Pupil/students assessment

Under the Act on Public Education (2011. évi CXC. Törvény a Nemzeti Köznevelésről), teachers must regularly assess students' performance and progress throughout the school year using marks. At mid-term and at the end of the school year, students must be given a final grade.

Grades are given on a five-point scale, with the following designations: excellent (5), good (4), satisfactory (3), pass (2) and fail (1). Behaviour and diligence are evaluated on a four-grade scale: exemplary (5), good (4), varying (3) and poor (2).  

In case of formative assessment, in addition to giving grades, some schools also provide percentage and a written description of student performance. The most common tools for formative assessment are oral exams, short (five- to 20-minute) tests and written homework assignments. Tools commonly used for summative assessment include end-of-unit tests and mandatory mid-term and end-of-year grades for each subject. These are often based on a summary of mid-year formative and summative assessments. Less common summative assessment tools include written assignments or presentations based on independent observations, experiments and data collection; reports covering several lessons; and, less frequently, annual or more frequent internal exams.

Teachers aim to assess each student in each subject at least once a month. They inform parents of this via an electronic system that is also used to record grades.

Electronic register and report card: The school administration in Hungary is gradually shifting towards digital platforms. Teachers now record grades and absences electronically. Parents and students can immediately view these in the electronic report card, which is also available as a mobile app.

National Assessment of Basic Competences: The first National Assessment of Basic Competences was carried out in 2001 with the primary aim of assessing the effectiveness of schools, but the assessment system has evolved in such a way that it is now able to provide information on the pupil’s individual progress to the students themselves, parents and teachers.

Until 2021 the assessment measured the reading comprehension (mother tongue) and mathematical competences of students in three grades (6, 8 and 10). In 2022, the system has moved to a digital platform, also the assessment was extended to all grades from 4 to 11.From that year onwards, the system was expanded to include assessments of foreign and target language skills, as well as natural science competencies. From 2024, assessments are also being carried out in two additional areas: history and digital culture. In addition to the national reports, the Educational Authority also publishes reports of the results of the competency assessment at site and school level. (Reports between 2008-2021: Az országos mérések eredményei (2008-2021-es FIT jelentések); from 2021: Az országos mérések eredményei).

Progression of pupils/students

The general rules applying to the progress of students are determined in the Act on Public Education (2011. évi CXC. Törvény a Nemzeti Köznevelésről). Students' work is assessed at the end of each term and year based on their performance and mid-term grades. They receive a separate grade for each subject. While mid-term grades are informative, the end-of-year grade is a prerequisite for advancement. Grades cannot be used as a disciplinary tool; they must reflect students' actual knowledge and performance. Academic performance is measured on a five-point scale, while behaviour and diligence are measured on a four-point scale. End-of-year grades are approved by the teaching staff based on the recommendation of the subject teacher. Students and parents are notified of results at the end of the term via the electronic report card and register, and at the end of the year via the end-of-year report card.

To advance to the next grade, students must receive a passing grade in all subjects. If a student receives a failing grade (1) in no more than three subjects, they may take a retake exam. Students can take the retake exam at their school or before an independent examination board. The latter must be requested at the school, and the government office is responsible for organising it. 

Students who receive more than three unsatisfactory grades (1) are required to repeat the year. Repeating the year is also necessary if a student has missed too many classes so they cannot take the grading exam.

The school's teaching staff decide whether students progress to a higher grade, take classification exams or repeat a year. Parents may seek legal remedy if they consider the assessment or grading to be unfair. If a parent requests legal remedy against their child's assessment, the student may, upon request and in accordance with the procedure laid down by law, be assessed by an independent examination board organised by the government office (Ministry Decree 20/2012. (VIII. 31.) on the Operation of the Educational Institutions and on the Use of Names of the Public Education Institutions (20/2012. (VIII. 31.) EMMI rendelet a nevelési-oktatási intézmények működéséről és a köznevelési intézmények névhasználatáról). 

A student cannot be denied the right to repeat a school year until the end of compulsory education. As long as the student is of compulsory school age, their status as a student cannot be terminated. If a student repeats the same grade for a second or subsequent time, the school must provide them with individual tutoring to help them catch up.

Upper secondary school-leaving examination: The successful completion of upper secondary general school studies provides the student with a secondary-level qualification. However, students may proceed to higher education only if they pass the upper secondary school-leaving examination, which follows secondary-level education itself. The precondition of participating in the upper secondary school leaving exam is obtaining the final report of secondary education, that is, acquiring at least a pass grade from all subjects. Besides, this final report has to contain a statement that the student had successfully completed a 50-hour community service. At the end of grade 10 or 11, it is possible to take an 'early upper secondary school leaving examination' from certain subjects.

The upper secondary school-leaving examination is a state examination which is organised in accordance with standardised requirements across all upper secondary schools. As a final examination, it tests general knowledge. It can be taken at intermediate and advanced levels. Passing the intermediate level is sufficient for the issuance of a secondary school leaving certificate. There are five compulsory subjects: Hungarian language and literature, history, mathematics, a foreign language and a subject chosen by the student. The exams consist of written, oral and, in some cases, practical parts, and are conducted in Hungarian or minority languages before a committee. Students have the right to view their corrected written assignments before the oral examination.

Changing schools: It is relatively easy to transfer between upper secondary general schools, often due to relocation or personal circumstances. Students are also entitled to change programmes without repeating a year, provided that there are no significant differences in content between the two programmes. This decision is made by the principal of the receiving school, who will also determine if the transferred student needs to take a differential exam in order to continue without repeating a year. 

Students with learning difficulties or disabilities (e.g. dyslexia or dyscalculia) may be exempt from the minimum requirements for certain subjects with parental approval and following an expert examination. This is becoming more and more common. It does not prevent the student from continuing their studies.

With special permission from the principal, exceptionally talented students may complete several grades in a single school year. In this case, they must demonstrate their knowledge in a grading exam at the end of the year.

Certification

At the end of each school year, students receive a year-end school report (certificate) confirming their completion of the grade. Grades are based on marks received during the year and continuous assessment, so students usually do not have to take a separate exam to obtain their certificate. The only exceptions are students studying under an individual work schedule, students who have received a failing grade (1) and students who have missed more than 30% of classes per subject, who must take a remedial exam.

The year-end school report is a certified public document and its contents must be accepted until proven otherwise; the school cannot refuse to issue it for any reason. It is issued in Hungarian, or in two languages if the school also provides instruction in another language. The document contains the student's personal data, grades in numbers and letters, and the school's seal, date and signatures of the principal and homeroom teacher.

The secondary school leaving certificate is also a public document. Its production and distribution are subject to the approval of the minister responsible for education. Upon successful completion of the exams, the examination board issues the certificate in Hungarian. If the school education was conducted in another language, the certificate is issued in two languages. As well as the examinee's personal data, it contains the names and levels of the subjects, the language of the exam and the results achieved in the form of a grade, as well as in percentage and text form. Regardless of their specific results, students with a secondary school leaving certificate can continue their studies in higher education, apply for vocational training or start working. Provided they meet the additional admission requirements, the secondary school leaving certificate entitles students to continue their studies in any higher education programme.