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What is Austria’s Matura exam and why do some want it abolished?

Some call it "an outdated" test, but what exactly is the Austrian Matura, and how does it fit in the country's complicated school system?

Published: 7 April 2022 15:25 CEST
Masks will no longer be needed in schools in Austria from today. Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
(Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash)

Austria has a highly complex education system. Children are divided into different types of schools when they are nine years old.

Then, they have to choose between different kinds of education when they are around 13 years old.

The children who go to intermediate vocational schools will conclude their education with a technical examination. The ones that study in higher vocational schools conclude with a technical exam and the “general school-leaving examination”, also known as the Matura.

The Matura, officially called Reifeprufung, is a prerequisite for higher education such as university, academy, technical university and college.

The exam consists of written examinations, three to four tests lasting for up to five hours each on consecutive mornings of May, and oral examinations, also three to four tests held about one month after the written ones.

READ ALSO: How Covid absences are disrupting Austrian hospitals, schools and transport

All students can decide for themselves whether they want to take three written and three oral or four written and two oral exams.

For the written exams, the compulsory subjects are German (but could also be Croatian, Slovenian, or Hungarian, which are considered minority languages), mathematics, and a foreign living language (English, Italian, French, or Spanish).

In addition, some schools may also require students to take a test in biology or physics.

Additionally, students need to defend a paper that could have been written individually or in groups.

The idea for the exam is to give a standardised examination bringing “more fairness and equal conditions for all high school graduates”, according to the Ministry of Education.

Pandemic rules

The coronavirus pandemic changed many things in the Matura examinations, with oral exams cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022, they are set to be resumed, causing protests among students who said their high school years were hurt by the pandemic and that they shouldn’t have to take oral examinations.

READ ALSO: Rule changes: School attendance in Austria to become obligatory again

For 2022, students were also given a deadline extension, and written exams were prolonged by 60 minutes. Students had (and will still have to) comply with Covid regulations during the examinations – mainly the use of FFP2 masks.

There are also strict hygiene regulations, with a safety phase starting two weeks before the May and June exams. In addition, all candidates must carry out three corona tests per week during that period – two of them need to be PCR tests.

Students will need to show 3G proof for the exams, meaning evidence that they have been vaccinated, recovered, or tested negative for Covid-19.

Austrian grading system

The grading system in Austria is based on a one to five scale, with one being the best grade (very good, or sehr gut) and five being the worst (unsatisfactory or nichtgenugend).

The system is used for both the Matura and at schools, and only students who have not failed their grades at school can take the final exam. Otherwise, they need to take a re-examination of the subject before Matura.

READ ALSO: Reader question: Is home schooling legal in Austria?

Why do some politicians want to abolish it?

There has been intensive criticism of the Austrian Matura over the years. Many experts argue that the system encourages students to just memorise certain subjects and themes, hindering creative thinking.

The burdens of the coronavirus pandemic have brought these questions even more into light, with some specialists calling the Matura “a real lottery system“: are you lucky to have studied this subject a little deeper than others?

“You have to ask the question of how useful the Matura still is”, said SPÖ education spokeswoman Petro Vorderwinkler late last month.

The exit exam is a precondition for application to a university or other institutions of higher education. Still, by itself, it is not enough. Many schools still hold their own (and very competitive) entry exams.

And although some types of exit exams take place in several countries besides Austria, such as Croatia, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland, it is far from being a worldwide practice – adding to the argument that such a test serves only to put more unnecessary pressure on students.

Some defend, though, that it is a critical way to assess the situation of Austria’s education and school systems.

It could be that the answer lies in the middle, reforming the exam to allow for more diversity of subjects, making it more flexible, and working with teachers and pupils to find better solutions.

The three parts of Matura

Diplomarbeit – written paper
Schriftliche Klausurarbeiten – written exams
Mündliche Prüfungen – oral exams

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

Vienna is known for affordable and high-quality childcare. Parents can choose between four different models of kindergartens. Here's what you need to know about them.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:08 CEST
Updated: 10 April 2024 13:10 CEST
What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

(All prices are 2024 values)

If your child is turning three soon and you live in Vienna, it might be time to think about which kindergarten to attend. While living in the capital, you have a wide range of kindergartens to choose from, which can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the country.

