Romanian high-school graduates begin 2026 Baccalaureate with compulsory language exam

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Over 130,000 Romanian high-school graduates sat for the first written exam of the 2026 Baccalaureate today, Monday 29 June, as the national testing window opened with the compulsory Romanian-language paper. Candidates across the country had three hours to respond to prompts on literature and Romanian language, marking the official start of the summer session that runs until early July. The exam, which is identical for all streams regardless of academic specialisation, is the only common test for the 130,000-plus students expected to sit the Baccalaureate this year, including repeat candidates from previous cohorts .
Ministry of Education officials confirmed that examination centres opened at 08:00 local time, with invigilators distributing sealed test booklets and answer sheets. Students in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara were among the first to begin writing, while coastal and rural centres followed the same schedule. The Romanian-language paper traditionally combines a text comprehension exercise, an essay on a set theme, and a choice of literary commentary or argumentative essay. Last year’s prompts included an excerpt from Mihail Sadoveanu’s *Neamul Șoimăreștilor* and a question on the role of memory in contemporary literature .
Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu urged calm in a brief televised statement, reminding candidates that the exam assesses knowledge already acquired and that centres were equipped with sanitary protocols. “The Romanian-language test is designed to be accessible to all profiles,” he said. “Focus on clarity, structure and correct Romanian usage.” The next paper, the compulsory profile-specific exam, is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 30 June .
Across the border, Romanian-language media highlighted the symbolic coincidence: 29 June is also the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in the Orthodox calendar, a day traditionally marked by church services and family gatherings. In Bucharest, the Patriarchate issued a statement wishing students “light and wisdom” as they embarked on their national examination .
Results for the Romanian-language paper are expected by Friday 4 July, with the overall Baccalaureate pass rate traditionally announced in mid-July.
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