Reflections on the backwash effects of the recent reforms in the Finnish Matriculation Examination: how increased optionality is steering upper secondary school students

Authors

• Eero Salmenkivi Helsingin yliopisto

Abstract

Historically the Finnish matriculation examination has had a dual role as an exit examination of the upper secondary school and an entrance examination to university. Optionality in the examination has dramatically increased, due to the structural reform, in 2005, and the reform of the exam in the realia subjects, in 2006. The article argues that the new optionality leads to unforeseen and undesirable results that are particularly problematic in combination with the relative assessment in the matriculation examination. It is becoming evident that the less well achieving students tend to take exams in other subjects than the better achieving students. As approximately the same percentage of students is mandated to get the highest, second highest etc. grade in every exam, also the same grade in different exams does not anymore reflect the same level of aptitude. The article argues that the backwash effect also tends to create a Matthew effect in how the students select courses. An increasing selection of easier and more popular subjects may jeopardise the aim of general and balanced education that the Upper Secondary School Act and the National Core Curriculum set for upper secondary school.