Education in Romania: school stages, the Bacalaureat and university entry
A guide to schooling in Romania, the National Evaluation, the Bacalaureat exam, driving licensing, and higher education pathways.
In short
Education in Romania is organised by the Ministry of Education, and the national school-leaving qualification is the Bacalaureat. Completing the upper secondary cycle and passing the national examination provides the diploma required by universities. Compulsory schooling begins with the preparatory year around age six and spans primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary education. Students typically complete high school at eighteen or nineteen.
School stages
- Preschool (grădiniță): Early childhood education for ages three to six, concluding with a preparatory group focused on foundational routines.
- Primary school (școala primară): The preparatory class followed by grades one to four. The curriculum introduces Romanian, mathematics, foreign languages, basic science, civic principles, arts, and physical training.
- Lower secondary school (gimnaziu): Grades five to eight. At the close of eighth grade, pupils sit the Evaluarea Națională in Romanian language and mathematics (alongside mother-tongue assessments for minority schools), establishing admissions rankings for upper secondary institutions.
- Upper secondary school (liceu): Grades nine to twelve (or thirteen in evening streams). Students enroll in theoretical streams (mathematics and computer science, natural sciences, philology, social studies), vocational streams (arts, pedagogy, sports, theology), or technological pathways.
The Bacalaureat examination
The Bacalaureat evaluation is administered at the conclusion of twelfth grade across designated examination centres. The assessment comprises both competence evaluations and written subject examinations:
- Competence evaluations: Oral communication in the Romanian language, mother-tongue communication where applicable, modern foreign language evaluation, and digital competencies.
- Written examinations: Romanian language and literature is mandatory across all streams. The second compulsory written paper corresponds to the student profile: mathematics for science and technological specialisations, and Romanian history for humanities and social science tracks. A third written paper is selected from an approved disciplinary menu matching the candidate pathway.
Grading uses a ten-point scale. Candidates must obtain a minimum mark of five on each individual written examination and achieve an overall weighted average of at least six across all written tests to receive the pass diploma. Sessions take place primarily in summer with an autumn re-examination sitting.
Driving qualification: Permis Auto
Acquiring a Category B driving licence in Romania (Permis Auto) involves passing the official computerised theory examination administered by the Directorate General for Driving Licences and Vehicle Registration (DGPCI, formerly DRPCIV). The theory test evaluates candidate knowledge of the national Highway Code (Codul Rutier, governed by Emergency Ordinance OUG 195/2002), road priority hierarchies, traffic signs, road markings, defensive driving principles, first aid fundamentals, and vehicle mechanics.
University and higher education admission
A valid Bacalaureat diploma serves as the fundamental credential for entering Romanian higher education. Romanian universities follow the European Bologna framework across three cycles: the bachelor degree (licență) lasting three to four years, the master programme of one to two years, and doctoral studies. Professional qualifications in human medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and architecture operate as integrated continuous programmes.
Admissions criteria vary across academic faculties. Many faculties select candidates based on their Bacalaureat composite score or high school academic averages. Other programmes, notably faculties of medicine, architecture, and engineering, organise competitive entrance examinations. Academic programmes undergo evaluation and accreditation by the national agency ARACIS.
Practising on GetMyMockTest
Practice materials on GetMyMockTest are independent study aids developed for preparation. They are not official administrative papers. Free study options for Romania include:
- Bacalaureat (bacalaureat-romania): practice questions in mathematics, Romanian language and literature, and the history of Romania, supported by mock tests and flashcard decks.
- Permis Auto B (permis-auto-romania): Category B driving theory practice covering road traffic rules, priority situations, signs, defensive driving, first aid, and vehicle maintenance.
- Romanian general knowledge (gk-ro): review modules addressing national history, geographical features, nature, scientific contributions, and cultural landmarks.
- International qualifications: preparation for international assessments commonly pursued by Romanian candidates, including Cambridge qualifications, the SAT, and the IB Diploma.