suoritusarvojen

Suoritusarvo refers to an individual’s quantified measure of performance or achievement in the context of the Finnish education system. These values are assigned to learning units, tasks or courses and serve as a basis for calculating whether a student has met the compulsory requirements for a given qualification. The term is most commonly applied in primary and secondary school curricula, as well as in vocational education programs.

In primary and lower secondary schools, a 5‑point grading scale is used, while in upper secondary schools a 10‑point scale is available. In addition to the letter grades (A–F), each instructional unit is allocated a specific “suoritusarvo” that indicates the expected depth and breadth of competence. For example, a higher complexity unit may carry a value of 12 points, whereas a simpler unit might count only 4 points. These values are summed across a curriculum and compared with the required threshold for graduation. If a pupil falls short, remedial lessons or repeat units can be suggested to increase the total performance value.

Vocational education follows a similar system. Here, “suoritusarvo” not only measures attendance but also the level of mastery in practical tasks, theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply skills in real‑world scenarios. Training providers must document each unit’s attainment level and attach a corresponding value. The aggregate of all values is used for accreditation and for students’ employment eligibility.

Suoritusarvo systems foster transparency in education by translating varied learning outcomes into comparable numeric units. They allow teachers, schools and students to track progress objectively, support curriculum planning and enable external stakeholders—such as employers and universities—to assess competence levels in a standardized manner.