Portugal's national exam scores drop amid grading disputes

Average marks in the Portuguese language component of Portugal's national 12th‑grade exams fell from 12.6 to 11.4 points, with the share of failing grades rising to nearly 30%, up from about 20% the previous year. Portuguese Literature also saw its average decline, becoming the only subject with a negative mean score.

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre said that, of roughly 290,000 tests administered, 825 exams show irregularities that still need correction. He also reported that 170 papers remain without a final grade and that 15,000 requests for re‑assessment have been submitted, a sharp increase from prior years. The ministry is rolling out a new digital correction system intended to provide a more objective and fair grading process, though confidence in the procedure remains low among stakeholders.