 24,8 28,5 28,5

History 15,8 17,0 20,4 24,4 22,4 0-20 History of Azerbaijan 22,0 20,4 22,3 21,0 14,4 20-40

Physics 20,6 27,4 24,3 15,9 11,840-60 60-80 Chemistry 15,6 19,5 21,8 22,0 21,1 80-100 Biology 17,5 15,4 19,1 20,9 27,1

Geography 21,1 30,8 25,3 16,5 6,3

Foreign language (II , III groups) 7,6 11,3 16,1 24,6 40,5

Foreign language (I group) 7,8 13,3 17,5 22,7 38,7

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF ADMISSION RESULTS GRADUATES OF 2015

Admitted to the public higher education institutions on the Not admitted state order Admitted to the 30,6% private higher education 11,5% 0,7% institutions on the state order 16,2% Admitted to the public higher education 34,0% institutions on the paid basis 4,7% Admitted to the private 2,4% higher education institutions on the paid basis Not participating in admission process Admitted to the specialized secondary education institutions on the basis of complete secondary education

- 37 -

GENDER ASPECTS OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS

DYNAMICS OF MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS

THE YEARS 1993-2014

70000 59762 57791 56758 56358 60000 56150 55084 53968 53815 53516 52588 51701 51049 51019 50779 50549 50449 50072 49163 48982 47981 46513

50000 46313 43938 43953 43364 41140 38607 36561 35889 40000 34763 34447 34188 33494 31543 29905 29794 27644 27515 26885 30000 26768 23440 22316 20712 20216 20155 20000 17983

10000

0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Male Female

PREFERENCES OF AVERAGE STATISTICAL MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS ON SPECIALTY GROUPS

MALE APPLICANT FEMALE APPLICANT № For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector

Group Preference (%) Group Preference (%) Group Preference (%) Group Preference (%)

1 I 44.53 I 51.69 III 38.80 II 29.93

2 II 29.39 II 29.32 I 29.66 I 28.60

3 V 15.90 V 12.02 II 19.64 III 28.23

4 III 11.51 III 8.21 IV 9.24 IV 9.51

5 IV 6.00 IV 4.80 V 5.75 V 6.96

- 38 -

DISTRIBUTION MAP (%) OF MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS ALLOCATED PER REGIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Balakәn Xaçmaz Zaqatala Qusar Qax Ağstafa Şabran Qazax PERCENTAGE OF MALE Quba Şәki Oğuz APPLICANTS IN THE Tovuz Siyәzәn Samux OVERALL NUMBER OF Qәbәlә Şәmkir İsmayıllı Mingәçevir Şamaxı Xızı REGION’S APPLICANTS Gәncә Sumqayıt Yevlax Göygöl Naftalan Ağdaş Göyçay Gәdәbәy Ağsu Qobustan Bakı Daşkәsәn Goranboy Ucar Bәrdә Abşeron Tәrtәr Zәrdab Kürdәmir Hacıqabul

Kәlbәcәr Ağdam Şirvan Ağcabәdi Sabirabad Xocalı İmişli Sәdәrәk Saatlı Beylәqan Şuşa Salyan Laçın Şәrur Füzuli Xocavәnd Bilәsuvar Şahbuz Kәngәrli Qubadlı Neftçala Cәbrayıl Babәk Cәlilabad Naxçıvan ş. Culfa Zәngilan Ordubad Masallı

Yardımlı Lәnkәran Lerik

Astara

DYNAMICS OF MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

THE YEARS OF 1993-2015

20000 17413 16826 17138

18000 16569 16467 16422 15703 15285 15277 15069

16000 14617 14243 14226 14079 13969 13804 13766 13546 13547 13537 13436 12913 14000 12711 12500 12265 12016 11801 11788 11783 11479 11202 11135 12000 10825 10302 9868 9857 9723 9459 8812 10000 8772 8362 7191 8000 6538 5891

6000 5067 4516 4000 2000 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Male Female

- 39 -

ADMITTED MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS BY SECTOR AND MAJOR GROUPS MALE APPLICANT FEMALE APPLICANT № For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector Group Relative number Group Relative number Group Relative number Group Relative number of of applicants of applicants of applicants applicants 1 II 37.47 I 49.74 III 40.11 II 31.13

2 I 37.33 II 33.59 I 25.22 III 28.75

3 III 12.36 III 8.17 II 19.03 I 25.47

4 V 8.37 V 7.02 IV 11.17 IV 7.47

5 IV 4.47 IV 1.47 V 4.47 V 7.19

SCORE DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM (IN POINTS) OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION APPLICANTS

FOR AZERBAIJANI SECTOR

MALE APPLICANTS FEMALE APPLICANTS

200-300 points 300-500 points 300-500 points 500-700 points 13,74% 14,73% 500-700 points 200-300 20,14% 8,41% 100-200 6,85% points points 15,83% 21,15%

22,96% 32,66% 43,53%

100-200 0-100 points 0-100 points points

FOR RUSSIAN SECTOR

MALE APPLICANTS FEMALE APPLICANTS

300-500 points 500-700 points 300-500 points 500-700 points 7,68% 200-300 23,08% 200-300 23,72% 8,35% 20,38% points 20,58% points

24,02% 20,21% 24,64% 27,34%

0-100 0-100 100-200 100-200 points points points points

- 40 -

ADMITTED TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS

Baku State University Azerbaijan State Oil Academy Azerbaijan Technical University Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Design Azerbaijan Medical University Azerbaijan Pedagogical University Azerbaijan State Economic University Azerbaijan University of Language Baku Slavic University Azerbaijan Teachers Institute Academy of Public Adminstration under the President of AR ADA University Baku Musical Academy Azerbaijan National Conservatory Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management Baku Choreography Academy Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport National Aviation Academy Azerbaijan State Marine Academy Baku High Oil Academy Academy of State Custom Committee Nakhchivan State University Nakhchivan Teachers Institute Azerbaijan State Agrarian University (Ganja city) Ganja State University Azerbaijan University of Technology (Ganja city) Sumgait State University Mingachevir State University Lankaran State University Azerbaijan Cooperation University Baku Islamic University Azerbaijan University Western University Khazar University Qafqaz University Centre of Science and Education "Tafakkur" University Baku Euroasia University Baku Girls University "Odlar Yurdu" University Baku BusinessUniversity Nakhchivan University Azerbaijan Labour and Social Relations Academy

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Male applicants Female Applicants

- 41 -

AVERAGE INDICATORS OF CORRECT ANSWERS TO THE TEST ITEMS MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS

For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector SUBJECTS Male Female Total number Male Female Total number

Native language 37.90 46.91 42.26 46.38 49.35 47.98

Literature 38.42 40.05 39.64 46.29 47.69 47.39

Mathematics 29.43 28.60 29.12 34.16 32.45 33.39 (groups I, II)

Mathematics 30.54 30.39 30.43 36.26 34.49 34.88 (groups III, IV)

Physics 29.18 32.40 30.48 35.33 36.81 35.99

Chemistry 30.31 35.65 32.48 37.80 39.02 38.34

Biology 34.50 44.82 40.81 39.43 48.64 46.36

History 44.01 39.40 40.55 43.36 34.44 36.31

History of Azerbaijan 38.73 36.10 37.77 37.79 35.24 36.46

Geography 36.28 33.25 35.17 35.33 33.00 34.12

English language 29.80 35.68 31.93 47.75 47.95 47.83 (group I)

English language 33.90 37.60 35.96 50.74 53.29 52.32 (groups II, III)

Average score 181.12 216.28 198.14 233.37 241.87 237.94 (groups I-IV)

Native language (group V) 43.94 54.00 46.34 46.82 55.27 50.04

Mathematics (group V) 44.22 44.90 44.39 49.82 53.06 51.06

Foreign language (group V) 34.34 40.36 35.71 49.09 56.17 51.74

Average score (group V) 37.03 43.01 38.46 43.71 49.22 45.81

- 42 -

AVERAGE INDICATORS OF CORRECT ANSWERS TO THE TEST ITEMS OF ADMITTED MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS For Azerbaijani sector For Russian sector SUBJECTS Male Female Total number Male Female Total number Native language 62.32 70.39 66.62 60.57 63.18 61.95 Literature 59.62 59.93 59.86 61.87 63.73 63.34 Mathematics 53.05 49.57 51.69 49.26 48.17 48.78 (groups I, II) Mathematics 51.51 47.99 48.81 49.23 45.66 46.37 (groups III, IV) Physics 54.07 53.32 53.71 49.78 50.75 50.19 Chemistry 59.97 62.00 60.95 55.39 56.03 55.66 Biology 71.69 66.88 68.18 63.33 60.76 61.15 History 69.52 62.04 63.71 59.19 49.64 51.66 History of Azerbaijan 60.67 55.81 58.92 53.92 50.35 52.09 Geography 55.69 51.67 54.24 48.27 46.27 47.25 English language 57.21 62.77 59.52 66.38 68.87 67.29 (group I) English language 53.84 59.07 56.82 68.83 72.41 71.04 (groups II, III) Average score 369.79 385.35 378.09 351.83 357.39 354.77 (groups I-IV) Native language (group V) 66.67 66.51 66.61 60.90 63.89 62.49 Mathematics (group V) 64.47 55.62 61.20 63.07 60.71 61.82 Foreign language (group V) 60.53 54.98 58.63 65.71 66.43 66.09 Average score (group V) 57.73 54.65 56.59 56.90 57.23 57.08

DIAGRAMS AND SCORE DISTRIBUTION TABLE (IN POINTS) MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS

Male 500-600 Points Female INTERVALS Male Female 55% 45% OF POINTS applicants applicants 0-500 Points 39499 37092 500-600 1896 2343 Points

600-700 1037 1059 600-700 Points Female Male Points 51% 49% TOTAL 42432 40494

- 43 -

The number of applicants admitted to the higher education institutions representing occupied territories increased from 246 applicants in 1993 up to 3598 applicants in 2015.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED APPLICANTS BY REGIONS

