The Italian Ministry of Public Education has been working on a range of initiatives aiming to renovate the entire school system.
The guiding principle is the adjustment to the European education standards.
The reform of the "esame di stato" is to be considered under this light.

Starting from next year the exams will take place according to the new guidelines.
Some steps will go into effect gradually in the next two years.

At the school where the student attended at least the two last years' course.

Everybody will be admitted to sit for the exams.
The admission evaluation, based on the last year's average is no longer requested.

The exams will focus on all subjects of the last year.
It will consist of three written tests and an oral examination.

The first written exam aims to evaluate the knowledge of the Italian language in a specific context and it may include:

• An analysis of a literary/not literary text
• A composition on an updated social/cultural topic
• An analysis of historical topic with reference to the last year's program
• A report on a political/historical, social/economic, art/literary or tech/scientific issue

The second written exam will focus on a specific subject with reference to the course.
This exam does not vary in comparison with the old one.
The Ministry is in charge to give notice of the subject selected within 15 April.

The third written exam will be a multi-disciplinary test.
The Board of Examiners will be in charge of preparing it (this enhances the new school "autonomy", legally recognized by the 59/97 Law).
The range of the tests is wide:

• A set of questions on a text
• A set of questions related to different subjects
• Multiple-choice questions
• Problem-solving activities
• Case studies
• Project areas

A foreign language test will be part of the third exam.

The oral examinations will focus on all last year's subjects.
Students may submit any project/research study related to the curriculum.

The highest score will be 100/100 divided into:

• Up to 45 p. for the three written tests
• Up to 35 p. for the oral examination
• Up to 20 p. for credits.

Credits will be given in terms of 20 points on the basis of the student's average in the last three years(see chart below)

SCORES		CREDIT (Points in 3 years)
A = 6		8 - 11
6 > A = 7		11 - 14
7 < A = 8		14 - 17
8 < A = 10		17 - 20

Extra curricular activities (sport events, work stages, language stages, etc.) will be taken into consideration and may be evaluated in terms of credit points assignment.

By: Alessandro Villa

© 1998 Freeway
Writers:
HTML by: Martin Gustafsson (nv00-93@park.se).