In Vienna, children have the option to attend different types of kindergartens, such as a public one or a private (but heavily subsidised) kindergarten. When deciding which is right for your child, it’s a good idea to ask family and friends for recommendations, to read about the different options online and also to try out a day in a kindergarten together with your child. 

If you want to know your options and what is close to where you live, you can take a look at this map, which points out the different kindergartens and their locations.

As a parent, you can register your child for kindergarten at any time, regardless of the school year. However, registering during the main registration period in November and December can increase the chances of securing a spot in your preferred childcare centre.

A playroom for children. Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

READ ALSO: Which Austrian states offer free public kindergartens?

Different types of kindergartens

The main types of kindergartens in Vienna are public, private, or parent-run kindergartens. In addition, there are also so-called Betriebskindergärten, run by companies mainly for their employees’ children.

Public kindergartens

Public kindergartens in Vienna are funded and regulated by the city government. They are often operated by municipal departments or educational authorities and follow certain standards and guidelines set by the government to create safety, well-being, and educational quality. 

In Vienna, children can attend public kindergartens for free; the only expenses parents need to cover are €79.95 per month for food, along with some other extra smaller costs for materials and activities.

Each group in a public kindergarten holds a maximum of 25 children, with responsibilities shared by a team of mostly three staff members, including two main teachers and one assistant.

Most public kindergartens are open from 7am to 6pm, making them a good option if you are a full-time working parent.

You can register your child for a public kindergarten online.

Private kindergartens

Although private kindergartens are a more expensive than public, they are still quite affordable. In general, private kindergartens cost around €250 per month, since some of the costs are subsidised by the government.

Private kindergartens tend to offer children a bit more attention than the public ones. There is often one teacher for as few as seven children. They also offer more specific educational programs, such as fully English-spoken education, Montessori pedagogics, bilingual alternatives, or religious approaches.

The City of Vienna subsidises places at private kindergartens with up to the following amounts which are directly paid to the private institution:

  • For children under 3.5 years: €762.57
  • For children from 3.5 years to compulsory school age:
    • Full-day care: €520.20
    • Part-time care: €428.21
    • Half-day care: €309.99 

When applying for a private kindergarten, you need to apply for a “Kundennummer” (customer number) through Stadt Wien and then use it to register your child directly at the chosen educational institution.

Children playing together inside. Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash

Parent-run kindergarten

A parent-run kindergarten typically has mid-size groups of children. It involves having two to three staff members for around 15 children at a time. Usually, the staff members are the children’s parents, with the idea of creating a more familiar atmosphere where parents have a greater say in their child’s education.

A parent-run kindergarten is usually run by an association board where the parents function and take care of finances, organisation, cleaning, cooking, and possible renovations. All parents in the association are required to contribute both financially and with their working hours.

In Vienna, parent-run kindergartens usually comes with lower costs for parents than private kindergartens. Parent-run kindergartens normally receive subsidies and funding from the local government to help cover operating costs such as staff salaries, utilities, and materials. The level of support normally depends on factors such as the number of children enrolled and the qualifications of staff members. 

Here you can take a look at some different options if you are interested in participating in a parent-run kindergarten. 

Betriebskindergärten

This type of kindergarten, provided by companies for their employees as a benefit, is often offered free of charge, with space sometimes available also for children of non-employees.

Betriebskindergärten are typically created by large companies such as Austria’s national railway company, ÖBB, to make life easier for employees and to be seen as attractive employers on the market. They are usually financed mainly by the companies themselves but can also receive support from the government.

Depending on the specific Betriebskindergarten, the group size and number of teachers can vary.

Here is a list with Vienna’s kindergartens run by different companies. 

READ MORE: How can foreign nationals bring their family members to Austria?

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