Free Practice Questions for Državna Matura English
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Key Facts: Državna Matura English Exam
180 Min
Level A total exam duration across 3 sections
NCVVO Ispitni katalog ENG-A-2026
85 Points
Level A total scoreable points
NCVVO Ispitni katalog ENG-A-2026
30%
Minimum passing score threshold on both levels
Pravilnik o polaganju državne mature (NN 56/2026)
25.50 / 85
Level A minimum passing threshold (ocjena dovoljan 2)
NCVVO Official Cutoffs
18.00 / 60
Level B minimum passing threshold (ocjena dovoljan 2)
NCVVO Official Cutoffs
CEFR B2
Level A target proficiency alignment
Common European Framework of Reference / NCVVO
CEFR A2+
Level B target proficiency alignment
Common European Framework of Reference / NCVVO
200–250
Required word count for Level A discursive essay
NCVVO Ispitni katalog ENG-A-2026
Free
Summer session fee for regular secondary seniors
MZO / NCVVO Regulations
The Croatian Državna matura English is a national exam offered at Level A (CEFR B2, 180 min, 85 pts) and Level B (CEFR A2+, 105 min, 60 pts) testing reading, listening, language use, and writing, requiring 30% to pass.
Sample Državna Matura English Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Državna Matura English exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the excerpt below: 'In 2018, conservation biologists launched the LIFE Lynx project in Croatia and Slovenia to rescue the Dinaric-SE Alpine lynx population from severe inbreeding. By translocating wild lynx from viable populations in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania and Slovakia, researchers aimed to introduce fresh genetic diversity and prevent local extinction.' According to the passage, what was the primary purpose of translocating lynx from the Carpathians?
2Read the excerpt below from a museum review: 'The newly renovated Nikola Tesla Technical Museum exhibition in Zagreb invites visitors to touch, manipulate, and experiment with recreated prototypes. Rather than viewing historical inventions as static relics locked behind glass, visitors witness alternating currents and electromagnetic induction first-hand. While traditional purists might lament the departure from contemplative quiet, this dynamic pedagogical approach successfully demystifies complex scientific principles for younger generations.' What is the author's overall attitude toward the interactive elements of the exhibition?
3Read the library policy excerpt below: 'University Library Notice: Beginning October 1, undergraduate students registered in full-time degree programs may borrow up to six monographic volumes for a duration of twenty-one calendar days. Reference dictionaries, master's theses, rare cartographic prints, and current periodical issues remain strictly non-circulating and must be consulted within the designated quiet reading room upon presentation of a valid student identification card.' Which of the following items may an undergraduate student borrow and take out of the library?
4Read the science report excerpt below: 'Urban vertical farming systems employ controlled-environment agriculture to cultivate leafy greens in stacked layers inside urban warehouses. By utilizing recirculating closed-loop hydroponics, vertical facilities reduce freshwater consumption by up to ninety-five percent compared to conventional outdoor farming. Furthermore, because produce is grown within city perimeters, transportation emissions associated with cross-country refrigeration are drastically curtailed.' According to the text, what is one major environmental advantage of vertical farming?
5Read the travel article excerpt below: 'The Parenzana cycling trail winds along a decommissioned narrow-gauge railway line between Trieste and Poreč. While seasoned endurance cyclists can conquer the Croatian gravel sectors in a single weekend, recreational riders are strongly advised to divide the route into modest stages of thirty to forty kilometers per day. This allows sufficient leisure to explore hilltop medieval settlements like Motovun and sample local truffles without succumbing to physical exhaustion.' What advice does the passage offer to amateur or recreational cyclists?
6Read the energy briefing excerpt below: 'Geothermal district heating utilizes thermal energy stored deep beneath the Earth's crust. In regions underlain by permeable sedimentary basins, deep exploratory boreholes reach geothermal aquifers at temperatures exceeding eighty degrees Celsius. Unlike surface solar arrays and wind turbines, which exhibit intermittent generation patterns tied to day-night cycles and meteorological shifts, geothermal plants deliver continuous baseload energy regardless of seasonal weather extremes.' Why do energy planners favor geothermal power over wind and solar installations according to the text?
