Entry Exam Preparation Information

Entry Exam Preparation

Entry Exam Prep for All Levels

Students are enrolled in the Islamic School according to their public school grade level, to ensure they learn alongside their peers. The curriculum and activities are tailored to be age- and grade-appropriate.

The purpose of the entry exam is to determine a new student’s current level of knowledge.

  • If the student meets expectations, no further action is needed.

  • If the student is lacking in one or more areas, they will be given a personalized learning plan and required to attend early morning special classes (duration may vary from one month to the full school year, based on effort and progress).

All exam questions are pulled from the end-of-unit questions in the Islamic Studies Weekend Learning Series books. Books can be loaned from the Bilal Masjid Library or purchased from the Weekend School Office.

Islamic Studies Exam Requirements

  • Level 1: No exam

  • Level 2: Pass Level 1 entry exam

  • Level 3: Pass Level 1 & 2 exams

  • Level 4: Pass Level 1–3 exams

  • Level 5: Pass Level 1–4 exams

  • Level 6: Pass Level 1–5 exams

  • Level 7: Pass Level 1–6 exams

  • Level 8: Pass Level 1–7 exams

Wudu & Salah Requirements

  • Level 1: Perform only the movements of Salah

  • Level 2:

    • Perform Salah movements

    • Recite Surat al-Fatiha in Qiyam

    • Recite Rukuh and Sujood

  • Level 3:

    • Same as Level 2

    • Plus part of At-Tashahhud and Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah

  • Level 4+: Must be able to perform full Salah

Passing is determined case-by-case. Students who do not know how to pray will attend special classes.
Steps of Salah are included at the end of the Level 3 Islamic Studies book.

Seerah Requirements

Seerah knowledge required is covered in Levels 3 & 4 of the weekend books, including:

  • Names of Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) wives and daughters

  • Age when he became a Prophet

  • Age when he married Khadijah (RA)

Qur’an Reading Requirements

  • Level 1: Know Arabic alphabet

  • Level 2: Know Arabic alphabet + vowels and sounds

  • Level 3: Begin reading short words and ayat (2–3 letters)

  • Level 4: Read directly from the Qur’an + recognize:

    • Noon Saakinah rules

    • Meem Saakinah rules

  • Level 5: Same as Level 4 + Qalqalah rules

  • Level 6: Same as Level 5 + Madd Lazim rules

  • Level 7: Same as Level 6 + Madd Muttasil & Madd Munfasil

  • Level 8+: Read Surah Yaseen with full Tajweed application and identify all relevant rules

Tajweed Rules to Identify

  • Noon Saakinah/Tanween: Idgham (with & without ghunna), Ikhfa, Iqlab, Ithar

  • Meem Saakinah: Idgham Shafawi, Ithar Shafawi, Ikhfa Shafawi

  • Qalqalah

  • Madd (elongation rules): Madd Lazim, Muttasil, Munfasil, and others

  • Makharij (correct articulation)

  • Hamzatul Wasl / Hamzatul Qat’a

  • Lam Shamsiyah / Lam Qamariyah

  • Heavy and Light Letters

  • Stopping rules (Waqf)

  • Noon & Meem Mushaddad

  • Laam in Allah’s name

  • Taa Marbuta

Qur’an Memorization Requirements

  • Level 1:

    • Surat al-Fatiha

    • Al-Mu’awwidhat (An-Naas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas)

  • Level 2:

    • Above + Surat al-Kaafiroon

  • Level 3:

    • Above + An-Nasr, Al-Masad, Ayatul Kursi, Al-Quraysh, Al-Kawthar

  • Level 4:

    • Above + Al-Ma’un, Al-Asr

  • Level 5:

    • Above + Al-Humazah, Al-Qari’ah, At-Takathur, Az-Zalzalah

  • Level 6:

    • Above + Al-A’la, Ad-Duhaa

  • Level 7:

    • Above + Al-Fajr, An-Nazi’at (1–23)

  • Level 8+:

    • Above + An-Nazi’at (24–46), Last 3 ayahs of Surah Al-Baqarah

Students who have not memorized the required surahs may attend special support classes held 1 hour before Sunday School. Passing is determined on a case-by-case basis.