Rome – For hundreds of thousands of young Italians, this Friday marks the most nerve-wracking moment of the 2026 Maturità. Following the nationwide standardized essay that kicked off the exams, the second written exam is now underway—the subject that defines each type of school and determines the profile of the diploma. More than 527,000 test-takers have been working on their exams since this morning.
At the classical high school—the Liceo classico, which focuses on classical languages—candidates must complete a Latin translation. At the science-oriented Liceo scientifico, however, they face a challenging math problem instead. The exam began at 8:30 a.m.; depending on the type of school, students have six to eight hours to complete it, and in certain tracks, such as the arts-focused high school, it even extends over several days.
The second exam of the 2026 Maturità will determine the student's track
The Maturità, Italy’s equivalent of the Abitur, is considered a rite of passage into adulthood and is followed with great interest throughout the country. The second written exam accounts for twenty points toward the final grade and is thus one of the most important hurdles on the path to graduation. Students are allowed to use a dictionary for the Latin exam and a scientific or graphing calculator for the math problem—but without any programming or connectivity features.
The written portion is followed in July by the oral exam, during which students demonstrate their knowledge across various subjects. Educators and public figures traditionally support the students during the exam days with advice and encouragement; time and again, they emphasize that hard work and perseverance are ultimately the students’ best allies. For the class of 2026, however, the most important thing right now is to keep a cool head in the coming hours.
