Abitur
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Abitur is the word commonly used in Germany for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling. The Abiturzeugnis, issued after a candidate has passed their final exams, is the document which contains their grades and which formally enables them to go to university.
It can only roughly be compared with a High school degree of secondary education as it allows the graduate, the Abiturient, to start studying at a University. Its importance has grown beyond admission to the university, however, in that it became a frequent prerequisite to start an apprenticeship in some professions (e.g. banking).
The official term for Abitur in Germany is allgemeine Hochschulreife. The equivalent exam in Austria and other countries of continental Europe is Matura, while in the United Kingdom outside Scotland it is A-levels, and in Scotland it is Advanced Higher Grade.
Abitur in Germany
In colloquial usage the term Abitur often refers to the final exams only. These generally consist of sets of written examinations and oral examinations. The subjects covered in these examinations vary according to the specialization chosen by the student during the last 2-3 years (Oberstufe) at the Gymnasium. The student's choice may be limited further, however, depending on the specific laws on higher education in a federal state (Bundesland), which has some independence in the design of its educational systems with respect to federal laws.
The marks obtained in these exams combine with some of the marks won during the last 2-3 years to a summary mark. This, in turn, is important to be admitted to a German university for some fields of study, in particular medical schools ("Numerus clausus").
The composite score of the Abitur is between 0 and 840, though both borders are rarely awarded. The student has the possibility to omit courses (usually 5 courses) from his/her composite score. At the moment, 768 points are equivalent to 1,0 - the highest achievable grade.
Abitur in Finland
A model of this also exists in Finland since the beginning of the 20th century. The test is called Ylioppilastutkinto in Finnish and Studentexam in Swedish. The official English language translation is Matriculation Examination.