Quality over quantity: Moldova reforms national exams following teacher-led audit
The Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) has announced targeted adjustments to the 2026 National Baccalaureate exam structure. These changes follow an extensive evaluation and consultation process with educators across the country.
Lilia Ivanov, Director of the National Agency for Curriculum and Evaluation, detailed the updates during a press conference on February 3. The primary focus is streamlining exam tasks to improve time management for students.
Streamlining tasks for deeper reflection
For the 2026 session, the number of tasks in Romanian Language and Literature will decrease. Real-profile students will face 10 questions instead of 12, while Humanities and Arts profiles will see a reduction from 15 to 12.
Similar adjustments will apply to Geography, Russian Language and Literature, and Sports training. Ivanov noted that these changes provide students more time for "qualitative drafting and reflection" without lowering the exam’s cognitive rigor.
Clarity and practical application
The second phase of the reform clarifies specific subject requirements. History exams will now limit sources to one per subject, while Chemistry will emphasize the practical interpretation of results.
Physics tests will incorporate more diagrams and technical drawings. Meanwhile, foreign language assessments have been updated to better correlate text volume with grading points and error margins.
Teacher-led reform and integrity
The decision stems from a landmark exercise conducted in late 2025. On November 29, over 1,000 teachers traveled to Chisinau to simulate the student examination process, solving tests and grading papers according to official rubrics.
The data gathered from this exercise led to specialized training for 34 groups of evaluators, guided by 35 national experts. This initiative ensures that grading remains objective and impartial, regardless of the individual evaluator.
"Our goal is for every student's grade to reflect their true competencies," Ivanov concluded. The Ministry will maintain strict standards of transparency and integrity, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates in the upcoming 2026 session.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
