Description of Tests

Here are basic descripitions of the tests in the Finnish Matriciulation Examination. You can find more precise information on test-specific regulations and guidelines in Finnish here (under Koekohtaiset määräykset ja ohjeet): Määräykset ja ohjeet. 

Mother tongue

The mother tongue test is arranged in the Finnish, Swedish and Sami language.

The Finnish and Swedish tests have two parts: the textual skills test and the essay test. They are organised on separate days, and the time for sitting each test is six hours. The weighted sum of points determines the candidate’s grade on the mother tongue test. If the candidate does not complete either one of the tests, the mother tongue test is considered discontinued and failed. Thus a candidate cannot divide the two tests into separate examination periods.

In the Sami language, only an essay test is arranged.

The textual skills test measures the candidate’s analytical skills and linguistic expression. The essay test focuses on the candidate’s general level of education, development of thinking, linguistic expression and coherence. In the textual skills test, the candidate is given material that consists of different literary texts, expository texts and artwork. On the basis of the material, the candidate answers two assignments out of four. The candidate may be asked to analyse the meanings, structures, expressions and context of the material, or to write a summary or a commentary. In the essay test, the candidate chooses one assignment out of a minimum of five assignments, and writes an essay according to instructions. The assignments include background material.

A candidate whose mother tongue is not Finnish, Swedish or Sami, or who uses sign language as first language, can replace the mother tongue test with the test of Finnish or Swedish as a second language. The test has sections for listening and reading comprehension and written production.

The candidate may also take the mother tongue test in Finnish or Swedish in place of the second national language test in that language.

Languages

The tests in the second national language (Swedish or Finnish) are arranged at advanced syllabus level and intermediate syllabus level. The foreign language tests in English, French, German, Russian and Spanish are arranged at advanced syllabus level and basic syllabus level. In addition, tests at basic syllabus level are arranged in Italian, Inari Sami, North Sami, Skolt Sami, Latin and Portuguese. The test in Latin is also organised at extended basic syllabus level which is not equivalent to the advanced syllabus level of the other foreign languages. Starting in autumn 2025, only the test at basic level will be organised.

In most languages the test consists of two parts, the listening comprehension test and the test of written comprehension and production, in which candidates will answer on the same day, during the same test period.

The tests in Inari Sami, North Sami, Skolt Sami, Latin and Portuguese do not include a listening comprehension test.

The test of written comprehension and production consists of three parts. Test items can be, for example, multiple-choice questions, cloze tests, open questions, summaries, and translation or description assignments. In tests of advanced syllabus level candidates also write an assignment of 700-1,100 characters (in the English and Finnish tests 700-1,300 characters). In tests of intermediate and basic syllabus level candidates write one shorter assignment (160-240 characters) and one longer assignment (300-450 characters).

Humanities and natural sciences

Each subject in the field of humanities and natural sciences has its own test in the Matriculation Examination. Every examination period has two separate test days for the tests in humanities and natural sciences. On the first test day, candidates may take a test in psychology, philosophy, history, physics, or biology. On the second test day they may take a test in Evangelical Lutheran religion, Orthodox religion, ethics, social studies, chemistry, geography, or health education. The candidate can only sit one test a day, so they can take a maximum of two tests during one examination period. The maximum time for sitting a test is six hours.

The number of questions in a test depends on the subject. In physics, chemistry and biology, the candidate answers a maximum of seven questions out of eleven. In the rest of the subjects, the candidate answers a maximum of five questions out of nine.

In the digital tests in humanities and natural sciences, the maximum score is 120 points. The digital tests feature different modules that may include several questions and vary in type and complexity. Some questions may be compulsory. Test items may be traditional essay questions, multiple-choice questions, drawing assignments, data analyses, and combinations of these. Test items can also feature more diverse background material than in traditional paper tests. Questions may include text, pictures, videos, audio recordings, maps, animations and statistics. The maximum score for a test item will vary between 15 and 30 points.

Mathematics

The mathematics test is arranged at two different levels of difficulty; the advanced syllabus and the basic syllabus. The candidate may choose which level test to take, regardless of their studies at the upper secondary school.

The tests have 8-13 questions of which the candidate must complete 6-10 depending on the total amount of questions. Each question scores a maximum of twelve points. From autumn 2024 onwards, the test at basic syllabus level will also have some questions that score a maximum of 18 points. 

The tests have two parts: Part A and Part B. Part B is furthermore divided into two parts: Part B1 and Part B2. Both tests feature separate task booklets for Part A and Part B. Calculator may be used as aid in Part B but not in Part A.

At the beginning of the test, the candidate is given task booklets for both Part A and Part B. When the candidate returns the Part A booklet at the latest three hours after the start of the test, they are given a calculator. In Part B, the candidate is allowed to use any scientific calculator, graphing calculator or symbolic calculator that does not have a data transfer feature. The candidate may also consult a digital book of tables in both parts of the test.