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Liceo scientifico (in Italian, Scientific Lyceum) is a secondary school type in Italy. It lasts 5 years (students of about 14-19 years of age).

Students follow a specific pattern of courses that covers a large range of disciplines: Italian language and literature, history, philosophy, Latin, mathematics, physics, foreign language (usually English, German or French, but many schools offer different courses), life sciences, art history and chemistry. It offers a complete and widespread range of knowlegdge, allowing its students to attend most University courses.

Traditionally, a Liceo scientifico follows a specific pattern for weekly lessons as described below. Please notice the difference between the biennio (the first two school years) and the triennio (the remaining three), which is characterised by higher skill requirements and different subjects. The minimum days of lessons per year are 200.

Many institutes offer other plans of study; the most common (in the whole Country) are: “sperimentazione linguistica” (with additional 3 hours per week of a Second foreign language) and “sperimentazione Piano Nazionale di Informatica P.N.I.” with the following plan:

Different patterns can be followed by single institutes, usually about the teaching of computer science and other scientific disciplines.

Final exam

Since 1999, the final test (in Italian, maturità - comparable to the British A-level) lasts four days and generally consists of:

• An Italian language writing test, common to all Italian secondary schools - where knowledge of literature, history, geography, politics and/or general culture is needed;
• A written mathematics test, usually dealing with principles of real analysis, trigonometry, geometry and linear algebra;
• A written test called terza prova ("third test"), dealing with some or all of the remaining subjects; and
• An hour-long oral examination, consisting of a 10-minute oral presentation followed by a number of questions covering all the subjects and programs of the last year attended.

Notes