Greek Nationwide Exams 2025: Examination Kicks Off

The news in Greek

1. εξέταση  (f.)
   Διαδικασία κατά την οποία ελέγχεται η γνώση ή η ικανότητα κάποιου. ↩︎
2. δημοσιεύω
   Κάνω κάτι γνωστό στο κοινό μέσω ενός μέσου. ↩︎
3. διαφάνεια  (f.)
   Η ιδιότητα του να είναι κάτι διαφανές ή σαφές ως προς την ειλικρίνεια. ↩︎
4. προσπάθεια  (f.)
   Η ενέργεια που καταβάλλεται για την επίτευξη κάποιου στόχου. ↩︎
5. εκπαιδευτικός  (m.)
   Άτομο που διδάσκει ή προσφέρει εκπαιδευτικές υπηρεσίες. ↩︎
6. περιλαμβάνω
   Έχω κάτι ως μέρος ενός συνόλου. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What happened to a student in Rethymno during the exams?

Question 2: What did the Ministry of Education do for transparency?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
εξέταση  (f.)	examination
δημοσιεύω	publish
διαφάνεια  (f.)	transparency
προσπάθεια  (f.)	effort
εκπαιδευτικός  (m.)	educator
περιλαμβάνω	include

Read the full story

The 2025 nationwide exams in Greece have officially commenced, with significant developments marking their opening days. The exams, essential for entrance into higher education institutions, are split between two major groups: General and Vocational Schools (ΓΕΛ and ΕΠΑΛ).

On Friday, 30 May, students from General Upper Secondary Schools (ΓΕΛ) undertook their first exam in “Νεοελληνική Γλώσσα και Λογοτεχνία” (Modern Greek Language and Literature). A notable incident occurred in Rethymno, where a candidate received no marks in the essay section. During the examination, their mobile phone sounded, a breach of exam regulations which disallow electronic devices in the exam room. Consequently, the supervising teacher annulled the student’s paper, though no other disturbances were reported during the examination.

The following day, Saturday 31 May, candidates from Vocational Schools (ΕΠΑΛ) kickstarted their exams with the same subject. Students were required to enter the examination rooms by 08:00 with the exams starting at 08:30 and lasting for a duration of three hours. As per tradition, examination materials needed for different subjects, including identification forms, were strictly specified, emphasizing the constraints on permissible items.

The exam schedule is structured to focus on core subjects initially, followed by specialty subjects for ΕΠΑΛ, taking place from 5 to 16 June. Particular attention is given to the review and grading process across grading centres, with preparatory reading sessions completed in advance to streamline operations.

The exam themes, especially in literature, required candidates to engage creatively with topics such as fostering creativity in educational settings. Candidates were tasked with forming arguments to support their views, reflecting personal insights related to creativity cultivation. This approach aligns with broader educational priorities seen in the Greek teaching curriculum.

The Greek Ministry of Education ensures transparency by releasing exam questions to the public daily at 10:00 on their official site, a practice fostering transparency and supporting student preparation efforts.

Reactions to the exams were marked by recognition from the Greek Prime Minister, who commended students, educators, and families for their determination and support throughout the exam preparation phases, encouraging candidates to face this significant milestone “with strength and optimism.”

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek. As a prominent Greek language school, we offer various types of online Greek courses designed to cater to diverse learning needs.