A milestone week is approaching for the start of the Panhellenic Examinations, with GEL and EPAL candidates fighting their own “battle” for one of the 68,574 places in Greek institutions of higher education.

Although the exact number of candidates who have said they will participate in the exams has not been officially announced, according to sources in the Ministry of Education, this number will be about the same as last year, that is, it will increase to about 90,000 people.

This year there are no major changes in the way the Panhellenic Examinations are conducted in general. The minimum basis for admission will apply during the third year, as well as parallel computing for admission to the public IEK. It is expected that the results (bases) will be announced at the beginning of this year, towards the end of July, as was the case last year.

Minimal changes include a change in the method of grading Modern Greek and Ancient Greek courses, the introduction of computerized courses in one stage, a summary of 8 sections related to the environment and the economy in the 4th scientific direction, and two new sections that will be included in the 2nd and 3rd fields.

In addition, the ministry assured that the holding of national elections will not affect the conduct of exams.

“No impressive change”

As education analyst Giorgos Hatzitegas noted at APE-MPE, the percentage of successful candidates is expected to hover at the same level as last year, around 60%. “We do not expect dramatic changes this year,” he said.

He pointed to the internal “movement” of candidates from the 1st scientific direction (humanities, legal and social sciences), which used to be the most numerous, to the 4th direction (economics and information sciences). As he noted, in 2018, 32% of candidates focused on the 1st scientific direction and 25% – on the 4th. According to last year’s data, the baton was taken by the 4th field, as 35% of applicants declare schools from the 4th field and 25% from the 1st.

Changes

For the general education course in Modern Greek Language and Literature, starting this year, excellent in the first subject, meaning that the summary that candidates are asked to make will receive 20 out of 100 points, compared to 15 received before last year.

Also in the course of Ancient Greek, one of the two questions of the studied text was “cut out”, which received 2 points out of 20. These points will be added to the translation of the unlearned, which will now be excellent for 10 points out of 20, out of 8 that were before last year.

As for the changes in the departments, this year two new ones will be added in the 2nd and 3rd scientific directions. These are the Department of Sustainable Agriculture in Agrinio and the Department of Agriculture in Messolonghi, departments belonging to the University of Patras.

In addition, starting this year, eight divisions will be included in the 4th field, except for the 2nd and 3rd, which were before last year. These are the Departments of Environment in Mytilini, Larisa and Zakynthos, the Departments of Social Policy in Athens and Komotini, the Department of Forestry and Environment and Natural Resources Management in Orestiada, the Department of Rural Development in Orestiada and the Department of Informatics with Biomedical Application in Lamia.

Finally, the computer science exam this year will take place not in two stages, but in one, since, according to past years, a very high percentage of applicants (93% for 2022) are accepted into the schools of their first 10 options from the first stage.

National Exam Program

The GEL exams will start on June 2, 2023 with a Modern Greek Language and Literature (General Education) course, followed by three days of exams in Orientation Courses:

June 6Courses: Ancient Greek (Humanities Group), Mathematics (EP of Positive Studies and Research in Economics and Informatics), Biology (OP of Health Studies)

June 8: Latin (Humanities Orientation Group), Chemistry (OP of Positive and Health Studies), Computer Science (OP of Economics and Informatics Studies)

12 June: History (Humanities Group), Physics (EP of Positive Research and Health Research), Economics (OP of Economics and Informatics Research)

As for EPAL, the first day of exams, June 1, will also cover the general education course of the new Greek language. Mathematics examination will follow (June 3rd) and the remaining days (June 7th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th) will be devoted to special courses.

As for the special course exams, they will be held from 17 to 29 June. First, on June 17, candidates will be tested in English, and on June 19 in German. After that, the Freestyle and Line Drawing exams will take place (June 20 and 21, respectively).

This will be followed by exams in courses related to admission to music departments: “Harmony” (June 22), “Music Ear Test” (June 23), “Perception and Knowledge of Music” (June 24), “Musical Performance and Interpretation” (26 June).

Finally, special course exams in French (June 27), Spanish (June 28) and Italian (June 29) will be passed.

Graduation from high school

June 1, in addition to the opening day of the Panhellenic Examinations for GEL candidates, is also the first day of examinations for high school students. In particular, next Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the last lessons will be held in the upper classes of the territory. Then, from 1 to 15 June, entrance and final exams will be held.