Number of Applicants

№ R E G İ O Ns 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 Aghdam region 619 785 1064 1348 1459 1329 2214 2224 2089 2095 1900 2043 2080 2235 2 Fuzuli region 633 777 892 1252 1387 1293 1835 1766 1709 1718 1505 1584 1601 1723 3 Lachin region 440 553 789 961 1081 1072 1067 1088 915 1212 1187 1224 1294 1394 4 Kalbajar region 326 413 587 707 785 758 827 829 834 1153 1073 1125 1201 1319 5 Shusha city 240 441 443 503 544 497 493 458 462 524 556 580 619 702 6 Zangilan region 270 386 388 619 695 576 648 605 515 889 738 762 760 802 7 Gubadly region 220 334 344 527 563 585 655 721 661 1006 853 838 833 857 8 Jabrail region 313 400 462 714 812 783 745 740 741 1273 1050 1093 1116 1209 TOTAL 3061 4089 4969 6631 7326 6893 8484 8431 7926 9870 8862 9249 9504 10241

DYNAMICS OF APPLICANTS IN 1993-2015

BY REGIONS

2500 Aghdam region 2000 Fuzuli region 1500 Lachin region

1000 Kalbajar region Shusha city 500 Zangilan region 0 Gubadly region

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Jabrail region

ADMISSION INDICATORS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED APPLICANTS

BY REGIONS

R E G İ O N S Number of Applicants

№ 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 Aghdam region 194 215 245 280 271 254 485 510 435 516 533 708 728 834 2 Fuzuli region 180 218 167 228 224 245 370 397 358 430 413 508 508 561 3 Lachin region 133 161 183 224 207 189 208 197 188 274 340 431 478 476 4 Kalbajar region 95 124 112 144 146 167 183 202 196 335 326 393 425 428 5 Shusha city 64 104 67 87 89 80 75 90 83 102 160 179 196 206 6 Zengilan region 70 133 80 158 157 116 143 154 116 276 230 268 276 313 7 Gubadly region 70 97 71 121 123 116 142 167 154 256 260 296 299 343 8 Jabrail region 82 117 96 162 143 156 148 153 150 323 296 377 405 437 TOTAL 888 1169 1021 1404 1360 1323 1754 1870 1680 2512 2558 3160 3315 3598

- 44 -

ADMITTED INTERNALLY DISPLACED APPLICANTS

THE YEARS OF 1993-2015

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS BY YEARS

Number of Applicants

NAME OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Baku State University 126 150 197 217 154 222 217 184 243 299 410 472 515 Azerbaujan Medical University 82 57 62 64 44 51 52 39 62 62 80 98 107 Azerbaijan State University of 150 105 132 150 152 203 250 151 263 269 324 280 383 Economy Azerbaijan University of Languages 50 52 63 64 85 119 127 82 115 186 203 210 254

APPLICANTS SCORING HIGH POINTS IN THE UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS BY REGIONS

- 45 -

Total number of Number of Number of Percentage of applicants scoring № REGION applicants by applicants scoring applicants scoring more than 500 scores (compared regions 500-600 points 600-700 points to the total number of applicants from regions) 6 Lankaran region 1469 78 25 5.31 7 Guba region 1328 38 13 2.86 8 Shamkir region 1319 90 22 6.82 9 Aghdam region 1248 85 24 6.81 10 Khachmaz region 1184 30 9 2.53 11 Nakhchivan city 1166 98 39 8.40 12 Jelilabad region 1144 45 11 3.93 13 Tovuz region 1093 88 37 8.05 14 Barda region 1077 79 28 7.34 15 Gabala region 1059 121 51 11.43 16 Mingachevir city 1020 119 40 11.67 17 Masalli region 1007 66 22 6.55 18 Fuzuli region 945 47 12 4.97 19 Agjabedi region 894 55 19 6.15 20 Lachin region 889 55 15 6.19 21 Kelbejer region 870 39 13 4.48 22 Goranboy region 864 35 12 4.05 23 Goychay region 860 68 21 7.91 24 Imishly region 825 37 11 4.48 25 Zagatala region 809 51 15 6.30 26 Agdash region 806 45 14 5.58 27 Ismailly region 799 66 20 8.26 28 Yevlakh region 792 36 10 4.55 29 Nakhchevan AR Sherur region 783 45 15 5.75 30 Nakhchevan AR Babek region 780 42 11 5.38 31 Salyan region 765 80 25 10.46 32 Shirvan city 747 69 34 9.24 33 Sabirabad region 745 32 7 4.30 34 Beilagan region 716 30 11 4.19

35 Gazakh region 695 56 20 8.06 36 Bilesuvar region 694 53 21 7.64 37 Jabrail region 690 44 19 6.38

38 Goygol region 671 44 14 6.56

39 Astara region 648 26 7 4.01

40 Shemakhi region 645 32 9 4.96

41 Gusar region 614 31 7 5.05

42 Kurdemir region 599 36 12 6.01

43 Akhstafa region 576 54 16 9.38

- 46 -

45 Gadabay region 533 40 8 7.50

46 Balakan region 526 30 6 5.70

47 Ujar region 509 32 9 6.29

48 Gubadly region 506 55 15 10.87

49 Yardimly region 492 16 5 3.25

50 Nakhchevan AR Julfa region 458 47 17 10.26 Oguz region

51 Neftchala region 440 59 16 13.41

52 Akhsu region 439 12 2 2.73

53 Oghuz region 436 41 8 9.40

54 Lerik region 432 18 6 4.17

55 Zengilan region 431 38 11 8.82

56 Samukh region 429 21 1 4.90

57 Saatli region 425 30 5 7.06

58 Shabran region 403 11 1 2.73

59 Nakhchevan AR Ordubad 396 36 7 9.09 region

60 Gakh region 395 35 11 8.86

61 Zerdab region 390 17 6 4.36

62 Siyezen region 374 11 6 2.94

63 Hajigabul region 325 18 6 5.54

64 Nakhchevan AR Kangarli 281 5 0 1.78 region

65 Nakhchevan AR Shahbuz 242 21 6 8.68 region

66 Gobustan region 237 14 3 5.91

67 Shusha region 161 8 5 4.97

68 Dashkesen region 146 6 3 4.11

69 Khojavend region 124 5 0 4.03

70 Khojaly region 114 10 4 8.77

71 Khizi region 109 3 2 2.75

72 Nakhchevan AR Sederek region 87 4 2 4.60

73 Foreign countries 72 2 0 2.78

74 Naftalan city 59 7 2 11.86

- 47 -

EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WITH MORE PERCENTAGE OF APPLICANTS SCORING HIGH POINTS (school graduates of 2015)*

Percentage of applicants scoring Number of Total number more than 600 applicants points (according № School of applicants by scoring more to the total schools than 600 points number of applicants per school) 1 Bilesuvar region high school complex named after M.İbrahimov 25 20 80.00 2 Baku Turkish high school(under BSU, founder Turkish Dayanat 124 80 64.52 Vagfi)Sumgait city high school of natural sciencies 3 Shirvan city experimental pilot classes of high school №18 of 27 14 51.85 natural and humanitarian sciences 4 Sumgait city high school of technical and natural sciencies 50 23 46.00 5 Sumgait city high school of technical sciencies 45 19 42.22 6 High school of “Young talents” under BSU 51 14 27.45 7 Guba region experimental pilot class of high school of technical 22 6 27.27 sciences (former Guba branch of Baku Turkish Private high school) 8 High school named after academician Zarifa Aliyeva 151 40 26.49 9 Baku city “Elitar” high school 23 6 26.09 10 Mingachevir city experimental pilot class of high school of 28 7 25.00 technical and humanitarian sciences (former Mingachevir private high school) 11 Baku city “Araz” ecology high school №291 41 10 24.39 12 Baku Europe high school 62 15 24.19 13 Baku city high school № 287 named “Zakalar” 61 14 22.95 14 Lankaran region experimental pilot class of high school №4 25 5 20.00 (former Lankaran branch of Baku Turkish private high school) 15 Gabala region Hamzalli village secondary school 22 4 18.18 16 Nakhchivan city high school for girls 29 5 17.24 17 Goygol region high school of technical and natural sciencies 29 5 17.24 18 Shirvan city secondary school №21 36 6 16.67 19 Sumgait city high school named “Istedad” 38 6 15.79 20 Baku city high school maned “Ankara” 83 13 15.66 21 Tovuz region Gadirli village secondary school 20 3 15.00 22 High school named after H.Aliyev 84 12 14.29 23 Baku city secondary school №240 56 8 14.29 24 Gazakh region secondary school №2 35 5 14.29 25 Gazakh region Dash Salahli village secondary school №2 21 3 14.29 26 Aghdam region Guzanli village secondary school 21 3 14.29 27 Shirvan city secondary school №16 42 6 14.29 28 Baku city high school №72 58 8 13.79 29 Baku city high school of technical and humanitarian sciencies 22 3 13.64 №16

- 48 -

Percentage of applicants scoring Number of Total number more than 600 applicants points (according № School of applicants by scoring more to the total schools than 600 points number of applicants per school) 30 Hajigabul region Hajigabul city secondary school №5 22 3 13.64 31 Shaki region Kichik Dahna village secondary school №1 30 4 13.33 32 Baku city secondary school №34 38 5 13.16 33 Baku city Baku Turkish Anadolu high school 38 5 13.16 34 Nakhchivan city secondary school №14 38 5 13.16 35 Barda region high school of technical sciences 92 12 13.04 36 Baku city secondary school №283 55 7 12.73 37 Mingachevir city high school of humanitarian and natural 55 7 12.73 sciencies 38 Baku city high school of technical humanitarian sciences 103 13 12.62 39 Baku city secondary school №194 32 4 12.50 40 Baku city high school of humanitarian sceinces 48 6 12.50 41 Baku city secondary school №289 called “Zangi” 128 16 12.50 42 Shaki region secondary school №20 32 4 12.50 43 Gabala region Vandam district secondary school 1 48 6 12.50 44 Shaki region secondary school №7 49 6 12.24 45 Nakhchivan city secondary school №5 41 5 12.20 46 Nakhchivan city secondary school of military unit 25 3 12.00 47 Shaki region Gokhmug village secondary school 25 3 12.00 48 Shaki region secondary school №5 34 4 11.76 49 Baku city high school №70 128 15 11.72 50 Nakhchivan city secondary school №11 26 3 11.54 51 Aghdash region boarding school of technical, natural and 35 4 11.43 humanitarian sciences 52 Ganja city secondary school №24 37 4 10.81 53 Tovuz region Ayyublu region secondary school 28 3 10.71 54 Goranboy region Khangarvand village school 29 3 10.34 55 Kurdamir region secondary school №1 58 6 10.34 56 Neftchala region secondary school №4 29 3 10.34 57 Salyan region secondary school №2 29 3 10.34 58 Mingachevir city secondary school № 10 49 5 10.20 59 Baku city high school of chemistry and biology sciencies 69 7 10.14 60 Baku city secondary school №279 50 5 10.00 61 Baku city secondary school №274 90 9 10.00 62 Goygol region Balchili village secondary school №1 20 2 10.00 63 Tovuz region Govlar city secondary school 20 2 10.00 64 Gabala region Zaraghan village secondary school №1 40 4 10.00 65 Ujar region secondary school №4 30 3 10.00 66 Jabrail region Hovuslu village secondary school 20 2 10.00 * Only education institutions with more than 20 graduates were included to this list.

