Completing the Matriculation Examination

The Matriculation Examination Board (YTL) is responsible for the implementation of the matriculation examination. Detailed schedules, exam dates and regulations can be found on the YTL website. The exam tasks are based on the mandatory and nationally advanced courses of the subjects. Some of the exam tasks in general subjects cross subject boundaries. Only students who have completed all the mandatory courses of the examination subjects and received grades for them before the exam are allowed to participate in the written exams of the matriculation examination.

The matriculation examination is held twice a year, in autumn and spring. The candidate can spread the examination over a maximum of three consecutive sessions, for example, in the autumn of the 3rd year, the spring of the 3rd year, and the autumn of the 4th year. Registration for the spring examination takes place in November and for the autumn examination in May. Examination fees are invoiced after registration. Check the exam fees from YTL website. For compulsory education students, taking five matriculation exams is free of charge.

A failed exam can be retaken three times during the next three examination sessions. A passed exam can be retaken as many times as desired.

If the candidate has dyslexia, a hearing impairment, or another reason that affects participation in the exams, a report must be obtained, and the appropriate certificates must be submitted to the school office when registering for the examination. The special needs teacher at the upper secondary school assists in preparing the reports.

The matriculation examination is entirely digital. It is taken on the student's own laptop. The laptop is brought to the exam room on the morning of the exam. Practical instructions for exam days are given to students in the matriculation candidate information sessions before each autumn and spring examination session. The latest information material is at the top of this page.

Structure of the Matriculation Examination

The Matriculation Examination consists of a minimum of five tests. All candidates must take the Mother Tongue and Literature (or Finnish as a second language and literature, S2) test as part of the Matriculation Examination. In addition, candidates are required to complete at least four other tests from the following subject groups, based on their preferences:

• Mathematics
• Second National Language
• Foreign Language
• Humanities and Natural Sciences

At least one of the tests must be of advanced level. Advanced level tests can be taken in second national language, foreign language or mathematics.

The English-language matriculation examination can be taken under specific conditions at general upper secondary schools authorised to provide education in English. The English-language matriculation examination tests will be conducted as translated tests, meaning they will have the same content as the tests in Finnish and Swedish. Those taking the matriculation examination in English will be required to complete the test in Finnish or Swedish as a second language and literature, as the test in mother tongue and literature. 

The first matriculation examination tests in the arts and practical subjects are planned to take place in autumn 2029. As a result of the reform, the upper secondary school diplomas in visual arts, music, and physical education will be removed from the diploma selection for students who begin their upper secondary school studies on 1 August 2027 or later.

Of the five exams required for the matriculation examination, at most one may be an exam in arts or practical subjects. However, candidates may choose to complete additional arts and practical subject exams. If a candidate intends to complete several arts and practical subject examinations, they must be taken during separate examination sessions (for example, one in the autumn and another in the spring).