The tests in the second national language and foreign languages in the Matriculation Examination and the proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference
Ylioppilastutkintolautakunta on laatinut kuvauksen ylioppilastutkinnon vieraiden kielten ja toisen kotimaisen kielen kokeiden arvosanojen ja eurooppalaisen viitekehyksen taitotasojen välisestä yhteydestä. Kuvauksen valmistelussa on perehdytty esimerkiksi kielitaitoa ja taitotasoja käsittelevään tutkimukseen ja käyty vuoropuhelua sidosryhmien kanssa.
Through this description, the Board aims to increase the usability of Matriculation Examination grades when graduates apply for higher education and enter the labour market. Those who have completed the Matriculation Examination and higher education institutions have also requested information on how Matriculation Examination grades correspond to the proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The Board’s view of the grades awarded in tests of the second national language and foreign languages, from the spring 2012 examination onwards, is as follows:
If a student has completed the test in English, advanced syllabus (A syllabus) (target level B2.1) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least level B2.
If a student has completed the test in the second national language (Swedish), advanced syllabus (A syllabus) (target level B2.1, except for writing skills B1.2) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least a strong B1 level.
If a student has completed the test in another foreign language (Spanish, French, German, Russian), advanced syllabus (A syllabus) (target level B1.2) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least a strong B1 level.
If a student has completed the test in the second national language (Swedish), intermediate syllabus (B1 syllabus) (target level B1.1) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least a low B1 level.
If a student has completed the test in English, basic syllabus (B2/B3 syllabus) (target level B1.1, except for writing skills A2.2) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least a strong A2 level.
If a student has completed the test in another foreign language, basic syllabus (B2/B3 syllabus) (target level A2.1) with a grade of magna cum laude approbatur or higher, their language proficiency is likely to correspond to at least a low A2 level.
| Table 1. Proficiency levels in the second national language test and foreign language tests. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEFR level | English, A syllabus (target level B2.1) | Second national language, A syllabus (target level B2.1, writing proficiency target B1.2) | Foreign language: Spanish, French, German, Russian, A syllabus (target level B1.2) | Second national language, intermediate syllabus (target level B1.1) | Foreign language, English, basic syllabus (target level B1.1) | Foreign language, basic syllabus: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German, Russian (target level A2.2-A2.1) | |
| B2 | magna cum laude approbatur | magna cum laude approbatur | |||||
| B1 | magna cum laude approbatur | magna cum laude approbatur | |||||
| A2 | magna cum laude approbatur | magna cum laude approbatur | |||||
| A1 | |||||||
| Table 2. Point scores corresponding to test grades. | |
|---|---|
| Grade | Score |
| laudatur | 7 |
| eximia cum laude approbatur | 6 |
| magna cum laude approbatur | 5 |
| cum laude approbatur | 4 |
| lubenter approbatur | 3 |
| approbatur | 2 |
| improbatur | 0 |