Education in Slovakia: school types, the Maturita and university entry

In short

Education in Slovakia is organised nationally, and the Ministry of Education sets the framework for schools, curricula and the school-leaving examination. Children start primary school at about the age of six, and school attendance is compulsory for ten years. After the first nine years in the primary school (základná škola), pupils move to an upper secondary school, usually a grammar school (gymnázium) or a secondary vocational school (stredná odborná škola). Most upper secondary programmes end with the Maturita (maturitná skúška), the school-leaving examination that opens the way to university. This guide describes the stages in order, explains the Maturita in general terms and then shows how to practise on GetMyMockTest.

School stages

1. Pre-school: Children from about the age of three can attend kindergarten (materská škola). The last year before primary school is now part of the compulsory scheme for children of that age.
2. Primary school (základná škola): Nine grades, usually from age six to about fifteen. The first stage covers grades one to four and the second stage grades five to nine. Pupils study Slovak language and literature, mathematics, science, history, geography, a foreign language (usually English), arts and physical education.
3. Upper secondary school: Pupils choose between several routes:
   • Grammar school (gymnázium): A general academic school, usually four years, and some schools offer an eight-year programme that pupils can begin after grade five. It prepares for the Maturita and for university.
   • Secondary vocational school (stredná odborná škola): Four-year programmes in technical, commercial, health, agricultural and other fields, which end with the Maturita and a vocational qualification. Shorter programmes of three years lead to a vocational certificate and often to work.
   • Conservatory (konzervatórium): Schools for music, drama and dance.
4. Higher education: Public, state and private universities and colleges. They follow the Bologna structure, with the bachelor's degree first, followed by the master's degree and the doctoral degree.

The Maturita

The Maturita is taken at the end of the final year of upper secondary school, normally at about the age of eighteen or nineteen. It has two parts. The external part is set nationally and prepared by the National Institute for Certified Educational Measurements (NÚCEM), so that all candidates answer the same tasks in subjects such as Slovak language and literature and a foreign language. The internal part is organised by the school and includes oral examinations and, in some subjects, written papers or practical tasks. Candidates choose some of their subjects, and mathematics is among the subjects that many candidates take at a higher level when they plan to study science, technology, economics or medicine.

Schools use a five-grade scale from výborný (excellent) to nedostatočný (insufficient) for school marks and for the internal part of the examination. The exact list of compulsory subjects, the levels, the timetable and the evaluation rules are decided by the Ministry of Education and can change from year to year, so candidates should always read the instructions published for their own year and ask their school about the details.

A successful Maturita gives a certificate that states the subjects and the results. The certificate is recognised for entry to higher education in Slovakia and in many other countries.

University entry

Students apply to each university or faculty separately, usually by an application form that is submitted online or on paper by a deadline set by the university. Each faculty sets its own admission rules. Some use the Maturita results and school marks, and others hold entrance examinations (prijímacie skúšky). Medical faculties usually test biology and chemistry, and some programmes in architecture, art, music or sport have special talent tests.

Well-known universities include Comenius University in Bratislava, founded in 1919 and the largest in the country, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, the Technical University of Košice, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. Full-time study in Slovak at public universities is free of charge within the standard length of the programme, while programmes in English and part-time programmes usually have tuition fees. The quality of study programmes is overseen by the Slovak accreditation agency for higher education.

International students

Students from abroad usually need a school-leaving certificate that is recognised in Slovakia and a proof of the language of study. Many programmes are taught in Slovak, and applicants often need a language certificate or take a preparatory year. A growing number of programmes, especially in medicine, are taught in English and ask for an English test result. Universities publish their own requirements, so always check the pages of the university and the programme you want to attend.

Practising on GetMyMockTest

These are practice questions we wrote for study. They are not the official exams, and we do not claim they match an exam's current format. Free practice for Slovakia:

• Maturita (maturita-slovakia): mathematics, Slovak language and literature, and the history of Slovakia, with timed tests and flashcards.
• Autoškola (autoskola-slovakia): Category B driving theory practice covering Slovak road traffic rules, priority at intersections, road signs, vehicle safety and first aid, with timed mock tests and flashcard decks.
• Slovak general knowledge (gk-sk): history and politics, geography and nature, and science, arts and culture.