Maturity, music high school test 20with 20 errors: the President presents a question

Italy’s high school graduation exams, known as the *maturità*, have officially begun, with over half a million students taking their first written exam on June 19th. The exam starts promptly at 8:30 AM and consists of seven common topics divided into three categories: two literary analyses (one poetic and one in prose), three argumentative texts, and two contemporary issues. Students must bring identification, pens, and an Italian dictionary to the examination hall. Schools will provide stamped answer sheets, while electronic devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and earbuds are strictly prohibited and could lead to disqualification.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has extended her best wishes to the candidates, emphasizing that the *maturità* is an important milestone but should not be seen as a definitive judgment of a person's worth. She acknowledged the emotional weight of these days, including the effort of preparation, anticipation, expectations, and anxiety, and encouraged students to approach the exam with confidence. Similarly, Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara urged students to focus on reasoning about what they have learned and even their mistakes, rather than striving for perfection.

The psychological burden of the exams has led many students to seek comfort in religious practices. One-third of the candidates are relying on spiritual support, attending religious services and prayers more frequently in the run-up to the exams. Superstitions also play a role, with 23 percent of students wearing lucky accessories such as necklaces or bracelets, and another 15 percent dressing in clothing believed to bring good fortune. A significant portion of students—21 percent—are using a "lucky pen" as a talisman during the exam.

Examination committees have been established, consisting of an external president, two external members, and two internal members from the educational institution. The letters used to determine the order of oral exams have already been drawn. This year, 96.8 percent of students are eligible to take the *maturità*, while 3.2 percent are excluded. Among the anticipated themes, there is speculation about the 80th anniversary of the institutional referendum, as well as the centenary of Nobel Prize-winning author Grazia Deledda. Other potential topics include artificial intelligence, mental health, and societal transformations. Authors such as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Giovanni Verga, Pascoli, Luigi Pirandello, Giuseppe Ungaretti, and Eugenio Montale are among the most likely candidates for inclusion in the exam questions.

Meanwhile, political controversy has emerged regarding the second written exam for students of the musical high school. The Democratic Party (PD) has submitted a parliamentary inquiry requesting the Ministry of Education and Merit to explain the discrepancies found in the sheet music used for the exam. According to a 19-year-old student from the Manzoni High School in Latina, Matteo Di Massa, the score contained twenty errors compared to the original and even differed from the MP3 file provided to students for analysis. These differences included incorrect notes, octaves, and entire measures. Despite this, Flaminia Giorda, head of the Inspection Service within the ministry, stated that these discrepancies did not affect the validity of the exam, which was based on the piece *L’Ondine* by Cécile Chaminade.

Irene Manzi, national education coordinator for the PD and the main signatory of the parliamentary inquiry, emphasized the need for transparency regarding the incident, which involves students nationwide. The inquiry seeks detailed information from the Ministry about the circumstances surrounding the anomalies and whether they impacted the proper conduct of the exam. Additionally, the PD requested clarification on the origin of the material used for the exam—according to the student who raised the issue, the sheet music was sourced from an amateur user on the platform MuseScore—and any responsibilities related to its selection. Finally, the parliamentarians asked Valditara to outline the measures he intends to implement to protect students who might have suffered adverse consequences due to the discrepancies identified. On social media, students and teachers have joined the protest initiated by Di Massa, sharing posts expressing concern and solidarity with his situation.