- 49 -

ADMITTED WITH MORE THAN 600 POINTS UNDERGRADUATE APPLICANTS BY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Admitted Number and percentage of admitted applicants № Higher Education Institutions (by major groups) I II III IV Num- % Num- % Num- % Num- % Number % ber ber ber ber 1 Baku State University 322 15.62 67 11.82 10 2.42 241 36.57 4 0.95 2 Azerbaijan State Oil Academy 117 5.67 114 20.11 3 0.72 0 0.00 0 0.00 3 Azerbaijan Technical University 1 0.05 1 0.18 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Azerbaijan University of Architecture 4 2 0.10 2 0.35 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 and Construction 5 Azerbaijan Medical University 395 19.16 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 395 93.60 6 Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University 1 0.05 1 0.18 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 7 Azerbaijan State Economic University 103 5.00 1 0.18 102 24.64 0 0.00 0 0.00 8 Azerbaijan University of Languages 138 6.69 0 0.00 0 0.00 138 20.94 0 0.00 9 Baku Slavic University 8 0.39 0 0.00 0 0.00 8 1.21 0 0.00 10 Azerbaijan Teachers Institute 3 0.15 2 0.35 0 0.00 1 0.15 0 0.00 Academy of Public Administration 11 under the President of Azerbaijan 222 10.77 33 5.82 101 24.40 88 13.35 0 0.00 Republic 12 ADA University 185 8.97 36 6.35 100 24.15 49 7.44 0 0.00 Azerbaijan University of Tourism and 13 12 0.58 0 0.00 1 0.24 11 1.67 0 0.00 Management 14 Institute National Aviation Academy 12 0.58 11 1.94 0 0.00 1 0.15 0 0.00 15 Baku High Oil Academy 120 5.82 120 21.16 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Academy of State Custom Committe 16 16 0.78 0 0.00 4 0.97 12 1.82 0 0.00 of the Republic of Azerbaijan 17 Nakhchivan State University 31 1.50 1 0.18 1 0.24 21 3.19 8 1.90 Azerbaijan State Agrarian University 18 2 0.10 1 0.18 1 0.24 0 0.00 0 0.00 (Ganja city) 19 Ganja State University 3 0.15 1 0.18 0 0.00 2 0.30 0 0.00 20 Lankaran State University 2 0.10 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.30 0 0.00 Baku branch of Moscow State 21 University named after 5 0.24 5 0.88 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 M.V.Lomonosov Baku branch of First Moscow State 22 Medical University named after 12 0.58 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 12 2.84 I.M.Sechenov 23 Khazar University 25 1.21 19 3.35 4 0.97 2 0.30 0 0.00 24 “Qafqaz” University 259 12.56 143 25.22 86 20.77 29 4.40 1 0.24 Higher Education Institutions of 25 64 3.10 9 1.59 1 0.24 54 8.19 0 0.00 Special Purpose Higher Education Institutions of 26 2 0.10 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.47 Turkey Republic Total 2062 100.00 567 100.00 414 100.00 659 100.00 422 100.00

- 50 -

Graduate Education

Since graduate education (master degree) is the second level of higher education after undergraduate studies, it carries an important role in the training of specialists. The SSAC continues improvement of content of admission examinations to the graduate education. Graduate education in public and private universities in the Republic of Azerbaijan is funded either by state-provided scholarships or private funding, according to the respective decree of Azerbaijan President “On Application of the New Finance Mechanism within the Higher Education Institutions”. Graduate degree specializations are grouped into 60 programs. To guide perspective graduate students through the process of examination and admission, the SSAC publishes admission programs, admission rules and calls for applications, recommendations and tables of speciality selection, test item samples, results of the admission, cut scores and other essential information in the issues of the “Magistr” journal. Online trial examinations have been held for applicants in order to get them acquainted with new test models, familiarize them with new coding prior to the actual exam. The trial examination took place in accordance with almost the same procedures and requirements of the admission examination. Application admission for graduate education was conducted via Internet. Admission examination was implemented in two phases later on: - In the first phase of the examination, the logical thinking (quantitative, spatial and verbal reasoning), foreign language and computer science skills of the bachelor applicants were checked through the paper-based test examination conducted on February 22, 2015. Those who attained the terms of the admission contest, gained the right to participate in the second phase of the examination. - In the second phase of the examination, the knowledge in the sphere of specialty of the bachelors was assessed through the paper-based test examination on April 26, 2015. Bachelors answered 45 multiple-choise and 5 constructed-response test items in this phase of the examination. The bachelors, who selected certain programs, answered in written form the questions presented to them. As in undergraduate admission, in graduate examinations bachelors favouring Journalism (Program №44) attended aptitude examination. Bachelors who got the opportunity to participate in the second stage gained right to attend this examinations, not depending on their specialties. For this purpose, bachelors attended interview organized by the SSAC. Those who passed the interview successfully chose journalism and attended the examination. Here they were required to compose an essay on certain themes.

ADMISSION QUOTA AND APPLICATIONS* GRADUATE EDUCATION

30000

24560 25000 23231 21624

20000 18019 16510 15119 15179 15353 15000 12478 10795 10461 10000 6105 5815 6019 6794 6328 6294 4360 4520 4859 5168 5242 5000

0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Admission quota Number of applications

* In 2015, 3 applicants were admitted to graduate degree programs out of admission examination due to achievements in other fields.

- 51 -

GRADUATE ADMISSION TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNIVERSITIES

Admitted (including the recepients of state State funding) Admission Admission № Education institutions With the With the quota intructional intructional Total percentage language of language of number Azerbaijani Russian

1 Public 5489 3646 (1771) 426 (100) 4072 (1871) 74.18

2 Private 802 532 (123) 29 (3) 561 (126) 69.95

Total 6291 4178 (1894) 455 (103) 4633 (1997) 73.64

ADMISSION QUOTA, GRADUATE EDUCATION ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2015-2016

State-funded Private Universities

2484; 802; 39,48% 12,75%

3807; 60,52% 5489; 87,25%

Paid basis State-funded Universities

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2015-2016

Admitted Admitted to the state-funded Universities on state order Admitted to private 22,54% 40,38% higher education institutions on a 9,39% paid basis

77,46% 47,51% 2,72% Admitted to private higher education Not admitted Admitted to the state-funded institutions by state Universities on paid basis order

- 52 -

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS STATUS

BaKU State University

Azerbaijan State Oil Academy

Azerbaijan Technical University

Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Design

Azerbaijan Medical University

Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University

Azerbaijan State Economic University

Azerbaijan University of Languages

Baku Slavic University

Azerbaijan Teachers Institute

Academy of Public Adminstration under the President of AR

Baku Musical Academy

Azerbaijan National Conservatorie

Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art

Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts

Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management

Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport

National Aviation Academy

Azerbaijan State Marine Academy

Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Nakhchivan State University

Nakhchivan Teachers Institute

Azerbaijan State Agrarian University (Ganja city)

Ganja State University

Azerbaijan Technology University (Ganja city)

Sumgait State University

Lankaran State University

Academy of Ministry of Emergency Situations

Azerbaijan Cooperation University

Azerbaijan University

Western University

Khazar University

Qafqaz University

Baku Euroasia University

Baku Girls University

"Odlar Yurdu" University

Baku Business University

Nakhchivan University

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% state order paid basis vacant quota

