1. MATURA Source: http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/601.HTM

2. The Matura is A NATIONAL EXAM, A SCHOOL-LEAVING EXAM, A TEST OF CANDIDATES’ ABILITIES FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES.

3. UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SLOVENIA Vocational and technical education VOCATIONAL MATURA or FINALS General secondary programmes (gimnazija) GENERAL GENERAL MATURA PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED GENERAL MATURA

4. VOCATIONAL MATURA GENERAL MATURA Consists of 4 subjects Enables candidates to enrol only in vocational colleges and colleges but not university courses Consists of 5 subjects Enables candidates to enrol in all programmes of tertiary education, i. e. vocational colleges, colleges and university courses

5. COMPULSORY PART VOCATIONAL MATURA GENERAL MATURA The candidate’s mother tongue A basic subject of specialisation Slovene Mathematics A modern foreign language (English, French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish)

6. OPTIONAL PART VOCATIONAL MATURA GENERAL MATURA Mathematics OR a modern foreign language (English, German, Italian) Different forms of practical work in their chosen profession (product, service, coursework, project, …) Students choose two of the subjects from the list.

7. Ancient Greek Art History Biology Biotechnology Chemistry Computer Science Contemporary Dance Economics Electrical Engineering Engineering Mechanics English French Geography German, History Hungarian Information Technology Italian Latin Materials Music Philosophy Physics Psychology Russian Sociology Slovene Spanish Theory and History of Drama and the Theatre Theory of Art.

8. In the optional part it is possible to take only one subject from any of the groups of subjects below: Any modern foreign language, a second language, Ancient Greek, Latin Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology Art History, History Contemporary Dance, Music, Theory and History of Drama and Theatre Biotechnology, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Information Technology, Materials.

9. Some subjects can be taken at Basic and Higher Level: Ancient Greek English French German Italian Latin Mathematics Russian Spanish Each candidate can take no more than two subjects at Higher Level.

10. The Matura is administered by the following bodies: NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS CENTRE (CENTRE) NATIONAL COMITTEE FOR THE MATURA (NCM) SUBJECT TESTING COMITTEES FOR THE MATURA (STCM) SCHOOL COMITTEES FOR THE MATURA (SCM) SCHOOL EXAMINATION BOARDS FOR THE MATURA(SEBM)

11. NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS CENTRE (CENTRE)  Performs technical, research, organisational and other activities  Appoints chief examiners and external markers  Nominates the chairperson and members of Subject Testing Comittees for the Matura to the National Comittee for the Matura

12. NATIONAL COMITTEE FOR THE MATURA (NCM) In charge of preparing and administering the Matura

13. SUBJECT TESTING COMITTEES FOR THE MATURA (STCM) appointed for individual Matura subjects discuss topical issues prepare examination materials prepare subject syllabi for the Matura

14. SCHOOL COMITTEES FOR THE MATURA (SCM) In charge of preparing and administering the Matura exams in schools

15. SCHOOL EXAMINATION BOARDS FOR THE MATURA (SEBM) Carry out oral exams in individual subjects

16. MATURA SYLLABUS The objectives of the Matura Information about the number of subjects taken (compulsory and optional part) Information about the manner and form of assessment

17. The Matura is held in two sessions: the Spring one (May-June) the Autumn one (August-September) In March students from year 4 sit for a trial exam.

18. Information about candidates sitting the Matura for the first time in Spring and Autumn Session in 2011 ParticipatedNegativePositive Percentage of positives 20102009 Spring 7,1385476,59192.3 %91.4 %92.2 % Autumn 60435021134.9 %48.3 %38.6 % Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki/

19. ASSESSMENT EXTERNAL  Written part of each exam INTERNAL  Oral exams (languages, Mathematics)  Laboratory work (Chemistry, Biology, Physics)  Research work (Psychology)

20. Achievement in the Matura is expressed by the classic five-grade scale: 1 – Insufficient 2 – Sufficient 3 – Good 4 – Very Good 5 – Excellent

21. CONVERSION OF POINTS INTO GRADES Mathematics, Basic Level 2345 2012 46607386 2011 41557085 2010 40557085 2009 43587387 Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki/

22. If a candidate chooses some subjects at Higher Level he or she can get some additional points: Source: http://www.ric.si/general_matura/assessment/

23. GENERAL ACHIEVEMENT Candidates pass the Matura if they get a positive grade in all Matura exams. Candidates pass the matura with outstanding achievement, SUMMA CUM LAUDE, if they reach at least 30 points. They are called GOLDEN MATURA CANDIDATES.

