Riigieksam

Riigieksam, or state examination, is a historical term in Estonian education that denotes examinations conducted by the state for students completing secondary education and seeking to enter university or to qualify for certain civil service positions. In practice, the riigieksam served as a standardized checkpoint determined and supervised by state authorities, though the exact format and curricula varied across eras and governing powers, including the period when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire and the early Republic. Examinations typically included a mix of written and oral components and covered a broad range of subjects, commonly including languages, literature, mathematics, and natural or social sciences. A passing result produced a graduation certificate or qualification that allowed the holder to pursue higher education or public-sector work, depending on the era's rules.

In modern Estonia, the term riigieksam is primarily historical. The education system has undergone reforms and reorganization, and current school-leaving examinations are described with different terminology and structures in line with European and national reform efforts. The historical riigieksam is frequently referenced in archival sources, legal texts, and discussions of the development of Estonian education, illustrating how centralized state assessment has evolved over time.