Studniowka and Matura

The end of a Polish student’s high school career is the “matura.” Students take a combination of verbal and written tests. They have to take written tests in three subjects, including Polish, math, a foreign language, science, or social studies. The written tests last 5 hours. The English exam consists of 20 grammar questions, a listening exercise and an essay. A “5” (which is like an “A”) on any of these tests means the student does not have to take the verbal test in that subject. The verbal test is administered by two or three teachers and lasts for 20 minutes. The English verbal matura includes reading a passage, answering questions about it and discussing it, a few grammar questions, and discussing one or more scenarios. These can vary from giving someone directions to describing an interesting dream.

Preparation for the Matura officially begins about 3 months before the test day with a celebration called the Studniowka, which means Hundred Days Ball. About a hundred days before the matura, seniors have an all-night party as a last big blast before getting serious about preparing the Matura. This party is similar to an American prom, but with some big differences.

The Studniowka is held at the school. Each class decorates their homerooms with some theme. For example, class 4C decorated their room to represent a newspaper office.

Some of the rooms were much more elaborately decorated, using medieval themes or South Sea Island themes. “Homeroom” is really a bit misnamed for the Polish system.

When students enter high school, they are assigned to a group and a “homeroom’ teacher. These students attend all their classes together for their entire 4 years, which can make for very close-knit groups. These decorated rooms are where the students return after dancing or while eating.

Food is brought in and prepared by parents. Soup or hot dishes are common. Parents feel very involved in this aspect of their children’s lives. Many look back fondly on their own Studniowkas and reminisce about it on this night.

Tradition is a large part of Studniowka. Traditionally, everyone wears black and white. Certain foods are served and a special treat is ice cream at midnight. Teachers are expected to attend and the students decorate a room especially for the teachers, in which they can talk and eat and drink away from the students. Students usually prepare a variety show that is performed sometime during the evening. The dancing and eating goes on until dawn, then the partiers go home to sleep all day.

From then on, the seniors are expected to apply themselves diligently to studying for their Maturas. It is not unusual for a student who is not taking a Matura exam in a subject to quit coming to that class, so they can devote that time to a subject they are being tested on. Although a student receives final grades in all his/her classes, the Matura can determine whether that student can go on to university.

On the day of the Matura, students come to school dressed up, again traditionally in black and white. They will often bring a mascot of some kind with them for luck. For the ones

who do well on their written and verbal Maturas, a place at a major university is easier to them to obtain. Those who fail have a chance to retake the exam later, but many do not.

After all the written tests are scored and recorded, the seniors are gathered together, and the grades are read out loud. The verbal test grades are announced to each group at the conclusion of their testing.

This announcing of grades is also part of the Polish educational system. In classes, students expect to have their grades read aloud to them. Polish schools have more of a verbal tradition than the American schools. American teachers assign a lot of written work, but Polish teachers expect their students to be prepared to present information verbally.

One day I observed a history class. The students had been studying the caused of World War II. The teacher, Mr. Torzewski, asked a question, then called on a student to stand and describe the events leading up to WWII. Michael spoke for about 10-15 minutes. When he sat down, Mr. Torzewski announced his grade, a “5” (an “A”). Then the teacher called on Magda to discuss the different land disputes. She had trouble explaining some of this so Mr. Torzewski told her to go to the wall map and point out what she was referring to. She still had a bit of trouble, even with some help from the teacher. When she sat down, her grade was announced as a “3” (a “C”). Madga looked relieved.