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Exam Review

Key Facts: Državna Matura Psychology Exam

Centrally developed and scored by the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO) in Zagreb, Croatia.

Governed by the Pravilnik o polaganju državne mature (NN 56/2026).

The exam consists of 54 points administered over a single 90-minute testing session.

Minimum passing threshold is set at 30% (16.20 out of 54 points).

Features four key curriculum domains: Introduction & Biological Bases (25%), Cognitive Processes (35%), Emotions & Motivation (20%), and Personality & Social Psychology (20%).

Strictly paper-based examination with no external aids, dictionaries, or electronic devices permitted.

Exam scores are uploaded directly to the central Postani-student portal for university admissions ranking.

Administered across two national sessions: the summer examination window (ljetni rok) in June and the autumn window (jesenski rok) in late August/September.

The Croatian Državna matura in Psychology (Psihologija) is a 90-minute, 54-point national exit exam testing biological bases, cognitive processes, emotions, motivation, and personality/social psychology; 16.20/54 points (30%) is required to pass.

Sample Državna Matura Psychology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Državna Matura Psychology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In an experimental study investigating the effect of sleep deprivation on short-term memory performance, what is the independent variable?
A.The amount of sleep allowed to participants
B.The number of words recalled on the memory test
C.The age and baseline intelligence of the participants
D.The room temperature during the testing session
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor deliberately manipulated by the experimenter to observe its effect on behavior. Here, the researcher manipulates the amount of sleep participants receive.
2A psychologist finds a correlation coefficient of r = -0.82 between daily screen time and academic performance in adolescents. What does this statistical value indicate?
A.Screen time has virtually no relationship with academic performance
B.As daily screen time increases, academic performance tends to decrease significantly
C.Excessive screen time directly causes students to fail their school examinations
D.Decreased academic performance causes adolescents to spend more time on screens
Explanation: A correlation coefficient of -0.82 indicates a strong negative linear relationship: higher values on one variable correspond systematically to lower values on the other. However, correlation alone does not establish causation.
3Which anatomical structure of a neuron is primarily responsible for receiving incoming chemical signals from adjacent neurons?
A.Axon terminal
B.Myelin sheath
C.Dendrite
D.Node of Ranvier
Explanation: Dendrites are branching extensions of the neuron soma covered in receptors that receive incoming neurotransmitter signals from presynaptic neurons and convey graded electrical potentials toward the cell body.
4What is the primary function of the myelin sheath that covers many neuronal axons?
A.It synthesizes neurotransmitter molecules in the cell body
B.It regulates intracellular glucose metabolism in glial cells
C.It anchors the post-synaptic receptors in the synaptic cleft
D.It electrically insulates the axon and increases the speed of nerve impulse propagation
Explanation: The myelin sheath is a lipid-rich layer formed by oligodendrocytes or Schwann cells that insulates the axon, enabling rapid saltatory conduction of action potentials from node to node.
5Which cerebral lobe contains the primary visual cortex (striate cortex) responsible for processing visual sensory input?
A.Occipital lobe
B.Temporal lobe
C.Parietal lobe
D.Frontal lobe
Explanation: The occipital lobe located at the posterior of the cerebral cortex houses the primary visual cortex (Brodmann area 17), which receives and interprets retinotopic visual information from the eyes via the thalamus.
6When an individual suddenly encounters an aggressive predator, which division of the autonomic nervous system triggers the 'fight-or-flight' physiological response?
A.Parasympathetic nervous system
B.Sympathetic nervous system
C.Somatic nervous system
D.Enteric sensory system
Explanation: The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system mobilizes metabolic resources during emergency situations, dilating pupils, increasing heart rate, inhibiting digestion, and preparing the body for fight or flight.
7What psychophysical term designates the minimum intensity of physical stimulation required for a sensory receptor to detect a stimulus 50% of the time?
A.Difference threshold (just noticeable difference)
B.Sensory adaptation level
C.Absolute threshold
D.Transduction potential
Explanation: The absolute threshold is defined psychophysically as the weakest stimulus intensity that an organism can consciously detect on 50 percent of presentation trials.
8Why is the pituitary gland historically referred to as the 'master gland' of the human endocrine system?
A.It produces the largest volume of steroid hormones in the human body
B.It is the only endocrine gland located within the peripheral nervous system
C.It directly controls the autonomic nervous system without central nervous system oversight
D.It releases tropic hormones that stimulate and regulate the activity of other endocrine glands
Explanation: The pituitary gland secretes tropic hormones (such as ACTH, TSH, LH, and FSH) that stimulate target endocrine organs throughout the body, operating under the neurosecretory guidance of the hypothalamus.
9According to the 'all-or-none' law of axonal transmission, what occurs once the neuronal membrane potential reaches its excitation threshold?
A.The action potential fires at a constant amplitude and speed regardless of stimulus intensity
B.The action potential fires with an amplitude strictly proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus
C.The axon releases all of its available neurotransmitter vesicles into the synaptic gap
D.The cell initiates a graded potential that gradually decays along the axonal length
Explanation: The all-or-none law states that once depolarizing input reaches threshold (typically around -55 mV), an action potential is triggered at full strength; greater stimulus intensity increases firing frequency, not spike magnitude.
10Which chemical substance serves as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, preventing neural overexcitation?
A.Glutamate
B.Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
C.Norepinephrine
D.Acetylcholine
Explanation: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. By binding to GABA-A receptors, it opens chloride channels, causing hyperpolarization that reduces neuronal excitability.

