Italy launches Maturità exams for 527,000 students

Today the Italian state began the 2026 Maturità exams, with more than 527,000 secondary‑school students taking the first written test in Italian. The new format, introduced this year, evaluates not only subject knowledge but also the specific skills and competencies of each study track, aiming to assess students' critical thinking and autonomy.

Educational advisers note that the exams increasingly require candidates to connect their answers to current events. Topics such as environmental issues, digital technology, labour market changes and social equality are expected to feature in essay prompts, encouraging students to demonstrate how they can apply historical and literary knowledge to contemporary debates.

The exams are a pivotal moment in Italy’s education system, marking the transition from secondary schooling to higher education or the labour market for a large cohort of young people.