DIM: School-leaving and university entrance exams
Preparing for Azerbaijan's school-leaving and university entrance exams
Prepare step by step for the grade 9 and grade 11 school-leaving exams and the university entrance exam run by Azerbaijan's State Examination Centre (DIM): learn the structure of the exams under the 2026 rules, the specialty groups, how points are calculated, registration and exam day. The subject lessons include original DIM-style closed and open tasks with explained solutions, plus advice on pacing and mental preparation.
Course content
The exam system
BeginnerLearn how the school-leaving and entrance exams are built, the specialty groups, scoring, registration and a six-month study plan.
- 1The grade 9 and grade 11 school-leaving examsDIM's school-leaving exams: subjects, number and types of tasks (including the new grade 11 foreign-language model used from 2027), time, the 300-point scale, the Azerbaijani and Russian sectors and where the results are used.14 min
- 2University admission: two stages and five specialty groupsThe two stages of the bachelor's entrance exam, specialty groups I–V and their subgroups, subject coefficients, the second-stage structure, the two-attempt rule and a short note on the master's exam (2026).15 min
- 3Scoring: calculate your own pointsThe school-leaving (first-stage) formulas for the language of instruction and mathematics, the 2027 foreign-language model (its formula is not yet published), the penalty and weight coefficients in the second stage, the 700-point total, and the difference between the minimum threshold and the pass mark — with fully worked examples.16 min
- 4Registration, exam day, results and choosing specialtiesPersonal account and online application, fees, the admission slip, exam-building rules, getting your results, appeals, why the order of your specialty list matters and registering after admission (2026).14 min
- 5A six-month study planThe official 2026 exam calendar, the phases of six months, a weekly timetable, splitting time by weight coefficients, an error log, spaced repetition and DIM's official preparation materials.13 min
First-stage subjects
IntermediateTackle the task types in the language of instruction, mathematics and the foreign language with strategies and practice items.
- 6Azerbaijani language and literature: strategies for text tasksHow the language-of-instruction subject is built, a method for working with texts, closed and written tasks on an original text with explained answers, literary devices and tips on literature for group III.18 min
- 7Mathematics: key formulas and exam-style problemsHow to approach closed, coded and full-solution tasks, the formulas you need most, fast calculation without a calculator and complete solutions to original problems.20 min
- 8Foreign language (English): listening, reading, grammar and writingThe 2027 model of the foreign-language exam, the listening routine DIM recommends, multiple-choice and true/false tasks on original listening and reading texts, grammar signal words, the opinion paragraph (at least 100 words) and how DIM marks it with criteria A–D, and the grade 9 picture story.25 min
Specialty-group subjects
AdvancedPrepare for the source and situation tasks in history, physics, chemistry and biology in the second stage.
- 9History: chronology, source tasks and cause and effectHow history is tested in groups II and III, a timeline of key dates, matching tasks, a written task on an original source and the difference between facts from the source and facts from outside it.17 min
- 10Physics, chemistry and biology: solving situation tasksThe science subjects of groups I and IV, a five-step method for situation tasks, the formulas you need most and explained solutions to original physics, chemistry and biology tasks.20 min
Score strategies
AdvancedPace yourself, guess wisely with the penalty rule in mind, avoid typical mistakes and arrive calm on exam day.
- 11Time management and smart guessingSplitting the 3 hours between subjects and task types, the two-pass strategy, time for filling the answer sheet, the maths of the second-stage penalty rule and practice with a timer.15 min
- 12Typical mistakes, mental preparation and an exam-day checklistThe mistakes that cost candidates the most points, ways to manage nerves, rules for the night and morning before the exam and a step-by-step exam-day checklist.13 min