Comprehensive Reform of Italy’s Upper Secondary Education Leaving Exam

Italy is introducing significant reforms to the upper secondary education leaving exam starting from the 2025/2026 school year. Many components of the exam, including the oral examination, have been redesigned, and for the first time in years, the exam will once again be officially called the “maturity exam” (esame di maturità).

Under the new regulation, students whose behavior grade is below 6 out of 10 will not be admitted to the exam under any circumstances. Students who receive exactly 6 out of 10 will be required to submit a report on “active citizenship,” which will be discussed during the oral examination. This measure aims to assess not only students’ academic performance but also their sense of responsibility and social awareness.

In the new system, the oral exam will focus on four core subjects that represent the student’s course of study, determined each year by the Ministry of Education and Merit. The oral examination will also become more comprehensive by incorporating an evaluation of the student’s entire educational journey. This evaluation will include competencies gained through civic education as well as activities completed during workplace training, which becomes mandatory beginning in the third year of upper secondary school.