Latin in classical high schools and mathematics in scientific high schools. Next comes humanities in the humanities major, business economics for technical institutes specializing in economics (Administration, Finance, and Marketing), tourism and business disciplines for tourism, and design, construction, and facilities for the "Construction, Environment, and Territory" major. These are just some of the subjects facing Italian high school graduates today as they take the second written exam of the state exam . After the Italian essay, filed away yesterday amidst anxiety, hope, and initial impressions (often positive), comes the exam considered by many to be the most difficult: the one related to the subject that defines their course of study.

The bell will ring at 8:30 a.m. across Italy. Dictionaries and pencil cases in hand, thousands of students will return to their desks for a morning that represents a significant portion of their exam time and puts years of study, preparation, and sacrifice to the test. Unlike the first exam, which is the same for everyone and lasts six hours, the second exam varies depending on the major. For example, it ranges from four hours for classical high schools to six for scientific high schools, up to eighteen hours spread over three days for art high schools .

This year, 527,607 students are taking the exams—513,479 internal candidates and 14,128 external—while the examination boards number 13,989, representing a total of 27,884 classes. 273,854 students come from high schools; 167,136 from technical institutes; and 86,617 from vocational schools. After the written exams, the oral exams begin, but they cannot begin until two days after the written exams, so they will begin next week. Schools will decide the schedule independently, and the letter with which the examination boards will begin their examinations has already been drawn.

to question.

The 2026 final exam is the first following the changes introduced by Legislative Decree 127 of 2025. The main changes concern the oral exam, which has been redefined around four subjects. Among the new rules is one that provides for disqualification in the event of a silent exam . As for the written exams, however, the structure remains unchanged, as does the weighting of school credits earned over the three years, which continue to play a major role in the final grade, expressed out of 100. After months of revision, simulations, and the inevitable recourse to random questions, for thousands of boys and girls, one of the most important moments of their school career has finally arrived.

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