One part done

Matura is no longer the great spectre

The Matura is in full swing.

(Bild: © Jack Haijes)

It's already half-time for the school-leaving exam. The first written subjects have been completed. Mathematics was once again particularly challenging for many students this year. But the Matura has lost the horror of previous years - at least that's what student representatives say.

Most of them are now halfway through the written Matura in German, mathematics and English. French follows today - for those who pass it - and Latin and Greek on Thursday.

Math was more difficult
Mathematics still seems to be the Herculean task for most: "Many perceived it to be somewhat more difficult than in previous years," says Fabian Ecker, Upper Austrian regional chairman of the Union of Secondary School Students. German and English, on the other hand, remained relatively stable: In the AHS English Matura, some had found the text types slightly more difficult this year. State school spokesperson Xaver Eicher agrees: "On the whole, however, everything was within reason."

30 percent are necessary
However, the Matura is no longer the great spectre. The reason for this is the 50-50-30 rule. This states that the annual report mark and the examination mark each count for 50 percent of the result, with the examination mark "winning" in cases of doubt. However, this only applies if at least 30 percent of the points are achieved in the Matura. "We have been calling for this measure for a long time and it took a pandemic for it to be implemented," says Ecker. "But now the students can benefit from it."

Orally in June
According to the Directorate of Education, no feedback or complaints have been received to date. As things stand, it can therefore be assumed that everything has gone according to plan. The foreign language exams will be followed by the oral exams in June.