One of the mandatory national exams in high school is the English language exam. It can be replaced by international language exams that are at least at B1 level. Starting from summer 2027, students will no longer be able to take the Cambridge or CAE exam for free.
Currently, students can take the CAE exam for free because the state has a valid procurement contract. This contract ends in summer 2027 and will not be extended. "We will not make a new procurement contract. We will return to the old system where the CAE exam is paid," said Ülle Matsin from the Ministry of Education.
The decision stems from the need for budget cuts. The five-year procurement contract cost over 1.9 million euros. "In recent years, we have had to make tough budget cuts. Only 14% of students have said that the exam has been useful to them," said Matsin.
At Tartu Jaan Poska Gymnasium, less than half of the students took the national English language exam this year. Most students took the CAE exam already in the 11th grade. The school principal Mari Roostik said that the end of free CAE exams will affect schools' ability to organize the national English language exam.
"Our school has 200 students, but state gymnasiums have 350 students. How will they organize an oral exam in a short time without elementary school teachers? It will be very difficult," said Roostik.
Matsin said that in the future, students will be able to take the national English language exam already in the 11th grade. "We are developing our exams so that there will also be a winter option. This is a future topic, but it is one option," said Matsin. The proportion of other international exams is also likely to increase.