President of SSRII: Sports Sciences Practical Exam Begins Nationwide with Over 20,000 Candidates in 26 Centers

Dr. Fariba Mohammadi, President of the Research Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, announced a record participation of more than 20,000 candidates in this year’s Sports Sciences practical entrance exam — an increase of 2,000 compared to last year.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the exam’s opening ceremony, she noted that the practical test is held annually for candidates interested in Physical Education, following the national university entrance (Konkur) exam. The process includes physical screening, health evaluation, and a series of physical fitness tests, and this year is being conducted in 26 test centers nationwide.

On ensuring the integrity of the process, she explained that all referees and observers receive pre-exam training, official observers from the Research Institute are present in each center, and results are monitored online. Any detected infractions or errors are addressed promptly.

Dr. Mohammadi stressed the importance of the practical test in admissions:

“While theoretical subjects carry a weighting of 2 or 3, the Sports Sciences practical exam has a weighting of 12, making physical ability a decisive factor in a candidate’s acceptance.”

Addressing university admission capacity, she noted that although seats in public universities are limited, there are broader admission opportunities in non-profit universities and Payame Noor University. Additionally, some applicants pursue entry into the teaching profession through the Farhangian University pathway, which also involves a practical exam.