About the Državna Matura Psychology Exam

The Državna matura in Psychology (Psihologija) is a national standardized elective exit examination administered across the Republic of Croatia by the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO). Regulated by the Pravilnik o polaganju državne mature (NN 56/2026), the exam evaluates upper-secondary graduates on their comprehension and practical application of psychological science. As an elective subject (izborni predmet), it is among the most sought-after examinations by candidates applying to university programs in psychology, pedagogy, sociology, social work, special education, speech therapy, and communication studies. The exam totals 54 raw points administered in a 90-minute testing session. Tasks assess four core curriculum domains: Introduction to Psychology and Biological Bases (25%), Cognitive Processes (35%), Emotions and Motivation (20%), and Personality and Social Psychology (20%). The format blends multiple-choice questions, matching tasks, and short constructed-response questions based on psychological research experiments and real-life behavioural case studies. The national passing grade (ocjena dovoljan 2) requires a minimum score of 30% (16.20/54 points).

Exam sponsor: NCVVO. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

54 questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

16.20 out of 54 points (30%)

Exam / Certification Fees

Free for regular seniors; fee per exam applies for re-sits/external candidates.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

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.

25%

Uvod u psihologiju i biološke osnove (Introduction & Biological Bases)

Psychological epistemology, scientific research methodology (independent/dependent variables, experimental controls, correlation vs. causation, surveys, observational techniques), neuronal transmission, neurotransmitter action, brain anatomy and functional cerebral localization, peripheral autonomic nervous system branches, endocrine regulation of behavior, and sensory threshold psychophysics.

35%

Kognitivni procesi (Cognitive Processes)

Sensory perception, Gestalt grouping principles, attention mechanisms, information-processing memory models, sensory register, working memory, long-term declarative and procedural systems, proactive/retroactive interference, classical conditioning paradigms, operant schedules of reinforcement, cognitive maps, problem solving, heuristics, cognitive biases, language structures, and psychometric intelligence theories.

20%

Čuvstva i motivacija (Emotions and Motivation)

Classical and modern emotion theories (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer cognitive appraisal), universal facial expressions, neurobiology of affect (amygdala and limbic pathways), biological drives, homeostasis, cognitive motives, intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, Maslow's hierarchy, Yerkes-Dodson arousal theory, Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome, acute vs. chronic stress, and ego defense mechanisms.

20%

Ličnost i socijalna psihologija (Personality and Social Psychology)

Major personality frameworks (Freudian psychoanalysis, Five-Factor Model traits, Rogers' humanistic self-concept, Bandura's reciprocal determinism), objective and projective personality assessment, lifespan development (Piagetian cognitive stages, Eriksonian psychosocial crises), social perception, attribution theory, conformity, obedience to authority, group decision-making phenomena, bystander intervention, prejudice, and clinical psychological disorders.

Preparing for the Državna Matura Psychology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 16.20 out of 54 points (30%)
  • Exam length: 54 questions
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • 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 Psychology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the distinction between correlation and causation: remember that correlation indicates an association between variables but does not prove directional causality, whereas experiments allow causal inference through manipulation of an independent variable.
2Review physiological psychology thoroughly: memorize the functions of major neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine) and cerebral structures (hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, Broca's and Wernicke's areas).
3Differentiate classical vs. operant conditioning terms: ensure you can effortlessly identify unconditioned stimulus (UCS), conditioned stimulus (CS), positive/negative reinforcement, and positive/negative punishment in applied vignettes.
4Compare emotion theories side by side: understand the exact chronological sequence of stimulus, physiological arousal, and cognitive appraisal in James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter-Singer models.
5Memorize developmental milestones: study Piaget's four stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational) and Erikson's eight psychosocial crises with their associated age ranges and developmental challenges.
6Practice solving past NCVVO exams within the strict 90-minute time limit to ensure efficient pacing across both multiple-choice and short constructed-response questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format and duration of the Državna matura Psychology exam?

The examination lasts 90 continuous minutes and carries a total of 54 points. It consists of multiple-choice questions (with 4 response options), matching tasks, short-answer questions, and scenario-based questions requiring candidates to analyze experimental designs or psychological phenomena.

What is the minimum passing score for the Psychology exam?

Under NCVVO grading thresholds, the minimum passing score (prag prolaznosti for grade dovoljan 2) is 30%, which corresponds to 16.20 out of 54 raw points. Higher grade cutoffs are approximately: dobar 3 at 50% (27.00 points), vrlo dobar 4 at 70% (37.80 points), and odličan 5 at 85% (45.90 points).

Which university programs require or award points for the Psychology matura?

The Psychology matura is primarily required or brings significant evaluation points for enrollment in undergraduate Psychology departments (such as FFZG, FFOS, FFRI, FFZD, and Catholic University of Croatia), as well as Sociology, Pedagogy, Social Work (Pravni fakultet), Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences (ERF), and teacher training colleges.

Are calculators, formula sheets, or reference books permitted during the exam?

No aids are permitted during the Psychology examination. Candidates are only allowed to use a blue or black ballpoint pen. All necessary stimulus materials, graphs, and experiment descriptions are provided within the examination booklet.

Is there negative marking for incorrect answers on the exam?

No. The NCVVO matura does not penalize incorrect answers with negative points. An incorrect answer or an omitted response receives 0 points. Candidates are encouraged to answer every single question on the answer sheet.

How often is the Državna matura in Psychology administered?

Like other state matura examinations in Croatia, Psychology is held twice per academic year: the primary summer session (ljetni rok) in June, and the autumn re-sit session (jesenski rok) in late August or early September.

How should experimental scenarios be approached on the NCVVO Psychology exam?

Carefully identify the independent variable (what the researcher manipulates), the dependent variable (what is measured), control conditions, and potential confounding variables. Many exam questions test whether students can differentiate between correlation and experimental causation.