Overview
The State Matura (Državna matura) is Croatia's standardised school-leaving examination for secondary education. It is organised by the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO), a body under the Ministry of Science and Education, and sat at the end of upper secondary school. Passing it both completes secondary education and, through the results, opens the door to higher education: the same scores feed into the centralised admission ranking used by Croatian universities and polytechnics.
Who can apply
Students finishing a four-year gymnasium (grammar school) programme must sit the State Matura to receive their leaving certificate. Students finishing a vocational secondary programme are not required to sit it unless they intend to apply for a higher-education programme, in which case they register for it in place of, or alongside, their vocational final exam.
Exam pattern
The exam has a compulsory part and an elective part.
| Part | Subjects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | Croatian language, Mathematics, a foreign language (most commonly English; other languages and minority-language programmes are also offered) | Mathematics and the foreign language are offered at a higher (A) and a basic (B) level; candidates choose the level. Croatian language is examined at a single common level. |
| Elective | Chosen from subjects such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Politics and Economics, Philosophy, Logic, Psychology, Sociology, Informatics, Visual Arts, Music, Religious Education and Ethics | Candidates choose electives based on the entry requirements of the study programmes they plan to apply to; most take one or two. |
The Croatian language exam is held over two days and has three parts: reading, literature and language (about 100 minutes), a written summary (about 80 minutes), and a school essay of at least 400 words (about 160 minutes), together worth up to 110 points. Mathematics, the foreign language and the elective subjects are each examined in a single sitting, with the content and format for every subject set out in a subject-specific exam catalogue that NCVVO publishes each school year.
Marking and results
Each exam is scored as a percentage of correctly answered material, which is then converted into points for university admission. Because the A level is more demanding than the B level, a result on the A level is weighted more heavily when compared with the B level, so that an equal percentage score is worth more on the A level. A failing grade on the A level does not convert into a passing result on the B level.
For university admission, candidates apply centrally through the Postani student portal. For the 2026 admission cycle, a candidate's ranking position for a given study programme is built from a points total out of 1,000, combining State Matura results (compulsory and elective subjects), secondary-school grades, and, where relevant, additional points for competition results or circumstances recognised by the higher-education institution; many programmes also require a specific combination of subjects and levels, or an additional entrance test.
Important dates
For the 2025/2026 school year, NCVVO's published calendar sets registration for the summer exam period from 1 December 2025 to 15 February 2026. The summer sitting itself runs from 1 June to 26 June 2026, with individual subjects spread across that window (for example Biology on 3 June, Croatian language on 15–16 June, Politics and Economics on 17 June, Physics on 18 June, English on 19 June, Chemistry on 24 June, and both levels of Mathematics on 25 June 2026). Preliminary results for the summer sitting are due on 8 July 2026, with final results on 15 July 2026. Candidates who miss a subject or want to improve a result can resit it in a later exam period; exact dates for those periods are published separately by NCVVO each year.
After the exam
Passing the compulsory subjects earns the secondary-school leaving certificate. Candidates applying to higher education submit their State Matura results, together with their secondary-school record, through the Postani student portal, which produces a ranking list for each study programme once final results are published.
Preparation tips
Check the current school year's exam catalogue for each subject on the NCVVO website: it sets out exactly what is tested and in what format, and it is updated yearly.
Decide on subject levels (A or B) and electives early, based on the entry requirements published by the study programmes of interest, since these affect how results are weighted for admission.
Work through NCVVO's released past exams and official sample materials for the Croatian language, Mathematics and foreign-language exams, since their formats repeat from year to year.
Track registration and exam-period deadlines on the NCVVO calendar, since missing a registration window means waiting for the next exam period.
FAQs
Is the State Matura compulsory for every secondary school student in Croatia?
It is compulsory for gymnasium (grammar school) graduates. Vocational school graduates only need to sit it if they plan to apply for a higher-education programme.
What is the difference between the A and B exam levels?
The A level is a more demanding version of Mathematics or the foreign-language exam. A given percentage score on the A level counts for more toward admission points than the same percentage on the B level, but a failing A-level grade cannot be converted into a passing B-level result.
How are State Matura results used for university admission?
Results feed into a points-based ranking, managed through the Postani student portal, alongside secondary-school grades and, where applicable, extra points for competitions or an institution's own entrance test. Each study programme sets its own required subjects, levels and weighting.
Can I retake a State Matura exam?
Yes. Candidates who fail a subject, miss a sitting, or want to improve a score can register to sit that subject again in a later exam period published by NCVVO.