7Read the archaeology excerpt below: 'Underwater archaeologists working near the island of Pag recently excavated a remarkably well-preserved first-century Roman merchant vessel resting thirty meters beneath the surface. Among the ceramic cargo, divers uncovered over one hundred stamped amphorae containing crystallized residue of fermented fish sauce (garum). Epigraphic analysis of the manufacturer seal impressions revealed distinctive trademarks belonging to an aristocratic merchant workshop based in Pompeii, conclusively establishing the vessel's point of origin.' What evidence conclusively identified the geographical origin of the sunken Roman merchant vessel?
8Read the urban trends excerpt below: 'In recent years, coastal cities in southern Europe have transformed into vibrant hubs for digital nomads. While competitive living costs and year-round mild climates initially draw remote professionals, municipal surveys indicate that reliable high-speed fiber-optic internet infrastructure and flexible co-working spaces rank as the decisive factors determining whether remote workers choose to extend their stay beyond the initial tourist season.' According to the passage, which factor is most crucial in convincing remote workers to remain long-term?
9Read the biology excerpt below: 'When a honeybee scout discovers a prolific nectar source, she returns to the hive and performs a ritualized dance known as the waggle dance on the vertical surface of the honeycomb. The orientation of the central waggle run relative to gravity directly encodes the directional angle of the floral patch with respect to the current azimuth of the sun, while the duration of the waggle vibration communicates the flight distance to the food source.' In the honeybee waggle dance, what piece of information is conveyed by the angle of the dance relative to vertical gravity?
10Read the history excerpt below: 'Following Johannes Gutenberg's invention of movable metal type in Mainz, printing technology diffused rapidly across Europe. In 1494, a printing press was established in the coastal Croatian town of Senj. What made the Senj press historically extraordinary was its specialization in publishing liturgical missals in the angular Glagolitic script rather than the dominant Latin alphabet, demonstrating the cultural resilience and clerical autonomy of the local community.' Why was the fifteenth-century printing press in Senj considered remarkable?
About the Državna Matura English Exam
The Državna matura in English Language (Engleski jezik) is the national standardized modern language leaving examination administered across the Republic of Croatia by the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (Nacionalni centar za vanjsko vrednovanje obrazovanja — NCVVO), established pursuant to the Pravilnik o polaganju državne mature (NN 56/2026). As a core compulsory foreign language examination for gymnasium and four-year vocational graduates, candidates choose between Higher Level A (viša razina, corresponding to CEFR B2) and Basic Level B (osnovna razina, corresponding to CEFR A2+). Level A totals 85 scoreable points across three testing parts: Reading comprehension (40 points, 70 minutes), Listening comprehension (25 points, approximately 35 minutes with centrally broadcast audio CD), and Writing/Essay (20 points, 75 minutes, requiring a 200–250 word formal argumentative or discursive essay). Level B totals 60 scoreable points (Reading 30 points, Listening 20 points, Short Writing 10 points) over a 105-minute session, with reading and writing administered together in 75 minutes and listening taking approximately 30 minutes. A minimum national cutoff of 30% is required to achieve a passing grade (ocjena dovoljan 2), corresponding to 25.50/85 points on Level A and 18.00/60 points on Level B. Performance serves as a decisive admissions ranking metric for Croatian university faculties.
Exam sponsor: NCVVO. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
85 questions
Time Limit
180 minutes (Level A) / 105 minutes (Level B)
Passing Score
25.50 out of 85 points (30% on Level A)
Exam / Certification Fees
Free for regular seniors; fee per exam applies for re-sits/external candidates.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Official sources
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Comprehension (Čitanje s razumijevanjem)
Short and extended authentic English texts including informational articles, expository prose, essays, narratives, and literary excerpts. Evaluates scanning for specific details, skimming for general gist, drawing contextual inferences, identifying authorial viewpoint and attitude, and reconstructing text cohesion and paragraph structure.
