2 days · 2 summary articles
Greek and Italian students face tougher exams as university cut-offs loom
Stricter French baccalaureate marking sparks debate over student engagement
The 2026 Greek and Italian national exams have entered a critical phase this weekend, with students in both countries reporting heightened difficulty in core subjects as the results loom large over university admissions.
In Greece, the *Panelladikes* exams have intensified competition for top university places, with mathematics and history emerging as the decisive subjects this year. According to *ProtoThema*, the difficulty level has risen compared to previous years, particularly in these two disciplines, which are now expected to determine the cut-off scores for competitive faculties such as medicine, engineering, and law . The exams, which began earlier this month, are now approaching their final stages, with results due in late July. Meanwhile, Greek students abroad will sit their exams later than their domestic counterparts, with the examination period for the diaspora scheduled from 8 to 21 September .
Across the Adriatic, Italian students are also grappling with the first phase of the *Maturità*, the renamed national final exam, which this year places greater emphasis on critical thinking and personalised responses. *Il Fatto Quotidiano* reports that the exam’s first paper, traditionally a written essay, now offers three distinct options: literary analysis, argumentative writing, and current affairs analysis . Education experts have advised students to focus on clarity, critical engagement, and precise punctuation, warning that superficial responses will be penalised. The exam’s structure remains unchanged from previous years, but the bar for top marks has been raised, reflecting a broader shift in Italy’s secondary education towards competency-based assessment.
In Ireland, the *Leaving Certificate* has also seen its share of challenges, with students describing history and mathematics as unexpectedly demanding in the first week of exams. The *Irish Times* quotes several candidates who admitted to struggling with the pace and complexity of the papers, though many expressed relief at avoiding tears so far . The exams, which run until late June, will determine university entry for the 2026 cohort, with results expected in early August.
While the exams in each country follow distinct formats, the shared experience of heightened difficulty underscores the growing pressure on students navigating increasingly competitive education systems. For Greek and Italian students, the stakes are particularly high, as the results will determine access to an already saturated higher education market. With no immediate respite in sight, the coming weeks will test not only academic knowledge but also resilience.