Moldova’s national pretest: 58% pass rate with significant regional differences
Approximately 6 in 10 students passed the national pretest in mathematics conducted on February 27, 2025, as shown by data analyzed by the National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation.
According to the results, the pass rate varies significantly between districts: the lowest was recorded in the Râșcani district – approximately 33%, and the highest in Chișinău – around 71%.
Additionally, in 13 districts and municipalities across the country, there are educational institutions where the pass rate reached 100%. The highest average score achieved at the institutional level was 8.50, recorded in a school in Chișinău, while the lowest average score was reported at an institution in the Ocnița district.
A total of 29,894 students from 1,019 educational institutions across all districts and municipalities of the Republic of Moldova took part in the pretest. The largest number of candidates – approximately 28% – came from Chișinău, followed by UTA Găgăuzia (4.8%) and the city of Bălți (4.4%). The district with the lowest participation rate was Basarabeasca – approximately 0.56%.
Compared to the thematic testing in November 2024, the February results show a significant improvement: the pass rate increased from 44% to 58%, and the percentage of students with high performances (grades 9 and 10) increased from 0.8% to 5%. Additionally, the average score was higher, indicating better student preparation and adaptation to the evaluation requirements.
In response to these results, the Ministry of Education and Research has identified over 6,000 students who will be included in a free remedial program. These students will benefit from 30–40 additional hours of mathematics preparation in April and May, with support from experienced teachers, to strengthen their knowledge before the final exam.
The main session of the national exams for graduating students will take place between June 2 and 12, 2025. The evaluation of the papers will be centralized in four national centers in Chișinău, and the Ministry of Education will appoint external monitors in all institutions on exam days. Furthermore, students who do not pass the June session will have access to two additional sessions, organized in July and August.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