- 53 -

GRADUATE ADMISSION PROCESS AND APPLICANT DISTURBUATION

Applicants of the second Admitted bachelors (upon admission contest) Total Participants of second stage Name of higher education stage eligible for further № number of examination Including to the same Including to other institution admisson selection bachelors Number Percentage university universities Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 1 Baku State University 3226 1831 56.76 1513 46.90 957 29.67 414 43.26 543 56.74 Azerbaijan State Economic 2 University 2429 1306 53.77 1006 41.42 678 27.91 502 74.04 176 25.96 Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry Academy (former 3 Azerbaijan State Oil Academy) 1496 884 59.09 685 45.79 398 26.60 188 47.24 210 52.76 Azerbaijan State 4 Pedagogical University 1440 781 54.24 610 42.36 386 26.81 94 24.35 292 75.65 Azerbaijan Technical 5 University 1029 413 40.14 299 29.06 160 15.55 94 58.75 66 41.25 Azerbaijan University of 6 Languages 982 571 58.15 465 47.35 307 31.26 76 24.76 231 75.24 Ganja State University 7 (former Ganja State Pedagogical Institute) 939 427 45.47 326 34.72 207 22.04 95 45.89 112 54.11 Azerbaijan University of 8 Architecture and Construction 846 338 39.95 219 25.89 127 15.01 87 68.50 40 31.50 Azerbaijan Teachers 9 Institution 842 338 40.14 257 30.52 132 15.68 18 13.64 114 86.36 Azerbaijan State Agrarian University (former 10 Azerbaijan Agriculture Academy) 672 278 41.37 200 29.76 136 20.24 81 59.56 55 40.44 Sumgait State University 11 (former Azerbaijan Industry Institute) 574 242 42.16 175 30.49 97 16.90 27 27.84 70 72.16 Baku Slavic University (former Azerbaijan State 12 Teachers Institute named after M.F.Akhundov) 570 228 40.00 159 27.89 100 17.54 22 22.00 78 78.00 13 "Qafqaz" University 446 257 57.62 211 47.31 106 23.77 34 32.08 72 67.92 Azerbaijan Cooperation 14 University 433 121 27.94 69 15.94 40 9.24 0 0.00 40 100.00 Nakhchivan State 15 University 368 153 41.58 118 32.07 85 23.10 62 72.94 23 27.06 16 National Aviation Academy 296 120 40.54 70 23.65 42 14.19 15 35.71 27 64.29 Azerbaijan State University 17 of Culture and Art 292 106 36.30 85 29.11 54 18.49 29 53.70 25 46.30 Azerbaijan University of 18 Technology 247 69 27.94 50 20.24 27 10.93 8 29.63 19 70.37 19 "Azərbaycan" University 230 67 29.13 39 16.96 21 9.13 4 19.05 17 80.95 Azerbaijan State Academy 20 of Physical Culture and Sports 214 62 28.97 48 22.43 23 10.75 20 86.96 3 13.04 Academy of Public 21 Administration under the President of Azerbaijan 211 149 70.62 140 66.35 92 43.60 20 21.74 72 78.26 22 Khazar University 195 92 47.18 59 30.26 34 17.44 11 32.35 23 67.65 23 "Odlar Yurdu" University 185 54 29.19 33 17.84 23 12.43 5 21.74 18 78.26 24 Lankaran State University 181 69 38.12 51 28.18 25 13.81 0 0.00 25 100.00 Baku Girls University 25 (former Baku Girls High Pedagogical Seminary) 173 44 25.43 29 16.76 18 10.40 0 0.00 18 100.00 26 Western University 165 77 46.67 50 30.30 34 20.61 4 11.76 30 88.24 27 Baku Business University 159 77 48.43 42 26.42 31 19.50 21 67.74 10 32.26 Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management 28 (former Azerbaijan Tourism University) 146 86 58.90 73 50.00 34 23.29 10 29.41 24 70.59 Center of Science and 29 Education "Tafakkur" University 140 32 22.86 19 13.57 16 11.43 0 0.00 16 100.00 Mingachevir Polytechnic 30 University 136 44 32.35 20 14.71 9 6.62 0 0.00 9 100.00

- 54 -

Applicants of the second Admitted bachelors (upon admission contest) Total Participants of second stage Name of higher education stage eligible for further № number of examination Including to the same Including to other institution admisson selection bachelors Number Percentage university universities Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 31 Baku Music Academy 113 59 52.21 58 51.33 43 38.05 32 74.42 11 25.58 Azerbaijan State Marine 32 Academy 112 47 41.96 37 33.04 24 21.43 16 66.67 8 33.33 Baku Eurasia Univercity 33 (former High Diplomatic College) 111 29 26.13 18 16.22 8 7.21 0 0.00 8 100.00 Azerbaijan Academy of 34 Labour and Social Relations 111 44 39.64 19 17.12 11 9.91 0 0.00 11 100.00 Azerbaijan State Academy 35 of Arts 109 67 61.47 64 58.72 41 37.61 36 87.80 5 12.20 Nakhchivan Private 36 University 102 24 23.53 15 14.71 12 11.76 1 8.33 11 91.67 Baku branch of Moscow 37 * State University 95 40 42.11 33 34.74 13 13.68 0 0.00 13 100.00 Azerbaijan International 38 University 82 25 30.49 12 14.63 5 6.10 0 0.00 5 100.00 Azerbaijan Medical 39 University 73 44 60.27 38 52.05 26 35.62 16 61.54 10 38.46 Nakhchivan Teachers 40 Institute 73 32 43.84 19 26.03 13 17.81 0 0.00 13 100.00 Azerbaijan National 41 Conservatorie 60 17 28.33 17 28.33 12 20.00 10 83.33 2 16.67 42 Baku "Asiya" University 59 14 23.73 8 13.56 6 10.17 0 0.00 6 100.00 Academy of Ministry of 43 Emergency Situations 42 12 28.57 8 19.05 5 11.90 5 100.00 0 0.00 Azerbaijan Socio-Political 44 University (former High Social-Political College) 38 9 23.68 2 5.26 2 5.26 0 0.00 2 100.00 Higher Education 45 Institution of Turkey Republic 36 20 55.56 17 47.22 6 16.67 0 0.00 6 100.00 46 Baku Islamic University 28 1 3.57 1 3.57 0 0.00 0 --- 0 --- Higher Education Institutions of other 47 countries (university, academy and so on) 19 5 26.32 3 15.79 2 10.53 0 0.00 2 100.00 Higher Education 48 Institution of Russian Federation 9 5 55.56 5 55.56 1 11.11 0 0.00 1 100.00 49 Police Academy 7 4 57.14 4 57.14 0 0.00 0 --- 0 --- Higher Military School 50 named after Heydar Aliyev 6 2 33.33 2 33.33 0 0.00 0 --- 0 --- Academy of Ministry of 51 National Security named after H.Aliyev 4 4 100.00 2 50.00 2 50.00 0 0.00 2 100.00 Higher Education 52 Institution of Georgian Republic 2 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 --- 0 --- Ganja Science and Education Center 53 (Agrarian-Ecological Institute, Food Industry Institute, Ganja University) 2 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 --- 0 --- Higher Education 54 Institution of Kazakhstan Republic 1 1 100.00 1 100.00 1 100.00 0 0.00 1 100.00 Independent Azerbaijan 55 University 1 1 100.00 1 100.00 1 100.00 0 0.00 1 100.00 Azerbaijan branch of Academic Centre of San 56 Marino International Academy of Sciences 1 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 --- 0 ---

* Admission of 30 students to this University was not included to the table as 2nd stage of graduate admission to Baku branch of Moscow State University was held by the university.

- 55 -

Admission to Residency

The unified admission to the residency has been implemented by the SSAC in compliance with the Order №156 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 5, 2009, on implementation of the “Law on Education” and guided by the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “The Approval of the Rules on the Content and Implementation of the Residency Education” dated March 18, 2009. The SSAC has implemented several arrangements on organizational and scientific-methodical preparation for the admission to the residency, cooperating with the Ministry of Health, Azerbaijan Medical University and other relevant organizational bodies. The experts of the relevant departments of the Azerbaijan Medical University developed the admission examination programs on the basis of required major subjects. Also, the SSAC presented to the public attention “The rules on admission to residency” in the journal. During the preliminary stage prior to the admission examination, the preparation of the materials related to the content of the examinations (admission examination programs and list of literature references), the outline and review of the test items and the formation of the test item bank was implemented. Additionally, the experts conducted and provided video lectures on subjects online. Specialties open to admission, the number of the enrolment openings, samples of test items on the basic and major subjects, explanation of some test items found implicate by the candidates and recommendations were presented in the first and second issues of “Rezidentura” journal and collection of test items on basic subjects was published in 2015. Moreover, online trial examinations have been conducted for the candidates to enable them to assess their knowledge, to become accustomed to the technology of the examinations and to prepare psychologically for the examinations. The trial examinations were held in accordance with the technology of the admission examinations. The electronic application to the residency was implemented from February 16 up to 23, 2015 and 1280 candidates filled in applications to participate in the examination. The admission took place in two phases: - In the first phase, the basic knowledge of the candidates in the direction of the higher medical education; - In the second phase, the knowledge of speciality was assessed. The first and the second phases of the examination were conducted on March 15 and July 7 respectively. 1001 residency applicants gained the right directing them to the admission contest; however, 597 persons participated in the speciality selection. Consequently, 518 candidates were admitted to the residency. The results were brought to the public attention online and in the fourth issue of the “Rezidentura” journal, as soon as the major selection process finalized.

Residency Admission

Number of Applications Admission With the With the Competition Direction instructional instructional quota Total Coefficient language of language of Azerbaijani Russian I. Medical business, 465 899 167 1066 2.3 Pediatrics II. Dentistry 40 79 21 100 2.5 III. Medical biology 45 44 1 45 1.0 IV. Preventive 98 63 6 69 0.7 healthcare Total 537* 1085 195 1280 2.4

* Joint competition was held for 16 places in the direction of Medical business, pediatrics and medical biology, for 20 places (on the major of Microbiology) in the directions of Medical business, Pediatrics, Medical biology and Preventive healthcare and for 25 places (on the major of Laboratory work) in the direction of Medical biology and medical preventation and 14 places (on the major of Infectious diseases) in the directions of Medical business, pediatrics, medical biology and medical preventation.

- 56 -

80-100 points 0-20 points 0,81% 2,57% 20-40 60-80 points SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION points 12,87% 39,66% DIAGRAM OF CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST STAGE OF ADMISSION EXAMINATION 44,09%

40-60 points

80-100 points 0-20 points 0,82% 0,10% 60-80 20-40 points points SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION 28,98% 14,29% DIAGRAM OF CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN THE SECOND STAGE OF ADMISSION EXAMINATION 55,81%

40-60 points

150-169 points 1,94% 49-75 points 125-150 points 11,94% 12,96% SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN BOTH STAGES 37,75% 35,41% OF ADMISSION EXAMINATION

100-125 75-100 points points

- 57 -

ADMISSION RATE BY FIELDS OF STUDY

Admission Number of admitted applicants Admission Quota percentage With the With the Direction instructional instructional Total language of language of Azerbaijani Russian

Medical business, 422 357 59 416 98.58 Pediatrics including civil 406 344 59 403 99.26 including military 16 13 0 13 81.25

Dentistry 33 27 6 33 100.00

Medical biology 24 24 0 24 100.00

Preventive healthcare 58 42 3 45 77.59

Total 537* 450 68 518 96.46

ADMITTED MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS

Applicants Admitted

Field of study Male Female Male Female

Qty % Qty % Qty % Qty %

Medical business, Pediatrics 293 27.49 773 72.51 91 21.88 325 78.13

Dentistry 46 46.00 54 54.00 11 33.33 22 66.67

Medical biology 5 11.11 40 88.89 2 8.33 22 91.67

Preventive healthcare 23 33.33 46 66.67 11 24.44 34 75.56

Total 367 28.67 913 71.33 115 22.20 403 77.80

* Taking into consideration the distribution of the admitted candidates on specialities over which joint competition was held, the admission plans for medical directions were specified.

