Iraqi man passes sixth grade exam — after 26 years of trying

SALAH AL-DIN — After 26 years of persistence, Ahmad Jabouri, a resident of Shergat district in Salah Al-Din governorate, has passed Iraq’s national sixth grade primary exam with a score of 52, reaching a long-sought milestone in his educational journey.

Iraq’s national standardized exams — administered at the sixth grade (primary), ninth grade (intermediate), and twelfth grade (baccalaureate) levels — are critical steps in the country’s education system. Overseen by the Ministry of Education and conducted simultaneously across all governorates, the exams determine whether students can advance academically and often carry deep social and emotional significance. Twelfth grade scores, in particular, are pivotal in shaping university admissions.

Jabouri, born in 1988, told 964media, “There are seven of us in the family. Some of my brothers graduated from university, others are soldiers in the Iraqi army. I was the only one without a certificate. I had also served in the army before, but I didn’t complete it and left. For years I tried to return, but couldn’t.”

“I kept trying to pass the sixth grade and after 26 years of attempts, I finally succeeded this year. I passed with a score of 52,” he said. “People in my area have been congratulating me and some were even amazed that I kept trying all this time.”

In Iraq, a score of 50 is the minimum required to pass.

Yasin Mohammed, a member of the Salah Al-Din governorate council, confirmed the news to 964media. “Today, after the results of the sixth grade primary exams were released, one student passed with a total score of 52 after trying for 26 years,” he said.

The Ministry of Education published nationwide sixth grade results on Saturday.