Latvia National Exams 2025: Full Schedule and New Passing Requirements for Students
The 2025 national examination season has officially commenced across Latvia, marking a critical period for thousands of students completing their primary and secondary education. This year’s session is characterized by more rigorous academic standards, specifically the implementation of a higher passing threshold that students must meet to receive their diplomas. For parents and students alike, staying informed about the specific dates for each subject and the minimum scoring requirements is essential for navigating the coming weeks.
The 20% Threshold: New Standards for 2025
One of the most significant changes for the current academic cycle is the increase in the minimum passing score. For students in the general secondary education stage (high school), the centralized exam threshold has been set at 20%. This means that any student scoring below this percentage in any of their mandatory exams will not be eligible for a certificate of secondary education.
For 9th-grade students completing their basic education, the threshold is slightly lower but still mandatory, requiring a minimum score of 15%. These benchmarks are part of a multi-year plan to gradually raise the quality of educational outcomes across the country, ensuring that graduates possess a verified level of competency in core subjects.
High School Exam Schedule: May and June Dates
The examination period for secondary school students began on May 11 with Social Sciences and will conclude on June 12. The schedule includes exams at three different levels of difficulty: General, Optimal, and Higher. This tiered system allows students to demonstrate their proficiency based on their future career paths and university requirements.
| Date | Subject | Level |
|---|---|---|
| May 11 | Social Sciences | Higher |
| May 13 | History | Higher |
| May 15 | Design and Technology | Higher |
| May 18 | Natural Sciences | General |
| May 18 | Chemistry | Optimal & Higher |
| May 20 | Physics | Optimal & Higher |
| May 22 | Biology | Optimal & Higher |
| May 25–27 | English | Optimal |
| May 25, 27–28 | English | Higher |
| May 28 | German | Optimal |
| June 1 | Mathematics | General, Optimal & Higher |
| June 3–5 | Latvian Language | Optimal |
| June 3 | Latvian Language | Higher |
| June 8 | Culture and Arts | Higher |
| June 10 | Programming | Higher |
| June 12 | Geography | Higher |
Requirements for General Secondary Education
To graduate from high school in 2025, students are required to sit for a minimum of five exams. This includes four exams at the ‘Optimal’ level: Latvian Language, Mathematics, a Foreign Language, and one subject in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field.
In addition to these four, students must also complete at least one exam at the ‘Higher’ level, which is typically aligned with their intended field of university study. The diversity of subjects—ranging from Programming to Design and Technology—reflects the modern curriculum’s focus on specialized skills. In regions like Jelgava, hundreds of students are currently enrolled in these sessions, with Mathematics and English remaining the subjects with the highest participation rates.
Primary School (Grade 9) Exam Timeline
For 9th-grade students, the stakes are equally high as they prepare for the transition to secondary or vocational education. Their exam session is more condensed, beginning in mid-May. To obtain their certificate of basic education, these students must pass two centralized exams: Latvian Language and Mathematics. They have already completed a monitoring test in a foreign language (English, German, or French) earlier in the term.
- May 19–22: Latvian Language Exam
- May 26: Mathematics Exam
For the 9th-grade cohort, the academic year will officially conclude on June 12, providing a short window between the final exams and the end of the term.
Accessing Results and Digital Certificates
The transition to digital-first administration continues this year. Students will not receive paper certificates on graduation day. Instead, centralized exam certificates will be issued in an electronic format, which can be accessed through official government portals.
For 12th-grade graduates, certificates will be available starting July 3. For 9th-grade students, the certificates will be released earlier, on June 26. These digital documents are legally binding and are used for applications to higher education institutions both within Latvia and abroad. Students are encouraged to ensure their digital access credentials (such as e-signature or bank authentication) are active well before the release dates to avoid delays in viewing their scores.
