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Italy's 2026 Maturità second written exam features Quintiliano and Lake Bracciano tasks
On 19 June 2026 more than 527 000 Italian students sat the second written exam (seconda prova) of the national high‑school graduation, the Maturità 2026. Each study track received a discipline‑specific paper: the Liceo Classico translated a passage from Quintiliano’s *Institutio Oratoria* on the educational role of music; the Liceo Scientifico solved mathematics problems including a function study and a model of water‑level variations of Lake Bracciano, introduced with an Albert Einstein quote; the Liceo Linguistico answered English texts on genetically modified organisms and an excerpt from Zadie Smith’s *On Beauty*; Licei delle Scienze Umane tackled identity and digital technology; technical institutes faced applied economics, engineering and ICT topics.
The exam lasted between four and six hours for most tracks, up to 18 hours over three days for artistic programmes, and was monitored by 13 996 commission panels. The Ministry also announced a reformed oral phase: every candidate must now attend a four‑subject interview, with mandatory presence or the year is repeated.
Student reactions were mixed. Many described the second paper as demanding but manageable, noting the novelty of Quintiliano after a 13‑year gap and the real‑world relevance of the lake‑level problem. Some expressed anxiety over difficulty, while others praised the interdisciplinary design. The first‑paper poetry choice (Cesare Pavese) was among the least selected, highlighting a shift toward more contemporary or analytical topics.