The program starts with exams in Latin and Greek on Monday, followed on Tuesday by mathematics, the biggest hurdle for most high school graduates.
On Monday it only gets serious for over 2,000 exam candidates: around 2,100 take the Latin exam, in Greek there are usually only around two dozen high school graduates. The two largest exams then take place on Tuesday and Thursday: First, 45,000 pupils in mathematics, after a break due to the state holiday in Upper Austria on Wednesday, 46,000 in German on Thursday. German is the only subject in which entry is compulsory for all high school graduates.
On Friday, around 29,000 candidates will take the English Matura exam, and the following week there will be between 1,000 and 2,000 exams in each of the subjects French, Spanish and Italian. “Of course, a nationwide final exam like the Matura is also a major logistical effort. I would therefore like to thank all teachers, school management and education departments who make it possible for the Matura to be carried out professionally throughout Austria,” said Minister of Education Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) in a broadcast.
As in the previous year, a negative corona test (antigen test no more than 24 hours before the start of the exam, PCR test no more than 72 hours before the start of the exam) is required on each day of the exam to take part in the Matura – with the exception of those people who have had one in the last 60 days have undergone infection. A mask does not have to be worn during the Matura. As in the two previous years, there is one hour more working time for each exam.
From the end of May, the written Matura will be followed by the oral matriculation examination. Unlike in 2020 and 2021, it is mandatory again this year despite criticism from student and parent representatives – however, there are simplifications such as the possible restriction of subject areas. The following applies to both the written and the oral Matura: the grade on the certificate for the final year is included in the final grade in addition to the examination grade – for the written Matura, however, 30 percent of the total number of points is required.
“I am very happy that the oral Matura can take place again this year for everyone. Because the students have earned this formal and ceremonial degree after many years at school,” says Polaschek. “It’s normal to be a little nervous before a big final exam. But I’m sure that the students have prepared well and will pass the exams successfully.”
Source: Nachrichten
