Finnish high school student sets national record with 14 top grades in final exams

A student from Ressu Upper Secondary School in Helsinki has reportedly broken Finland’s record for the highest number of top grades in the national matriculation exams, public broadcaster Yle reports, citing the Matriculation Examination Board.

The student achieved 14 laudatur grades—the highest possible—and two eximia grades in this spring’s exams. The previous national record, set in 2016 by a student from Mikkeli, was 12 laudatur grades.

Finland’s matriculation exams, known as ylioppilaskirjoitukset, are national standardized tests taken at the end of upper secondary school. A laudatur (L) is the highest grade, equivalent to summa cum laude, while eximia cum laude approbatur (E) is the second-highest.

This year’s second-highest achiever, a student from Oulu Lyceum Upper Secondary School, earned 10 laudatur and two eximia grades. The third was a student from Lohja Joint Lyceum Upper Secondary School, with nine laudatur and two eximia grades.