24. LAST YEAR’S GOLDEN MATURA CANDIDATES Source: http://www2.gov.si/up-rs/uprs.nsf/dokumentiweb/781329EABBE42D81C12579180031271B?OpenDocument

25. Last year (2011) 364 students were Golden Matura Candidates and 17 of them reached all possible (i. e. 34) points. This year (2012) in Spring Session 378 students were Golden Matura Candidates and 31 of them reached 34 points.

26. General Achievement 2011 / Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

27. Comparison between General Achievement in 2011 and general achievement in 2010 2011 2010 Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

28. General achievement of candidates in the Matura with regard to gender Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

29. RESITTING OF EXAMS AND IMPROVING GRADES Candidates who pass the Matura but wish to improve their grade in one or more subjects are entitled to a single resitting of the exam up to two years after their first sitting of the Matura. They can change their level of achievement. The better of the two grades is awarded.

30. RESITTING OF EXAMS AND IMPROVING GRADES Candidates with at least three positive grades are entitled to resit only negative exams up to two years after their first sitting of the Matura. They can change their level of achievement.

31. CANDIDATES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS The way of sitting and assessing the Matura can be adjusted:  Sitting the Matura in two parts in two consecutive sessions  Longer time for the exam or more breaks  Special form of examination materials (Braille, larger letters,)  Adjusted oral exam or exam of listening (excused, lips reading, …)

32.  Special classroom  Special working space (additional light, higher table, …)  Special tools (computer, Braille typewriter, special pens, …)  Exam with help (reader, writer, help for sight-disabled)  Adjusted assessment (mistakes that come as a consequence of candidate‘s disorder are not taken into account)

33. Percentage of individual adjustments in Spring Session 2011 Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

34. The Matura exam in Mathematics Consists of the WRITTEN and ORAL part. Can be taken at BASIC or HIGHER LEVEL.

35. Mathematics Matura Syllabus Mathematics Matura Syllabus Objectives Structure of the exam Topics, that students have to be familiar with Types of problems and assessment  examples of problems for the written and oral part for Basic and Higher Level together with marking schemes  all questions for the oral part of the exam

36. Structure of the exam BASIC LEVEL WRITTEN PART  One test containing 12 short problems  120 minutes  Contributes 80% to the final grade  Assessed externally ORAL PART  Three short questions  Up to 20 minutes with 15 minutes to prepare for the exam  Contributes 20% to the final grade  Assessed internally

37. Structure of the exam HIGHER LEVEL WRITTEN PART  Two tests:  The first test is the same as for the Basic Level, but the candidates have only 90 minutes to solve it.  Contributes 53.33% to the final grade  The second test contains four problems, the candidate has to solve three of them.  90 minutes  Contributes 26.67% to the final grade.  Assessed externally

38. Structure of the exam HIGHER LEVEL ORAL PART  Three short questions, where 1 or 2 of them can be at the Higher LevelHigher Level  Up to 20 minutes with 15 minutes to prepare for the exam  Contributes 20% to the final grade  Assessed internally

39. Comparison of the results in 2011 to the results in 2010 and 2009 in Mathematics Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

40. Conversion of points into grades BASIC LEVEL 2345 2012 46607386 2011 41557085 2010 40557085 Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

41. Distribution of candidates with regard to percentage points – BASIC LEVEL Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

42. Conversion of points into grades HIGHER LEVEL 2345678 2012 46606673798692 2011 41556270778591 2010 40556370778390 Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

43. Distribution of candidates with regard to percentage points – HIGHER LEVEL Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

44. Distribution of candidates with regard to their achievement in the external and internal part of the exam – BASIC LEVEL Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

45. Distribution of candidates with regard to their achievement in the external and internal part of the exam – HIGHER LEVEL Source: http://www.ric.si/splosna_matura/statisticni_podatki

46. SOURCES Educational system in Slovenia. 2012. [internet]. [cited 20. 8. 2012]. Available on: http://www.ukom.gov.si/en/media_relations/backgro und_information/education/educational_system_in _slovenia/ http://www.ukom.gov.si/en/media_relations/backgro und_information/education/educational_system_in _slovenia/ Predsednik republike sprejel najboljše zlate maturante. 2011. [internet]. [cited 20.8. 2012]. Available on: http://www2.gov.si/up- rs/uprs.nsf/dokumentiweb/781329EABBE42D81C12 579180031271B?OpenDocument http://www2.gov.si/up- rs/uprs.nsf/dokumentiweb/781329EABBE42D81C12 579180031271B?OpenDocument RIC, Državni izpitni center. 2006. [internet]. [cited 20. 8. 2012]. Available on: http://www.ric.si/?lng=enghttp://www.ric.si/?lng=eng

47. Textbook Study Method Inventory.[internet]. [cited 20.8. 2012]. Available on: http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/601. HTM AUTHOR: URŠKA RIHTARŠIČ, GIMNAZIJA BEŽIGRAD 23th August 2012