érettség

Érettségi, or érettségi vizsga, is the Hungarian state leaving examination taken at the end of secondary education. It functions as the certificate of completion of secondary school and as a primary route to higher education. The examination is standardized and administered by the state education system, and its results are used for university admissions in Hungary.

The exam typically includes both written and oral components and covers core subjects as well as electives. Students usually must take Hungarian language and literature, and a foreign language, with additional subjects chosen from a listed set (such as mathematics, history, or sciences). Many subjects are offered at two levels: középszint (standard level) and emelt szint (advanced level). The assessment combines written tests—spanning the compulsory subjects and chosen electives—with oral examinations and, in some subjects, practical tasks or project work.

Upon successful completion, students receive the érettségi bizonyítvány (the érettségi certificate), which certifies that the holder has met the requirements to finish secondary education and is eligible to apply to higher education. In university admissions, the results from érettségi are often used to determine admission chances, sometimes in combination with additional entrance requirements or points systems.

History and context: the érettségi evolved during Hungary’s late-20th-century educational reforms to create a standardized, nationally recognized credential aligned with European higher education practices. It is widely regarded as the Hungarian counterpart to the “matura” or high school leaving examinations found in other Central and Eastern European countries.