Finnish matriculation examination
The purpose of the matriculation examination is to determine whether candidates have assimilated the knowledge and skills set out in the National Core Curriculum for General Upper Secondary Education and whether they have reached an adequate level of maturity in line with upper secondary school education.
The matriculation examination is held twice a year, in spring and autumn. It is held simultaneously in all general upper secondary schools and educational institutions that provide general upper secondary education. Students can complete the whole examination over one examination period or do it in parts generally over three consecutive examination periods. Students receive a matriculation examination certificate after successfully passing the compulsory tests and receiving a general upper secondary education certificate or a vocational upper secondary certificate.
The matriculation examination comprises at least four tests. The only test that is compulsory for everyone is the mother tongue exam. Students select the three other compulsory subjects from the following: a second national language, a foreign language, mathematics or an exam in one subject in the humanities and natural sciences. The examination can also include optional subjects. Exams that have been completed as compulsory ones over three consecutive examination periods cannot be switched to optional ones at a later time.
The Matriculation Examination Board is responsible for preparing and assessing the matriculation examination. The members of the board represent different subjects, and they have approximately 330 assistant members to help them in the preparation and assessment of the examination.
Contact information
Heikki Blom, opetusneuvos
Ministry of Education and Culture, Lukiokoulutuksen ja ammatillisen koulutuksen osasto (LAMOS), Koulutuksen vastuualue Telephone:0295330074 [email protected]