A maturity 2026 The exam that concludes secondary education in the country began this Thursday (18) for 527.747 students across Italy. The first written test, in Italian, opened at 8:30 am.
The number of applicants grew by 0,6% compared to 2025. There are 513.738 regular students and 14.009 external applicants, according to the Ministry of Education and Merit.
What is maturità?
Maturità is the final exam of Italian secondary education and gives the student the diploma necessary to enter university or the job market. The exam takes place at the end of the fifth year of secondary school, when the student is around 19 years old.
The exam attracts so many participants because it is mandatory to complete this stage of schooling. The majority of candidates come from high schools (273.959), followed by... technical institutes (167.104) and professionals (86.684).
The Supreme Court reaffirmed: citizenship is born with the person.
- New legal front opened
- Processes can still be filed.
- Individual assessment before any decision.
The second written exam, on the main subject of each course, takes place this Friday (19). Oral exams begin on June 22, conducted by 13.996 committees.
What changes in 2026?
This year's edition features the minister's reform. Joseph Vallettara, as foreseen in decree 127/2025. The exam will officially revert to its original name, “Esame di Maturità” (Maturity Exam), replacing “Esame di Stato” (State Exam), the name used in recent years.
Oral presentations became mandatory for approval. Those who refuse to speak, a practice known as “scena muta” (scene changes), it is automatically rejected. The colloquium now covers four topics, compared to six in the previous edition.
The committees were also reduced in size, with four examiners plus the external chair. The bonus that the committee can add to the grade dropped from five to three points, valid only for those who achieve at least 90 points.
How it works in Portugal
In PortugalThe equivalent of the national secondary school exams is the national exam for secondary education. The first phase of 2026 takes place between June 16 and 26, during the same period as... Italian maturity.
In Portugal, the Portuguese exam is mandatory for all 12th-grade students. To complete secondary education, students need three national exams, which also serve as entrance exams for higher education.
Source: Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, IAVE (Portugal) and Italian press (Quotidiano Nazionale, Il Sole 24 Ore).
Rafael
June 19 from 2026 at 07: 57
Did I misunderstand, or do young people finish high school at (an unbelievable) age 19 in Italy? Surreal! And this exam, how outdated. An oral interview, in 'years 2026'? Please…
Edmar F
June 19 from 2026 at 12: 55
That's why Italy is an economic powerhouse and Brazil remains eternally the "country of the future."
Edson
June 22 from 2026 at 03: 36
It's absolutely right to have an oral exam. First, the student must have complete mastery of the subject matter; second, it requires mastery of communication, a key skill for success. In Brazil, the majority of university students are functionally illiterate, and our educational system is dysfunctional, as evidenced by our position in PISA.