Latest news and stories about secondary school in Portugal for expats and residents.
Registration for a special period of national secondary school exams began today and remains open until Friday. This measure is available to all students to help compensate for recent delays in the digital grading of national exams.
Registrations for the first phase of the national secondary school exams opened on 6 March and run until 19 March; students may also register for self‑proposed 9th‑grade tests. The Directorate‑General for Education (Direção‑Geral da Educação) published the registration rules: internal and self‑proposed students must register, take a Portuguese exam and choose two additional subjects according to the instructions. Students and parents should complete registrations before the 19 March deadline and follow the DGE guidance on subject choices.
Portugal's transition to digital grading for secondary school exams in the 2025/2026 academic year has sparked controversy and uncertainty regarding the implementation of automatic and human marking processes.
Three out of every four requests for re-evaluation of national exams resulted in a higher grade, according to data from the Ministry of Education regarding the second phase of secondary school exams. On Monday, schools posted the results of the re-evaluation processes for the second phase: “Of the 2,563 requests, 1,928 (75.2%) saw an increase in the grade.”
Half of the students enrolled for the extraordinary period of national secondary school exams missed the tests, according to data from the Ministry of Education, which recorded a dropout rate of 49.6%.
Of the 11,693 students enrolled for the first day of this special period, only 4,920 attended
Second part of this Sunday's 'Investigação CM'.
Alves Martins Secondary School had several students placed in the highest-grade courses. Miguel Borges, the director, states that the merit “belongs to the students,” but does not forget the role of the “school community.”
The outcome of the re-evaluations for the 2nd phase exams was originally scheduled for 28 August, but the minister stated that requests will only be analysed in September to allow teachers time to rest.
Average scores for secondary school national exams held in July improved in most subjects compared to the second phase of the previous year, though Mathematics A, Biology and Geology, and Physics and Chemistry saw declines. Between July 21 and 24, students took 85,745 exams across 24 subjects. According to data from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, 16 subjects saw improved averages, with History A showing the largest increase. Conversely, Descriptive Geometry A recorded the sharpest drop. For the first time, exams were conducted in a digital format, which experienced technical issues during the first phase, leading to the creation of a special exam period scheduled for September.
Between July 21 and 24, 11th and 12th-grade students took 85,745 exams across 24 subjects, 2,663 fewer than in 2025/2026.
The averages for the second phase of national secondary school exams showed distinct trends compared to 2025, with History A standing out for the largest increase among the main subjects. The average rose from 94 to 109 points, an increase of 15 points, according to data from the National Examination Jury (JNE) released this Wednesday by the Ministry.
The grades for the 2nd phase of national secondary school exams and the results of the 1st phase re-evaluations are expected to be published today, along with the 2nd phase grade lists for the 9th grade.
Sofia decided to wait a year to better prepare herself and get into the course she really wanted. She did not change her secondary school subjects, but saw her average drop because “the rules changed”. However, the rules do not seem to have changed for everyone.
Madalena scored zero in Portuguese, Diogo missed out by nine points. Gustavo criticises the “minister's incompetence,” Vicente felt “outside the system.” How four 12th-grade students have been dealing with the uncertainty.
The second phase of the national secondary school exams ends this Friday. The first phase exam had a grading error.
Last year, 6,200 requests for re-evaluation of secondary school exams were submitted. As of this Friday, there have been 8,900. There are still students who may request a review of their respective exams.
The average grades for national secondary school exams fell in Portuguese and Biology and Geology, and rose in Mathematics A, with Portuguese Literature being the only subject with a failing average, according to data released today.
The average grades for national secondary school exams fell in Portuguese and Biology and Geology, and rose in Mathematics A, with Portuguese Literature being the only subject with a failing average, according to data released this Tuesday. A global analysis conducted by the National Exams Jury (JNE) on the results of the 1st phase of the National Final Exams...
The Luís de Camões Secondary School in Lisbon is asking parents who are teachers of subjects with national exams to support students in the grade review process, as the school faces a high volume of requests to consult exam papers. In a message sent to parents and...
The second phase of the national secondary school examinations in Portugal starts today at 6am.
A special period was announced by the minister. Around 290,000 students took the national secondary school exams.
The academic federations of Lisbon and Porto express concern regarding the grading process for secondary school examinations.
The Minister of Education confirmed today that all national secondary school exams have been graded and anticipated that, as a result, the results will be posted by the end of the day.
The request for an inquiry will be submitted on Friday, the day when the results for national secondary school exams are scheduled to be posted.
The grading of the exams will take place until July 14, instead of ending on July 10. The results for the first phase of secondary school exams will be posted on July 17, three days later than originally planned. The second phase of national secondary school exams has also been changed. The higher education access calendar remains unchanged.
The grading of the exams will take place until July 14, instead of ending on July 10. The results for the first phase of secondary school exams will be posted on July 17, three days later than originally planned. The second phase of national secondary school exams has also been changed. The higher education access calendar remains unchanged.
This Thursday, the 11th-grade Physics and Chemistry A exam (715) took place, with over 37,000 students registered. The first phase of the national secondary school exams ends this Friday. Results will be released on July 14th.
Leaving the 12th-grade national Mathematics exam in Matosinhos, several students considered the test accessible, despite difficulties with the last question and probability topics.
Exams to finish secondary school, to enter university, with a dual function. What distinguishes Portugal in this world tour of school tests?
