The aim of the maturity test is to show mastery of your research topic as well as your linguistic maturity. In the maturity test, you show your ability to write an investigative essay, on a subject which is connected with your Bachelors’ or Masters’ thesis. It is not permitted to have your thesis with you during the writing session.

You write the maturity test after the thesis has been passed and presented.

The language in which the maturity test should be written in is based on your school language if you have received your education in Finnish or Swedish. However, students who received their education in another language than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education overseas, take the maturity examination in the degree language. If the maturity test is taken in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, the maturity test is reviewed solely on the basis of the content.

The content is evaluated by the supervisor and the use of language by a competent language teacher.

General principles

Your supervisor gives an essay topic for you to write. The task is based on the thesis you have written. Your essay should demonstrate that you master the subject area of your thesis.

  • The maturity test is a short essay, about 400 words. It is written in a formal language.
  • You get a topic for the essay from your supervisor. Read the task carefully before you begin to write.
  • The title of your thesis should be stated in the essay.
  • The maturity test should have an introduction, discussion and conclusion. You should give your own suitable title for the essay. The essay should form a logical whole that can be read and understood by someone who does not know the content of your thesis from before.
  • The text should be almost flawless. You should show that you master the general writing rules. The writing style should be formal.
  • Te text does not contain major reference errors.
  • The text is written in the correct word order.

A maturity test can be rejected if it not written according to the guidelines above. It can equally be rejected if it contains many language errors.

After the examination, you will receive feedback, if needed, on your text. Based on this feedback the student will then retake the test in order for the errors to be corrected.