Finland’s matriculation exams to include arts and physical skills for first time in 2029

Practical tests in visual arts, music, and physical education will become part of Finland’s national matriculation exams starting in autumn 2029, marking a major shift in how creative and skill-based subjects are assessed, reports Yle.

The new exams will consist of two parts: a written component and a pre-prepared practical demonstration. Students at Kaarina Upper Secondary School recently piloted the visual arts test, with second-year student Louna Virkki creating a clay memorial to childhood as her exam piece. “I chose clay because it felt easier than painting or drawing,” Virkki said. “The hardest part was getting started—making sure the work had a real idea behind it.”

The reform aims to elevate the status of arts and physical education, allowing universities to consider these grades in admissions. “These subjects are already part of general upper secondary education, but until now, the matriculation exams haven’t measured the skills students gain in them,” said Thomas Vikberg, a specialist at the Matriculation Examination Board (YTL).

Each subject’s practical test will differ: visual arts may involve creating a public artwork, music could require a recorded performance, and physical education might be assessed via video. The board is still refining how to evaluate artistic and technical proficiency, with Vikberg emphasizing that exams will test school curriculum skills—not mastery of a specific sport or instrument.

Heidi Ström, a visual arts teacher at Kaarina Upper Secondary School, called the pilot a success and said the change could reshape teaching. “For students more interested in arts, we can now offer deeper, more independent learning opportunities,” she noted.

Virkki, who will graduate before the reform takes effect, advised future students to approach the tests with confidence. “Don’t stress too much—trust your creativity.”