However, even in this case, the observed growth was minimal, and the presence of a Matthew effect in students with an intermediate diploma [Mittler Schulabschluss] cannot be concluded.
By contrast, the young adults attending the BEK had the highest proportion of general diplomas [Hauptschulabschluss], with N = 212 (54.8 %), whereas more than half of the BFS (53.1 %) already possessed an intermediate diploma [Mittlerer Schulabschluss] upon enrolment in the programme.
In the courses offered by the transition system, similarly distinct effects are not necessarily expected, as the specific mathematics lessons offered are geared towards the curricular requirements of those with the lowest educational certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), or in the case of the BFS, towards those with an intermediate diploma (Mittlerer Schulabschluss).
Another 93,968 students (72,199 male and 21,769 female) were in Intermediate Diploma courses and 1,953 students (1,548 male and 405 female) were in Higher Diploma course [ 4] (http://www.mohe.gov.sa/en/docs/Doc1/VDMPI024.pdf).gov.sa/en/docs/Doc1/VDMPI024.pdf
Intermediate entries rose by more than a third to just under 14,000 as the exams were rolled out to more schools, with the pass rate for Intermediate diplomas up from 73% in 2012 to 79%.
Participant education followed a normal distribution with 52.1 % cumulative disclosures of an intermediate high-school diploma or technical college qualification.
Low educational level was defined as vocational school or lower, intermediate as higher national diploma or Bachelor's degree and high as a Master's degree or higher.
Educational status was described by four categories: compulsory school, apprenticeship or intermediate vocational degree, high school diploma, and polytechnic school/university.
The following predictor variables were included: socio-demographics – including sex, age (in years), household size (single, dual, 3+), highest level of education (compulsory school, apprenticeship or intermediate vocational degree, high school diploma, university) – subjective health status (1 = very good, 5 = very poor), and religious confession (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, other, none).
These should be assessed within a single diploma framework with annual "intermediate" levels, based mostly if not entirely on internal school assessments, leading to a final graded leaving qualification secured mainly through a high-stakes, public examination at 18 or 19.
The 1-year BFS programme is meant for graduates of the basic-level lower secondary school with a general school diploma [Hauptschulabschuss] or from the intermediate-level school with an intermediate school diploma [Mittlerer Schulabschluss] who have not succeeded in obtaining an in-firm apprenticeship contract.