- 58 -

Admission Rate to Residency Medical institutions and Clinics

Number of admitted № Medical Institutions Quota applicants Average score Male Female Total

1 Azerbaijan Medical University 211 35 175 210 119.186

Military Medical Faculty of Azerbaijan Medical 2 16 13 0 13 85.077 University

National Ophthalmology Centre named after 3 5 0 5 5 136.400 academician Zarifa Aliyeva

Azerbaijan State Doctors Improvement 4 48 8 38 46 113.674 Institute named after Aziz Aliyev

5 National Oncology Centre 4 1 3 4 136.000

Scientific Surgical Centre named after 6 5 2 3 5 114.000 M.Topchubashov

Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and 7 8 0 8 8 111.500 Transfusiology named after B.Eyvazov

8 Clinical Medical Center 36 11 25 36 124.556

Forensic Medical Examination and Pathology 9 2 2 0 2 114.000 Anatomy Union

Scientific Research Obstetric and Gynecology 10 4 0 4 4 137.250 Institute

Scientific-Research Pediatrics Institute named 11 10 1 9 10 119.300 after K.Farajova

12 Neurosurgery Hospital 3 2 1 3 124.000

13 Scientific-Research Lung Diseases Institute 13 4 9 13 98.538

14 Central Hospital of Oil Workers 16 5 11 16 125.313

Republican Clinical Urology Hospital named 15 3 0 3 3 113.667 after academician M.Javadzade

Scientific-Research Institute of Cardiology 16 1 1 0 1 135.000 named after academician J.M.Abdullayev

Scientific-Research Institute of Traumatology 17 5 5 0 5 113.800 and Orthopedics

Republican Clinical Hospital named after 18 12 3 9 12 123.000 academician MirGasimov

19 Republican Endrocrinology Centre 1 0 1 1 129.000

20 Republican Narcology Centre 5 3 2 5 95.200

21 Republican Hygiene and Epidemiology Centre 15 2 6 8 97.875

Clinical Hospital for Children named after 22 5 0 5 5 121.400 A.Garayev

23 Central Clinic Hospital 14 3 11 14 127.286

24 Republican Diagnostic Centre 10 1 9 10 132.800

- 59 -

Number of admitted № Medical Institutions Quota applicants Average score Male Female Total

25 Republic Psychiatric Hospital 10 1 8 9 97.889

26 Republican Dermatovenerologic Dispensary 2 0 2 2 127.500

27 Baku City Clinical Hospital №3 7 1 6 7 112.857

28 Baku City Clinical Hospital №5 2 1 1 2 118.000

29 Social Medicine and Reforms Centre 7 3 4 7 98.714

30 Clinical Hospital for Children №6 1 0 1 1 115.000

31 Republican Clinical Hospital for Children 2 0 2 2 115.000

32 Neurological Hospital for Children 1 0 1 1 135.000

33 Psycological Health Centre 2 0 2 2 100.500

34 Baku Health Centre 10 1 9 10 120.800

Republican Hospital of Minisrty of Internal 35 13 2 11 13 117.308 Affairs named after A.Heydarov

36 "Medi Club" Clinics 4 2 2 4 100.750

Republican Sports, Medical, Dignostic and 37 4 0 4 4 107.500 Rehabilitation Institution

38 Nakhchivan State University 20 2 13 15 100.800

Total 537 115 403 518 116.606

points

points points

SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF ADMITTED APPLICANTS

points

- 60 -

Average Points of Candidates Admitted to Residency By Medical Institutions

Azerbaijan Medical University

Military Medical Faculty of Azerbaijan Medical University

National Ophtalmology Centre named after Zarifa Aliyeva

Azerbaijan State Doctors Improvement Institute named after Aziz Aliyev

National Oncology Centre

Scientific Surgical Centre named after M.Topchubashov

Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology named …

Clinical Medical Centre

…

Scientific-Research Obstetric and Gynecology Institute

Scientific-Research Pediatrics Institute named after K.Farajova

Neurosurgery Hospital

Scientific-Research Lung Diseases Institute

Central Hospital of Oil Workers

Republican Clinical Urology Hospital named after academician…

Scientific-Research Institute of Cardiology named after academician…

Scientific-Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics

Republican Clinical Hospital named after academician MirGasimov

Republican Endrocnology Centre

Republican Narcology Centre

Republican Hygiene and Epidemiology Centre

Clinical Hospital for Children 2

Central Clinic Hospital

Republican Diagnostic Centre

Republic Psychiatric Hospital 1

Republican Dermatovenerologic Dispensary

Baku City Clinical Hospital 3

Baku City Clinical Hospital 5

Social Medicine and Reforms Centre

Clinical Hospital for Children 3

Republican Clinical Hospital for Children

Neurological Hospital for Children

Psychological Health Centre

Baku Health Centre

Republican Hospital of Ministry of Internal Affairs named after …

MediClub Clinics

Republican Sport, Medical, Diagnostics and Rehabilitation Institute …

Nakhchivan State University

0 50 100 150

- 61 -

Admission to Vocational Education and Training (VET) Institutions (on the Basis of Complete Secondary Education)

The student admission to VET Institutions on the basis of complete secondary education for the academic years of 2015-2016 was implemented on the basis of the points scored in the admission examination of group V, in accordance with the “Admission Rules”. Admission rules were published in the first issue of the “Abiturient” journal in January of 2015. A call for the admission, the list of specialties open for admission and the number of the enrolment openings were covered in the fifth issue of the “Abiturient” journal. The speciality selection for VET institutions on the general education basis was held in the period of August 14-19, after the results of the admission examinations to the higher education institutions were announced, in the same period when applications to the vacant openings occurred. The applicants had an opportunity to apply for the specialties of both, the vacant openings in the higher education institutions and VET institutions. The applicants could choose the codes of 20 possible openings from the two education stages in the electronic applications. Applicants who scored minimum 20 points (applicants favouring specialties requiring aptitude who scored 16 points) participated in the selection of specialties.

ADMISSION QUOTA AND NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

35000 30986 32984 29893 30000 26645 27080 25467

25000 23677 22401 22007 21106

20000 18895 15438 15246 15140 15113 14474 14366 13789 13400 15000 13492 12955 12911 12764 12051 11815 11352 11171 11034 11007 10371 10341 10006 9815 9785 9717 9652 9124 9013 8727 8606

10000 8273 7545 7044 6889 6614 6414 6386 6133

5000

Admission quota Number of applications

- 62 -

APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO VET INSTITUTIONS ON THE BASIS OF COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATION TYPES Admission quota Number of applications For For For For For For № EDUCATION TYPE For Azerbaijani Azerbaij Azerbaijani Russian Russian Azerbaija Russian sector ani sector sector sector ni sector sector sector 1 Public (state-financed) 1950 56 420 2426 13863 729 14592 2 Public (paid basis) 2636 63 588 3287 14128 730 14858 3 Private 420 ------420 3579 --- 3579 TOTAL 5006 119 1008 6133 15578 785 16363

APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO VET INSTITUTIONS ON THE BASIS OF COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION b) FOR EDUCATION TYPES Admitted Admission EDUCATION TYPE Admission quota For Azerbaijani For Russian For both № percentage sector sector sectors 1 Public (state-funded) 2426 2233 111 2344 96.62

2 Public (paid) 3287 2883 128 3011 91.60 3 Private 420 420 --- 420 100.00 TOTAL 6133 5536 239 5775 94.16

points points points

points points

SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF ADMITTED APPLICANTS

points

- 63 -

ADMISSION TO VET INSTITUTIONS ON THE BASIS OF COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION EDUCATION TYPES

Baku State Economic-Finance College Baku State Economic and Humanitarian College Baku Food Industry College Baku State Social-Economic College Baku College of Management and Technology … Baku Social Pedagogical College Baku Industry Pedagogical College Azerbaijan Marine Fish Industry College Baku State Communication and Transport College Baku Medical College N 1 Baku Medical Base College N2 Baku Humanitarian College College under Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine … Music College under Azerbaijan National … Baku Technical College Baku Oil-Energy College Baku Computer College Construction College under Azerbaijan University … Nakhchivan Medical College Nakhchivan State Technical College Nakhchivan Music College Ganja Medical College Ganja Technical College Ganja Humanitarian College Sumgait Medical College named after A.Aliyev Sumgait State Technical College Sumgait Music College Guba State Social-Economic College Guba Medical College Shamaki Humanitarian College Shamaki State Industry-Econimc College Mingachevir Medical College Mingachevir Tourism College Shaki Medical College Shaki State Technical College Shaki Music College Shaki Pedagogical College Shusha Humanitarian College Shusha Music College Aghdam State Social-Economic College Aghdam Music College Aghjabedi Pedagogical College Barda State Management and Technological … Goychay State Management and Technology … Aghdash State Humanitarian College Shirvan State Economic and Humanitarian College Lankaran Medical College Lankaran State Humanitarian College Astara Pedagogical College Ismailli State Humanitarian and Technology … Saatli Medical College Jalilabad Medical College Masalli State Regional College Baku Business and Cooperation College 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% state order paid basis vacant quota

- 64 -

AVERAGE SCORES OF APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO VET INSTITUTIONS ON THE BASIS OF COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION

