1. What is CERMAT? Centre for Measurement in Education State organization established by the Ministry of Education Organization appointed by state and authorized by the new School Act (2004) to administer, develop, provide and evaluate Maturita exams (Upper-secondary school leaving examination)‏

2. Objectives of CERMAT to reform the upper-secondary school leaving examination “Maturita” to develop, provide, administer and evaluate the Maturita exam in 17 subjects as well as exams for other purposes (key stages of education)‏ to provide guidelines and methodical support (item writers, raters, teachers etc.)‏ to provide training for raters

3. Maturita Exam Type of examination: nation-wide high-stake state upper-secondary school leaving examination Overall aim: to provide tools for the assessment of skills and knowledge defined in the curriculum (Syllabus)‏ Target population: mainly upper-secondary school students (19+)‏ Dates: in the spring, at all Czech upper-secondary schools at the same time.

4. Why the reform of the Maturita? 1.Breaking the traditional school leaving exams in the CR 2.Needs of transparency, comparability, complexity and common interpretations (e.g. languages) of results 3.Introduction of a foreign language exam as a compulsory component of the Maturita exam at all branches of study 4.Introducing a complex approach to language teaching and testing (4 skills

5. Introduction of the new Maturita 2001 – 2009 mock exams, piloting, development stage 2011 – new Maturita

6. Maturita in Foreign Languages Candidates can choose from 5 foreign languages - English, German, French, Spanish and Russian Exams are offered in 2 difficulty levels Students´ choice of level Adaptations for 4 groups of handicapped (in 3 levels)‏ Foreign students are offered to take the Czech for foreigners exam instead of the regular exam in the Czech language

7. Difficulty levels Compulsory subjects offered on 2 levels of difficulty (basic and higher)‏ Basic level – the required minimum for all the students taking the Maturita exam (B1)‏ Higher level – generally selected by students entering the tertiary education (B2)‏ Levels undergoing the process of relating to the CEFR levels

8. Maturita in Foreign Languages Reading ListeningWritingSpeaking 1/4 Receptive skillsProductive skills Oral ExamWritten Exam 1/4