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2026 A-levels: exams begin on 18 June – over 527,000 students to sit the state exams

According to figures released by the Department for Education, there are 527,607 candidates sitting the 2026 Maturità exams. The first written exam is on 18 June at 8.30 am, the second on 19 June. Among the new features: a compulsory oral exam, the student’s curriculum, and greater emphasis on work experience, civic education and digital skills.

by Rome Editorial Staff

14 June 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The final days of revision for sixth-formers. The 2026 state exams will begin on 18 June at 8.30 am with the first written Italian exam, which is the same for all streams. This year, 527,607 students will be taking part: 513,479 internal candidates and 14,128 external candidates. There will be 13,989 examination boards, covering a total of 27,884 classes. The largest cohort comes from sixth-form colleges, with 273,854 students. These are followed by technical colleges, with 167,136 candidates, and vocational colleges, with 86,617.

First and second exams: dates, topics and timings

The first written paper of the 2026 Maturità will consist of seven questions. Each student must choose one and will have six hours to complete the paper. Students will not be allowed to leave the school until three hours have elapsed from the start of the exam.

The following day, 19 June, will see the second written exam. In this case, the exam varies depending on the course of study: each course will have an exam based on its core subjects.

The new school-leaving exam aims to assess not only the specific knowledge, skills and competences of each course of study, but also the level of personal maturity, independence and responsibility achieved by students. The assessment framework includes the commitment demonstrated throughout their school career, participation in school-work training activities, the development of digital skills, civic education and other experiences consistent with their course of study.

Work-based learning thus takes on a more prominent role, as it provides evidence of experiences relevant to the student’s educational profile. The student’s curriculum also becomes a key tool: it will serve to highlight their personal journey during the oral interview and give the exam a guidance function, both for further study and for entering the world of work.

Compulsory oral exam: what’s changing in the interview

The most significant change concerns the oral exam. The interview cannot begin until two days after the written exams have finished and will last between 40 and 60 minutes. But the most decisive change is another: from this year onwards, active participation in the oral exam becomes compulsory. It will no longer be enough to have already accumulated, through credits, a sufficient score to pass the exam. Failure to attend the interview, except in obvious cases of confusion or a mental blank, will result in failure.

The way the interview begins is also changing. The surprise ‘prompt’ previously set by the examiners has been scrapped. Instead, the candidate will begin with a personal reflection on their academic journey, which may be supported and enriched by details from the student’s curriculum vitae.

Following this introduction, the interview will get underway with four set subjects, which vary according to each course of study and are specified by the Department for Education at the end of January. In the next stage, the student will present their experiences gained through school-work training programmes. This will be followed by a discussion on civic education, covering the Constitution, citizens’ rights and environmental sustainability.

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