Language in Context (Uporaba jezika)
Grammatical syntax, morphological transformations, and advanced lexical competence. Encompasses narrative tense harmony, modal verbs of deduction and obligation, mixed conditionals, inversion, passive and causative constructions, restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses, collocations, phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, and affixation word formation.
Discourse and Pragmatics (Komunikacijska i diskursna kompetencija)
Communicative functions, sociolinguistic appropriateness, register differentiation (formal, neutral, informal), cohesive transitions, discourse markers, tone, stance, and rhetorical conventions across transactional and discursive contexts.
Preparing for the Državna Matura English Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 25.50 out of 85 points (30% on Level A)
- Exam length: 85 questions
- Time limit: 180 minutes (Level A) / 105 minutes (Level B)
- Exam / certification fees: Free for regular seniors; fee per exam applies for re-sits/external candidates. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Državna Matura English: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Higher Level (A) and Basic Level (B) on the English matura?
Higher Level A corresponds to CEFR B2 with 85 total points across 180 minutes (Reading 70 min/40 pts, Listening 35 min/25 pts, Essay 75 min/20 pts with a 200–250 word requirement). Basic Level B corresponds to CEFR A2+ with 60 total points across 105 minutes (Reading 30 pts, Listening 20 pts, Short Writing 10 pts). Students choose the level required or recommended by their target university faculties on the Postani-student portal.
What is the minimum passing threshold (prag prolaznosti) for English Language?
The minimum passing threshold established by NCVVO is 30% of total points on both levels. For Level A, candidates must achieve at least 25.50 out of 85 points. For Level B, candidates must achieve at least 18.00 out of 60 points. Higher percentiles determine grades dobar (3), vrlo dobar (4), and odličan (5).
How is the essay (školski esej) evaluated on Level A?
The Level A essay is evaluated out of 20 points across four equal criteria (5 points each): Task Achievement (Izvršenje zadatka — addressing all prompt bullet points with developed arguments), Coherence and Cohesion (Kohezija i koherentnost — clear paragraphing, logical progression, linking devices), Lexical Resource (Rječnik — range, accuracy, appropriateness of vocabulary, collocations), and Grammatical Accuracy (Gramatika — sentence structure variety, complex clauses, morphological accuracy). Writing fewer than the required word count (200–250 words) or going completely off-topic incurs point penalties.
How does the listening comprehension section work during the examination?
The listening comprehension section (Slušanje s razumijevanjem) uses an official standardized audio recording played centrally over high-quality sound equipment in each examination room. Recordings feature authentic native speaker accents (British, American, Australian) and each text is played twice with pauses for reading questions and checking answers. Candidates mark their responses on the official concept sheet before transferring them to the machine-scannable answer sheet (list za odgovore).
Are dictionaries, reference sheets, or electronic devices allowed during the exam?
No. No dictionaries (monolingual or bilingual), reference grammar sheets, mobile phones, smartwatches, or programmable devices are permitted in the examination room. Candidates may only bring approved writing instruments (blue or black ink ballpoint pens; pencils and erasers are permitted only for drafting on designated scrap sheets).
Which university programs require Level A (viša razina) English?
Level A English is required or strongly prioritized by universities for competitive fields such as English Studies (Anglistika), Law (Pravo), Economics and Business (Ekonomija), International Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Psychology, Medicine, and most technical university programs where international academic literature is heavily utilized.
How are points deducted for incorrect answers on multiple-choice items?
There is no negative marking on the Croatian Državna matura. Correct answers receive 1 point (or the assigned item value), while incorrect or unanswered questions receive 0 points. Candidates are encouraged to attempt every question.