Azerbaijan Economic Finance College Baku State Economic and Humanitarian College Baku Food Industry College Baku State Social-Economic College Baku Management and Technology College Baku Social Pedagogical College Baku Industry Pedagogical College Azerbaijan Marine Fish Industry College Baku State Communication and Transport College Baku Medical College N 1 Baku Medical Base College N 2 Baku Humanitarian College College under Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts Music College under Azerbaijan National Conservatoire Baku Technical College Baku Oil-Energy College Baku Computer College Construction College under Azerbaijan University of … Nakhchivan Medical College Nakhchivan State Technical University Nakhchivan Music College Ganja Medical College Ganja Technical College Ganja Humanitarian College Sungait Medical College named after A.Aliyev Sumgait State Technical College Sumgait Music College Guba State Social-Economic College Guba Medical College Shamakhi Humanitarian College Shamakhi State Industry and Economic College Mingachevir Medical College Mingachevir Tourism College Shaki Medical College Shaki State Technical College Shaki Music College Shaki Pedagogical College Shusha Humanitarian College Shusha Music College Aghdam State Social-Economic College Aghdam Music College Aghjabedi Pedagogical College Barda State Management and Technology College Goychay State Management and Technology College Aghdash State Humanitarian College Shirvan State Economic Humanitarian College Lankaran Medical College Lankaran State Humanitarian College Astara Pedagogical College Ismailli State Humanitarian Technology College Saatli Medical College Jalilabad Medical College Masalli State Regional College Baku Business and Cooperation College

0 50 100

- 65 -

Admission to Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET) Institutions

(on the Basis of General Secondary Education)

For the years 1995-1998 the admission of students to IVET institutions on the basis of general secondary education was carried out by the SSAC in a centralized way, but for 1994-2004 this process was fulfilled by IVET institutions themselves. Since 2005 the realization of this process has been entrusted to the SSAC again. The electronic application to IVET institutions on the basis of general education was implemented from May 1 till 31, 2015. Admission rules, call for applicants, list of undergraduate degree programs were published in the 3rd issue of “Abituriyent” journal. Applicants who graduated general secondary education in previous years sat examinations on the subjects of native language and mathematics, while graduates of the current year didn’t participate in admission examination and participated in the contest due to results they gained on relevant subjects in school-leaving examination (on the basis of general secondary education). Applicants selecting specialties requiring aptitude, before confirming their application, registered for participating in the selection rounds. Those, who registered, participated in the examinations conducted by the SSAC (both graduates of previous and current years). During the selection round the examination results have been assessed as “eligible” and “non- eligible” and only the applicants getting “eligible” have been able to select the corresponding specialties requiring aptitude. According to the admission rules, the applicants were allowed to select other specialties along with specialties requiring aptitude. Speciality selection round was conducted when admission examinations finalized. Applicants with 16 and higher points were allowed to select specialties. Each applicant could choose 12 specialties of different IVET institutions both on state order and paid basis. Applicants identified the sequence of speciality codes themselves. Admission to IVET institutions on the basis of general secondary education consisted of 8928 quota. Totally, 8080 applicants were admitted to colleges and this number comprises 90.50% of total quota.

- 66 -

ADMISSION QUOTA AND NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

45000

40000 39566 35681 35000 31265 30675

30000 28503 27975 26389

25000 23266

20000 14614 15000 13957 10404 10336 9679 9642 9601 9575 9516 9452 8928

10000 8161 8089 8053 8014 7865 7744 7338 3920 4194 3943 5000 3730

0 1995 1996 1997 1998 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Admissin quota Number of applications

ADMISSION QUOTA AND NUMBER OF APPLICANTS

NUMBER OF APPLICANTS ADMISSION QUOTA CHOOSING MAJOR № EDUCATION TYPE Azerbaijani Russian Azerbaijani Russian both sectors Total sector sector sector sector Total

1 Public (state-funded) 3566 86 251 3903 10993 460 11453

2 Public (student-funded) 4153 104 268 4525 11486 487 11973

3 Private 500 ------500 2771 --- 2771

Total 8219 190 519 8928 13461 524 13985

- 67 -

ADMITTED APPLICANTS TO IVET INSTITUTIONS (ON BASIS OF GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION)

Admitted Admission Admission EDUCATION TYPE № quota For Azerbaijani For Russian Total percentage sector sector number

1 Public (state order) 3903 3581 106 3687 94.47

2 Public (paid) 4525 3803 135 3938 87.03

3 Private 500 455 0 455 91.00

TOTAL 8928 7839 241 8080 90.50

SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF SCORE (POINTS) DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM OF APPLICANTS IN THE ADMISSION ADMITTED APPLICANTS EXAMINATION

50-60 points 50-60 points 0-10 points 10-20 points 1,25% 2,75% 2,55% 1,76% 40-50 points 20-30 30-40 10-20 40-50 points points 7,88% points points 18,83% 33,00% 31,89% 20,94%

35,29% 43,86%

20-30 points 30-40 points

- 68 -

ADMISSION EXAMINATIONS TO IVET INSTITUTIONS BY INSTITUTIONS AND EDUCATION TYPES

Azerbaijan Financial Economic College Baku State Economic and Humanitarian College Baku Food Industry College Baku State Social-Economic College Baku Management and Technology College Baku Social Pedagogical College Azerbaijan Stete Pedagogical College Baku Industry-Pedagogical College Azerbaijan Marine Fish Industry College Baku State Communication and Transport College Baku Humanitarian College College under Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts Music College under Azerbaijan National Conservatoire Baku Technical College Baku Oil-Energy College Baku Computer College Construction College under Azerbaijan University of… Nakhchivan State Technical University Nakhchivan Music College Ganja Humanitarian College Ganja Music College Gazakh State Social-Economic College Tovuz State Social-Economic College Sumgait State Technical College Sumgait Music College Guba State Social-Economic College Sahakhi Humanitarian College Shamakhi State Social-Economic College Mingachevir Tourism College Shaki Stat Technical College Shaki Music College Shaki Pedagogical College Zagatala State Management and Technology College Shusha Humanitarian College Shusha Music College Aghdam State Social-Economic College Aghdam Music College Aghjabadi Pedagogical College Barda State Management and Tourism College Goychay State Management and Tourism College Aghdash State Humanitarian College Shirvan State Economic and Humanitarian College Sabirabad State Social-Economic College Lankaran State Humanitarian College Astara Pedagogical College İsmayilli State Humanitarian and Technology College Masalli State Regional College Baku Business and Cooperation College

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

state order paid basis vacant quota

- 69 -

AVERAGE SCORES OF ADMITTED APPLICANTS TO IVET INSTITUTIONS ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL EDUCATION

Azerbaijan Financial Economic College Baku State Economic and Humanitarian College Baku Food Industry College Baku State Social-Economic College Baku Management and Technology College Baku Social Pedagogical College Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College Baku Industry-Pedagogical College Azerbaijan Marine Fish Industry College Baku State Communication and Transport College Baku Humanitarian College College under Azerbaijan State Fine Arts Music College under Azerbaijan National Conservatoire Baku Technical College Baku Oil-Energy College Baku Computer College Construction College under Azerbaijan University of … Nakhchivan State Technical College Nakhchivan Music College Ganja Humanitarian College Ganja Music College Gazakh State Social-Economic College Tovuz State Social-Economic College Sumgait State Technical College Sumgait Music College Guba State Social-Economic College Shamakhi Humanitarian College Shamakhi State Social-Economic College Mingachevir Tourism College Shaki State Technical College Shaki Music College Shaki Pedagogicla College Zaqatala State Management and Tecnology College Shusha Humanitarian College Shusha Music College Aghdam State Social-Economic College Aghdam Music College Aghjabedi Pedagogical College Barda State Management and Tecnology College Goychay State Management and Tecnology College Aghdash State Humanitarian College Shirvan State Economic and Humanitarian College Sabirabad State Social-Economic College Lankaran State Humanitarian College Astara Pedagogical College İsmayilli State Humanitarian and Technology College Masalli State Regional College Baku Business and Cooperation College

0 1020304050

- 70 -

Application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the procedures of Examination and Admission

During the first 9 months of 2015, the number of people using 14 services of the SSAC was calculated to be 4208175. Due to this ubiquitous spread of electronic services, the SSAC occupies the first place among other public institutions performing services through “E-Government” This information was given by the Data Processing Center of Ministry of Communication and High Technologies.

A substantial amount of work for the application of ICT in the process of organizing examinations was continued intensively and a number of new projects were carried out in this field. ICT was applied to all stages of admission to the undergraduate, graduate and residency levels of education as well as to the vocational education. As a result, more than 4 million people used e-services provided by the SSAC. The successful implementation of modern information technologies to the admission process is aimed not only an increasing the transparency of the activities run by the SSAC, but also ensuring the convenience in the sufficient use of time and financial means of people. The core concept of the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 02, 2014 “The National Strategy in 2014-2020 on the Development of the Information Society” is formation of “e-government”. This project facilitates and simplifies officer-citizen relationships. “E-government” portal created under the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies, as being a central institution to ensure the integration of activities of all relevant government agencies in this direction. The review of main services are described below: - First service is identifying the database of students graduating from complete and general education institutions. - Second service is online registration of citizens for meeting a chairperson of the Commision or other staff of the SSAC. - Third service is obtaining “Examination Participation Permit” sheets for graduation and admission examinations online. Applicants, graduates and candidates (residency applicants) can easily use these services by accessing “E-Government” portal or by the official web page of the SSAC without losing extra time on paper work. The importance of these services is reflected in the statistics as well (in March 247727, in April 1016575, in May 729552, in June 598561, in July 854357 and in August 524303 times).

