Record number of students complete Finnish matriculation exams this spring
A record 26,500 students have completed Finland’s national matriculation exams this spring, marking an increase of 1,100 graduates compared to last year, according to figures released by the Finnish Matriculation Examination Board and reported by national broadcaster Yle.
One student achieved the highest possible score of 110 points, while another earned 14 laudatur grades—the top distinction—more than any other graduate this term. Each laudatur contributes seven points toward the final score.
Tiina Tähkä, secretary-general of the Matriculation Examination Board, emphasised that all passing grades reflect significant achievement. “Every completed exam is proof of knowledge. Even an approbatur—the lowest passing grade—is something to be proud of, as it represents a major effort and a step forward in life,” she said.
The board published this spring’s exam results and point thresholds at 9 AM local time. Yle is updating a searchable database of graduates’ names as schools submit their lists, though some students have opted to withhold their names from publication. Additional graduates will be added later as they complete outstanding coursework.
Exam participation hits historic high
A total of 50,400 students sat for the exams this spring—2,000 more than last year and the highest number since the board began tracking participation in 2012. This figure includes students retaking exams to improve grades or complete their qualifications, with roughly 145,000 total registrations across subjects and syllabi.
The steady rise in participants aligns with growing age cohorts, the board noted. Many students this term sought to upgrade existing grades, particularly in biology, chemistry, and English.
The most popular exams were in native language and literature, advanced English, and both short and long mathematics syllabi. Tähkä observed that students often leave the native language exam for last, as “they benefit from the maturity and skills gained over their upper-secondary studies.”
Few cases of misconduct, minor disruptions
Nine students were caught cheating, consistent with the typical rate of about ten cases per exam period. Incidents involved traditional methods, such as hidden notes or unauthorised use of AI via mobile devices.
The board had tightened supervision guidelines ahead of the exams, including a webinar for schools on detecting misconduct, following a high-profile case last autumn where a Tuusula upper-secondary school annulled a student’s exam over suspected AI-assisted cheating. A court later overturned the decision.
Schools were advised to clarify rules to prevent accidental violations. “If reminders and system safeguards are ignored, a misconduct ruling follows,” Tähkä stated.
Unlike last autumn’s serious disruption in the native language reading comprehension exam—which forced its cancellation—this spring’s tests proceeded smoothly. Minor issues, such as power outages or network delays, were resolved with extended time for affected students. The most significant problem occurred in Swedish-language math exams, where a technical error omitted instructions for some tasks; the issue was corrected during the exam, and students received extra time.