Italy's middle and first‑year secondary school exams see 99%+ pass rates

Around 500,000 Italian students sitting the terza media (middle‑school) exams this June are expected to see an almost universal pass rate, with only 0.1% projected to fail. The exams consist of written tests in Italian, mathematics and a foreign language, plus an oral presentation of a student‑prepared thesis, and 99.9% of candidates normally pass after admission is granted.

In the northern province of Brescia, first‑year secondary‑school classes show a more mixed outcome: just over half of students are promoted directly, while roughly one in four must retake exams in September. Technical‑school tracks record the lowest promotion rates, with about one‑quarter of students not advancing. Despite these challenges, officials note gradual improvement compared with pre‑pandemic years.

Both reports highlight that, while Italian secondary education still presents hurdles at the transition from middle to high school, overall examination results remain broadly positive.