MATURA, MATURITÀ, and MATURITY: How European High School Speaking Exams Compare

Every spring, millions of high school students across Europe take their graduation exams. While the written papers are standard, the English oral exams are completely different from country to country. Whether it is called Matura, Maturità, Maturita, or Abitur, each country has its own structure. In this guide, we break down the key differences and share practical tips for each exam.

Overview of European Oral English Exams

Most European oral exams use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) grading system. High school graduates are usually expected to reach a B2 level (upper-intermediate), though some technical schools accept a B1 or A2 level:

Country	Exam Name	Preparation Time	Task Overview
Poland	Matura Ustna	No preparation time	Roleplay dialogue, picture description, and stimulus choice/justification.
Italy	Maturità Colloquio	In-session selection	Interdisciplinary commentary linking English to art, history, or PCTO internship.
Czechia / Slovakia	Maturita Oral	15 - 20 Minutes prep	Concept monologue, picture comparison, and interactive roleplay.
Austria / Germany	Reifeprüfung / Abitur	20 Minutes prep	Monologue based on texts and deep panel discussion.

Structure & Strategy Breakdown

1. Poland: The Speed Test (Matura Ustna)

The Polish Matura Ustna is famous for having zero preparation time. The moment you walk into the exam room, your 15-minute test begins. The exam consists of three distinct tasks:

• Task 1: A situational roleplay (up to 3 minutes) where you negotiate or solve a problem with the examiner based on a prompt (for example, planning a trip with a friend or complaining about a service at a hotel).
• Task 2: A picture description (up to 2.5 minutes) where you describe what you see in a photograph and then answer three follow-up questions asked by the examiner. These questions are only visible to the examiner, so you have to listen carefully and react immediately.
• Task 3: A choice and justification task (up to 5 minutes) where you are shown two or three posters or advertisements. You must select the best option for a given scenario, justify your choice, explain why you rejected the alternative options, and then answer two general questions.

Because there is no prep time, candidates must think on their feet. Practicing natural English filler phrases is the best way to avoid freezing. You can practice this format on our free Polish Matura speaking practice test or read our deep-dive Matura Oral Exam Guide to learn how to structure your answers.

2. Austria and Germany: Academic Depth (Abitur & Reifeprüfung)

In Germany's Abitur and Austria's Mündliche Matura (Reifeprüfung), the oral exam focuses heavily on your ability to analyze academic texts and defend complex viewpoints. Typically, you are given 20 to 30 minutes of preparation time before you face the examiners. During this time, you will read a short text, analyze a graph, or examine a political cartoon. The actual exam (lasting about 15 minutes) is divided into two parts:

• Part 1: A structured monologue (5 to 7 minutes) where you present the summary and analysis of your preparation material, linking it to topics from the school syllabus (such as globalisation, the environment, science, or media).
• Part 2: A panel discussion (5 to 8 minutes) with two examiners who will ask you follow-up questions, push you to defend your opinions, and debate the topic in greater depth.

To score well here, you need to show structured, academic reasoning rather than just casual conversation. You can prepare by taking our Abitur speaking practice test and our Austrian Matura speaking practice test.

3. Italy: Cross-Subject Conversations (Maturità)

The Italian Maturità Colloquio is not a separate English exam but an interdisciplinary oral presentation covering all high school subjects. The candidate meets a panel of examiners representing different fields. The session begins with the student selecting a sealed envelope containing a stimulus (which could be a quote, a short text, an artwork, or a diagram). The candidate must build a presentation on the spot, linking the stimulus to subjects like Italian, philosophy, art, history, and physics. For the English section, you must speak in English about how the stimulus relates to English literature (such as linking an industrial theme to Charles Dickens or a science theme to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein) or discuss your PCTO internship experience. Success in the Italian Maturità requires strong critical thinking and transitional phrases to connect different disciplines. If you want to check your general fluency level before the exam, try our Italian Maturità speaking practice test, check your general level on our online CEFR English test, or read our CEFR speaking levels guide.

4. Czechia and Slovakia: Monologues and Roleplays (Maturita)

In Czechia (Maturitní zkouška) and Slovakia (Ústna maturita), the exam is structured around 25 to 30 predefined topic sheets (ranging from geographical profiles of English-speaking nations to social issues like technology or lifestyle). When you enter the room, you draw a topic card by number and get 15 minutes of preparation time (often called the sweating bench) to write down notes. The oral test lasts 15 minutes and is split into four parts:

• Part 1: Introduction and warm-up questions (approx. 2 minutes) to get you comfortable.
• Part 2: A topic-based monologue (approx. 5 minutes) where you present the topic you drew using your preparation notes.
• Part 3: A photo comparison task (approx. 4 minutes) where you describe and contrast two pictures. You can read our guide on how to compare photos to see the best spatial and comparative phrases to use.
• Part 4: An interactive roleplay (approx. 4 minutes) where you complete a task with the teacher, such as planning an itinerary or booking a hotel.

Because you are allowed to look at your notes, the key strategy is to write down a clear outline instead of full paragraphs, allowing you to speak naturally while maintaining eye contact with the examiners. If you need phrases to buy time while drawing your thoughts, check our Czech Maturita speaking practice test, or check our list of thinking time phrases.

How to Structure Your Monologue

If you have to speak on a topic for a few minutes, use this simple three-step formula to organize your thoughts:

Before you go...

Knowing how your country's exam is structured is half the battle. If you are in Poland, practice reacting quickly. If you are in Austria or Germany, focus on analyzing your reading texts. The best way to prepare is to practice under timed conditions so you get used to the exam pressure.