- 71 -

E-services preformed by the SSAC in the first three quarters of 2015 may be described as follows:

E-services Number of users

№ I II III IV Total

Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Anual

Online admission of applications forms 1 (for undergraduate, graduate, and 32856 160417 6554 0 199827 residency level)

Online obtaining of “Examination 2 84484 970542 131273 9 1186308 Participation sheet”

Online major selection for higher and 3 specialized secondary education 0 7179 79531 0 86710 institutions

Information on examination results for applicants and participants of trial 4 110534 1438094 927859 7669 2484156 examinations through text message service or via Internet

Placement of graphic images of bachelors’ and masters’ answer sheets 5 27791 260961 90186 1559 380497 on the applicants’ individual pages, while announcing their scores

Online search of number of codes of 6 application form submitted for 107322 7445 6027 3196 123990 undergraduate admission

7 Online registration for trial examinations 137716 57046 0 0 194762

8 Online trial examinations 1827 467 223 33 2550

9 Online “Video Lectures” 167972 140695 98821 244740 652228

Purchase of the SSAC “Payment cards” for registration for trial and admission 10 181860 171500 39297 125 392782 examinations via text message and online

Online purchase of publications of the 11 308 277 1903 157 2645 SSAC and their PDF versions

Application of the text message system 12 to provide informative service for 736 708 213 21 1678 citizens

Online registration of citizens for the 13 meetings the SSAC Chairperson and 30 57 27 9 123 other responsible employees

Introduction of the service enabling the graduates to review information 14 concerning their activity through the use 1902 40036 3239 281 45458 of the SSAC’s “Student Tracking System” system

TOTAL 855338 3255424 1385153 257799 5753714

- 72 -

Guaranteed Transparency of Admission Procedures

The Commission paid reasonable importance to inform public about admission procedures completely and provide the transparency at all stages of the admission process. A short description of the measures concentrated on developing public awareness may be abstracted thus:  Availability of the examination content: admission programs on subjects, explanation of difficult test items, samples of test models, test booklets used in the trial examinations, collections of test items, their electronic versions and other necessary methodical materials;  Regular coverage of all processes and difficult stages of the admission campaign online and through mass media means;  Press conferences and briefings held every week for the representatives of mass media at the Commission;  Regular coverage of issues interesting for the public in the press and on TV programs by the SSAC leadership and representatives during the admission campaign;  Observation and coverage of each conducted examination by up to 50 mass media representatives;  Display of the examination process in the SSAC’s website;  Placement of special maps with indicators showing the addresses of examination buildings to help applicants to find the locations of examination buildings in the special issue of the “Abituriyent” journal as well as in the Commission’s website;  The opportunity for applicants to take the test booklets out of the testing venues at the end of the admission examination in order to review their notes, check their answers and calculate their approximate points before the official announcement of examination results;  Placement of up-to-date information on all urgent issues of admission campaign in the regular issues of the “Abiturient” journal and in the Commission’s website available in Azerbaijani, Russian and English;  Active information exchange service in the Commission’s website and on Facebook social networking site for the purpose of answering instantly questions of citizens concerning admission examination;  Distribution of the admission and trial examinations results to the applicants through the Commission’s website and the SMS services;  Placement of graphic images of the answer sheets on the personal accounts of applicants;  Regular expansion of online applications as the most optimal option for interactive information exchange with the public.

- 73 -

Regional Meetings

Under the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the schedule offered by the heads of the central executive bodies receptions of citizens with the Chairperson of the Commission were held in Zardab, Khachmaz, Gadabay, Qabala, Oguz, Yardimly, Khizi, Goranboy, Aghstafa, Ujar and other regional centers in 2015. People from surrounding regions participated in these meetings. Information about receptions was given online beforehand. During these meetings citizens addressed their questions and requests to the Chairperson of the SSAC on such issues as: - Difficulties encountered during the educational process in higher and secondary specialized education institutions, including problems of paying tuition fees; - Innovations in the admission processes to the specialized secondary education institutions on the basis of complete secondary education; - Application processes to the higher and VET education institutions; - Content, organization and technology of admission and aptitude test; - Admission examinations conducted separately for the graduates of previous and current years; - Admission quota, the terms of the contest, major selection; - Procedure of preparation of examination materials, importance of involving teachers from regions to this processes; - Duration of admission examinations; - Opportunities for the young to get education in foreign countries; - Secondary higher education; - Transfering tudent; - School-leaving examinations; - Intended innovations in the admission and school-leaving examinations; - Methodological materials for pupils and applicants in order to prepare for admission examinations independently (without tutors) and etc. During these meetings requests of citizens were taken into account and many problems were resolved on the spot, while others were taken into consideration for further investigation. The issues, which were not within the competence of the SSAC had been registered in order to be forwarded to the relevant organizations and to take necessary measures.

- 74 -

Scientific-methodical Monitoring of Textbooks

The order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 19, 2012 assigned the monitoring of general education textbooks, teaching manuals and other teaching materials to the SSAC. A department consisting of two sectors emerged within the Commission with the purpose of implementation of the order. Approximately 10 000 notifications and recommendations have been accepted so far on the textbooks of the 1th-11th forms. In order to realize the monitoring, the methodology was initiated covering the directions below:  Training of experts among specialists, who are not textbook authors;  Collecting of information on textbooks provided by the representatives of the pedagogical community;  Initial inspection of textbooks by experts who are not textbook authors;  Comparison of the results of the 2nd and the 3rd stages of the monitoring (on behalf of the comments by the community and the experts);  Public discussion of the results of the comparative analysis;  Dispatching the opinions, the critical remarks and the recommendations articulated within the discussions to the textbook authors and to the Ministry of Education;  Analysis of the textbook authors’ comments by the independent experts.

Primarily, reference to the pedagogical community on the reception of opinions on the 1st-11th grade textbooks was addressed in October of 2012 and supplementary page ([email protected]) was created. It must be noted that “Derslik Portalı” is the joint project of the SSAC and Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the presentation ceremony of this portal which was held at the end of the last year the Chairperson of the SSAC Mrs. Maleyka Abbaszade and the Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Mikail Jabbarov took part. Creation of this portal is the next important step in the process of scientific and methodological monitoring of textbooks. This supplementary site called “Derslik portali” consists of 3 sections: - Monitoring (final commentaries on textbooks of 1-7th grades prepared due to new educational programs and on 8-11th grades prepared due to traditional educational program are set in this section) - News (information about scientific-methodological monitoring of textbooks are set in this section) - Discussions (open discussions about textbooks). So far 891.871 users used this website, however 1866 users shared their opinions after registration. The SSAC developed scientific methodical seminars to enable open discussions of the textbooks. The seminars have held more than 300 consecutive sessions so far. With the aim of the participation in the open discussions of the textbooks, the SSAC conveyed the correspondence with the stakeholders of the field: Ministry of Education, Institute of Educational Problems, Baku Education Department, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), higher education institutions, and invited experts of the relevant fields to engage in the seminars. The active teachers from Baku and Sumgayit, the methodists, the ANAS experts on the relevant fields, the teachers of the higher education institutions, the representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Curriculum Centre of the Institute of the Educational Problems, the chairperson and the experts of the Textbook Evaluation Council and the textbook authors have participated in the open discussions

- 75 - within the scientific-methodical seminars. Simultaneously, the regional teachers and methodists have also contributed their notifications and recommendations provided with the video connection to the Nakhchivan, Ganja, Shaki, Lankaran, Guba and Aghjabadi regional branches. The video record of open discussions was made and the discussions on several subjects were made public online. Consequently, the final commentary was prepared in the result of open discussions. The representatives of the National Academy of Sciences, the experts of the methodical departments of higher education institutions, the teachers of the general education institutions and early childhood development psychologists were involved in the formation of the commentary along with the experts. The final commentary was forwarded to the Commission on Education under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Education, and was uploaded to the SSAC’s website.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHART (1992-2015)

1995- 1999- 2001- 2004- 2010- 1992 1993 1994 1998 1997 2000 2003 2009 2015

ADMISSION PROGRAMS ON SUBJECTS

METHODOLOGICAL AIDS

SAMPLES OF TEST ITEMS

COLLECTIONS OF TEST ITEMS

STATISTICAL RESEARCH

TELEVISION PROGRAMMES

TRIAL EXAMINATIONS

PSYCHOLOGICAL AIDS AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AIDS

INFORMATION EXCHANGE SERVICE VIA INTERNET

TEACHING AIDS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS

ELECTRONIC AIDS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS

VIDEO LECTURES OF SPECIALISITS ON EXAMINATION SUBJECTS

- 76 -

TEAM OF EXPERTS IN TEST DEVELOPMENT CYCLE 1999-2015

Out of them TOTAL ASSOCIATE SCHOOL № SUBJECT NUMBER PROFESSORS PROFESSORS TEACHERS

1 Azerbaijani language and literature 234 7 15 212

2 Azerbaijani language (for Russian 46 1 5 40 sector)

3 Russian language and literature 108 2 9 97

4 Russian language (for Azerbaijani 67 1 3 63 sector)

5 Mathematics 298 4 25 269

6 Physics 245 7 35 203

7 Chemistry 205 6 23 176

8 Biology 180 3 19 158

9 History 230 4 21 205

10 Geography 185 5 17 163

11 English 172 0 6 166

12 Western languages (German, French) 75 2 4 69

13 Oriental languages (Arabic, Persian) 52 3 2 47

Total 2097 45 184 1868

TEST ADMINISTRATIONS 2015

School-leaving examinations on the basis of general and complete Total number secondary education of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Final examinations on the basis of complete secondary education level 88327

Final examinations in VET institutions 5026

Final examinations on the basis of general secondary education level 107634

Final extern and re-examinations on the basis of complete secondary education 3542 level

Final extern and re-examinations on the basis of general secondary education level 1165

Total: 205694

- 77 -

Admission to higher and vocational education and training institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Admission to graduate education 23231

Admission to undergraduate and specialized secondary education

Including :

Admission to Military Medical service

Admission to Higher Military School named afler Haydar Aliyev

Admission to Police Academy

Admission to Higher Military School of Ministry of Internal Affairs 103964 Admission to Academy of Ministry of National Security

Admission to the Academy of Border Service

Admission to the Academy of Ministry of Emergency Situations

Admission to the Academy of State Custom Committee

Admission to specialized secondary education institutions on the basis of complete secondary education

Admission to secondary Military Medical school 126

Examination on Azerbaijani language for graduates of Russain sector 10208

(8426+1782)

Admission to specialized secondary education institutions on the basis of general 27975 secondary education

Trial examinations for applicants 194762

TOTAL: 360266

Admission to Military High Schools

Admission to Military High School named after H.Aliyev 614

Admission to Military High School named after C.Nakhchivanskiy 1456

TOTAL: 2070

Admission to residency level on the basis of higher medical education

Admission to residency level on the basis of higher medical education 1280

TOTAL: 1280

- 78 -

Admission to higher education institutions of foreign countries

Admission to the higher education institutions of Russian Federation 10

TOTAL: 10

Admission to civil service and other state bodies

Admission to the positions of middle chief staff in the Internal Affairs Bodies of 207 Azerbaijan Republic

