Assessment in General Upper Secondary Education

Student assessment in general upper secondary education in North Macedonia includes continuous assessment during the school year and a final national examination at the end of the programme.

During the school year, students are assessed by teachers through written and oral examinations, tests and other forms of evaluation. Assessment is based on national curricula and defined learning outcomes.

At the end of general upper secondary education, students take the State Matura (Državna matura), which is the main national examination. It includes both external and internal components. External examinations are standardised and organised at national level, while internal assessment is carried out by schools.

The State Matura (Državna matura) provides full access to higher education and ensures comparability of student achievement at national level.

Recent developments have focused on strengthening the quality and transparency of assessment, in line with competence-based approaches.

Sources: Law on Secondary Education; Ministry of Education and Science.

Internal Assessment and Grading Scale

Internal assessment is carried out by subject teachers throughout the school year using various methods such as written and oral examinations, tests, essays, and project presentations. Teachers follow prescribed standards for assessment defined for different levels of attainment (memorizing, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation).

The marks awarded to students are:

• 5 – Excellent (одличен)
• 4 – Very Good (многу добар)
• 3 – Good (добар)
• 2 – Sufficient/Pass (доволен)
• 1 – Insufficient/Fail (недоволен)

Student behavior is also assessed as: exemplary, good, or unsatisfactory.

Progression of Students

Students progress to the next year of education if they achieve passing marks (2 to 5) in all subjects.

• Remedial Exams: Students with one or two failing marks (1) at the end of the school year are entitled to take remedial exams.
• Repeating a Year: Students with three or more failing marks, or those who fail their remedial exams, must repeat the school year.
• Accelerated Progress: Prominent students with exceptional results may be allowed to complete two school years within one calendar year, subject to conditions defined by the Law on Secondary Education.

Certification: State and School Matura

General secondary education lasts four years and concludes with a final national examination:

• State Matura (Državna matura): Managed by the State Examination Centre, this is the main requirement for students intending to enter higher education. It is conducted in the language of instruction (Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, or Serbian).
• School Matura: An alternative for students who do not plan to continue to tertiary education but wish to enter the labor market or complete their secondary qualification.

Upon successful completion of the State Matura, students are awarded a Diploma for completion of secondary education. Those who complete the School Matura receive a Certificate for completion of secondary education.