A-levels: the Italian written exam is on Thursday – candidates will choose from seven set questions

The exam, which from this year onwards is once again known as the ‘maturità’, will begin on 18 June at 8.30 am with the first written paper, which is the Italian exam. It is a national exam, meaning it is set by the Ministry of Education and Merit and is therefore identical for all streams of study.

The Italian language examination is designed to assess candidates’ command of the Italian language, as well as their expressive abilities, logical-linguistic and critical skills, and lasts a total of six hours (from the start of the exam – when the electronic envelope is opened and the questions are read out to the students – until the written paper is handed in).

Candidates may choose from different types of texts in the fields of art, literature, philosophy, science, history, social sciences, economics and technology. The Ministry provides seven set questions, grouped into three categories: A ‘analysis and interpretation of an Italian literary text’, B ‘analysis and composition of an argumentative text’ and C ‘critical reflection of an expository and argumentative nature on current affairs’.

Type A involves a poem or a piece of prose by an author from the unification of Italia to the present day and, as we explain in the following pages, requires the ability to comprehend a formalised and nuanced language such as that found in literature. Type B also calls upon the ability to understand another person’s text thoroughly; in this case, however, students are presented with three expository and argumentative passages (from various fields). Type C, which comprises two questions, requires a critical reflection of an expository and argumentative nature on current affairs, typically relating to the students’ own lived experiences.

Our advice is to read all the texts provided (and the accompanying instructions) thoroughly and carefully so that you can choose the right type of task and the appropriate question to answer. The exam may be divided into several sections. This allows for the assessment of various skills, such as an understanding of linguistic, expressive and logical-argumentative aspects, as well as the candidate’s critical thinking.