Admission to the Ministry of Justice 650

Admission to Azerbaijan Prosecution bodies 380

TOTAL: 1237

Other examinations

Examination for the selection of students for SOCAR’s scholarship program 2181

Pretest examinations for the 11th graders 48890

Monitoring examinations on subjects for the 6th and 7th grade pupils 42945

Admission examination to Bilesuvar region high school complex named after M.İbrahimov 533

Enterance examination to the Azerbaijan Medical University (for students of 39 foreign medical universities)

Examination for employees of Azerbaijan International Bank 710

TOTAL: 95298

TOTAL: 635206

- 79 -

International Events and Partnerships

On March 5-6, Chairperson of the SSAC M.Abbaszade and senior consultant V.Huseynov attended a Research Symposium held by Centre for Universal Education of Brookings University in Washington D.C., the USA. Also the Chairperson of the SSAC also attended the annual conference organized by The Comparative and International Education Society on March 8-13. The conference covered education assessment and exchange of views on measurement-evaluation practices of attendant countries. Later in June, a group of the SSAC’s staff paid a visit to Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria. The international conference on “International trends and academic research in the development of education” was attended by delegates of Canada, China, Bulgaria, Scotland, Azerbaijan, Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. Organizers of the conference were the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), (Sofia, Bulgaria) and International Research Centre (IRC) “Scientific Cooperation”, (Rostov-on-Don, Russia). The core aim of this Conference was to focus academic discussions on the current worldwide trends in the development of education and academic research. Finally, another group of the SSAC’s staff attended International Conference on “Education and training issues” held in the Republic of Turkey on November 5-7. On November 6 employees of the Commission made a presentation on “Dynamics of development of monitoring of textbooks and preparation of assessment materials” . Participation in UNESCO’s Institute of Statistics (UIS) Catalogue and Database of Learning Assessments. In 2015, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) launched the Catalogue and Database of Learning Assessments, a new global initiative to map large-scale assessments used to monitor student achievement. With the renewed focus on learning as part of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, this UIS project aims at providing a consistent and objective source of comparable information for governments and donors to evaluate different types of assessments and inform decision making and policy formulation in the area of measurement of learning outcomes. Currently the initiative covers over 50 countries, and will be expanding its geographical coverage in 2016. The participation of entities responsible for developing national assessments and public examinations is of crucial importance to the success of this initiative. The State Students Admission Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan has partnered with UNESCO to collaborate with the UIS on this project providing the necessary data. The UIS has engaged a consultant - Mr Vali Huseynov - to lead the data collection in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He was the contact person in touch with the State Students Admission Commission to review the eligible assessments and examinations of the SSAC and to collect the necessary information. Additional information about the initiative and the activities conducted by the UIS in the area of Learning Outcomes is available in the following link: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Pages/learning-outcomes.aspx. In late 2014, the State Students Admission Commission (SSAC) has established a partnership agreement with the College Board and Educational Testing Service from the USA to become a testing center for the administration of the SAT in the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the agreement the SSAC has been registered with code number 60129 in the website of the SAT. Examinees want to take the exam at the SSAC’s test center can insert the code while searching for the test center. Test takers interested in presenting their SAT score to the SSAC should insert the SSAC’s score accepting code

- 80 -

(7876) in the SAT Score System. The numbers of the test takers registered in the SSAC’s test center are given in the table below according to the dates.

Test dates SAT SAT Subject

24.01.2015 10 -

12.05.2015 19 -

06.06.2015 13 -

03.10.2015 5 -

05.12.2015 22 1

23.01.2016 28 3

Total 97 4

Starting from March 2016 the SAT will apply new scoring structure. According to the new structure maximum score will be 1600 while it is 2400 now. In Azerbaijan the “ADA” university accepts SAT scores more than 1500 (more than 1000 with new structure). For more detailed information about recent updates in SAT exams click the link below: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/test-specifications-redesigned-sat.pdf Cambridge English Language Assessment (henceforward Cambridge English) was pleased to have been invited to present Assessment review and alignment, proof of concept proposal to the State Student Admissions Committee (SSAC), Azerbaijan. The invitation follows recent discussions with the State Student Admissions Committee and various representatives of the Government of Azerbaijan during a visit to Baku between the 22nd and 25th of June 2015. Following these discussions the State Student Admissions Committee requested a proposal from Cambridge English to evaluate national English language assessments for school leavers and for university admissions purposes. This document details the following proposed activities: 1. Evaluate the English language assessments used in the Azerbaijan state school system. 2. Produce a full report for the SSAC, outlining the findings and making recommendations for future improvements to the assessment system in Azerbaijan. These findings and recommendations will be presented and discussed so that together Cambridge and SSAC can move to the next phase of collaboration. 3. Work with the SSAC to align domestic examinations to international standards and undertake capacity building activities to establish and train a cadre of item writers and assessors.

- 81 -

THE SSAC’S EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

The SSAC’s publishing house “Abiturient” journal served for enlightening the public, especially applicants and teachers. The journal plays an important role as a comprehensive, accurate, reliable source of information on process, direction and stages of admission campaign. Considering the profound interest of the general public to the SSAC’s publications, the Commission launched their online purchase system. This system enables the users to buy all issues and special issues, including test collections methodological aids and statistical materials. At the same time, PDF versions of all above-mentioned materials are also available.

The classification of the SSAC’s official, scientific-methodological and informative publications is as follows:

OFFICIAL MATERIALS Admission rules and announcements by different education levels, majors open to admission, admission quota, renewals in organizations of examinations, list of admitted applicants, pass scores on majors, other decisions, information and announcements of the SSAC.

Teaching and Test Preparation Resources Admission programs on subjects, expert explanations concerning admission examinations, methodological aids, model test items, test collections (in print and electronic format), programs of specialties requiring aptitude, other materials on examination technology.

Test Collections for different grades Prepared on the basis of school curiculum. New test items presented in these books enable pupils to get acquinted with new test models, prepare their lessons profoundly. They also can be used by teachers at the end of each unit, semester to assess pupils’ knowledge.

- 82 -

New Assessment Resources To provide an alternative testing resource for teachers to assess pupils’ learning outcomes as well as the degree of preparation for the admission test, a new workbook with two parts based on new curriculum was introduced to the public. First part includes open-ended test items, evaluation standards and second part includes traditional multiple choice items.

Test collections: 1994-2015 The SSAC published test item collections on Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, the Azerbaijani language, Literature and the Russian language for both Azerbaijani and Russian sector graduates. These collections include test items used in admission examinations to higher education institutions (on basis of complete and general secondary education), to the vocational education and training institutions (on basis of complete secondary education), to military high schools, and in trial examinations in the years of 1994-2015 and also test items published in different issues of “Abituriyent” journal. 25% of test items are new models and have not been used in any examinations. Test collections are designed for applicants, pupils, and teachers.

Electronic Test Preparation Resources Electronic versions of test collections on subjects and grades were prepared by “Abituriyent” journal. These collections enable applicants to prepare to the admission examinations independently. Collections can also be used in schools and ensure transparancy of assessment.

Aptitude Test Materials These materials consists of 5 brochures: “Fine Arts”, “Music Art”, “Architecture and Design”, “Theatre, Cinema and Choreography”, “Physical Education and Sport”. Condence characterictics of specialties requiring aptitude, admission quota, admission programs, tips for applicants, test samples were illustrated in these materials.

VET Admission Information on higher education institutions, advice of specialists, materials on international education programs, admission scores are presented in these materials.

Analysis of monitoring examinations – International practice in this field – International assessment programs such as, PISA, PIRLS and TIMSS – Curiculum in Azerbaijan – Preparation of assessment materials

- 83 -

– Number of examinees, questions and variants and duration of examination – Preparation of criterias for assessment and calibration – Scientific-methodological analysis of assessment materials (Azerbaijani language, Russian language and Mathematics) – Analysis of results due to degress of difficulty and exam regions – Assessment: calculation of final results – Sugesssions and recommendations for the further improvement of pupils-knowledge This brochure was published for the first time for pedagogical public.

Admissions to Graduate and Residency Admission rules and announcements by different educational levels, majors open to admission, admission quota, renewals in organizations of examinations, list of admitted applicants, pass scores on majors, other decisions, information and announcements of the SSAC.

Research Resources The use of modern information technologies in the system of student admission gives an opportunity to acquire comprehensive information based on the educational sphere of the country. The analysis of such information, sharing of material with pedagogical society, promotion of the advanced practice, bringing shortcomings to the focus of attention play an important role to further develop the quality of education in Azerbaijan. For this purpose, the results of student admission scientific-statistical analysis of educational situation in the country are carried out and presented to the public. As a result of such kind of analysis, the booklets called “Scientific-methodological analysis of the admission examinations on subjects”, “Gender aspects of admission examinations”, and “Descriptive statistics of admission to oil and gas majors” are published. Moreover, the booklets reflecting the results of each region’s graduates are published and delivered to each corresponding education institutions. The analyses of admission results on such level and scale can be also called monitoring of education situation. As in previous years, this year the SSAC comprehensively analyzed the results of admission examinations to the higher and VET education institutions (including by regions and by schools), the results of applicants on different subjects, their interest to different major groups and specialities, admission indicators of higher education institutions, regions and schools with high and low academic performances, rating of higher education institutions, results of admission to master’s and residency level, and also results of school-leaving examinations. The outcomes of this work will be published in the 12th issue of “Abituriyent” journal and presented to the use of public.

- 84 -

Translated from Azerbaijani into English by K.T.Hasanova

Edited by N.V.Dudkina, V.M.Huseynov

Computer makeup and design: M.A.Badalov, X.S.Mirzayev

The journal has been prepared on the basis of the official materials of the State Students Admission Commission.

Address of the editorial office: 27, Yusif Safarov Str., Baku. AZ1078

Phone: (+99412) 502-47-82(92) (SSAC) (+99412) 489-02-59 (editorial office) E-mail: [email protected] Web: abiturient.az

The journal was registered at the Ministry of Press and Information of the Republic of Azerbaijan (License B 171, February18, 1999).

©SSAC – “Abiturient” – 2016 Republication of the journal or any of its part, as well as its distribution, electronic or mechanical copy without official agreement of the State Students Admission Commission is strongly prohibited.