‘First there was shock, then pride.’ State exam perfect scores came from consistency and practice

A total of 81 young people in Estonia achieved a perfect 100-point score on their state exams this year, a remarkable feat celebrated at a formal reception hosted by the Education and Youth Board (Harno). The results highlight the dedication and academic prowess of Estonia's youth.

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This wasn't a goal in itself. I got 99 points on a practice exam and it just happened that way.

The mathematics exam, specifically the broad course, saw the highest concentration of top scores, with students across 37 different schools nationwide reaching the maximum point threshold. This widespread success indicates a strong performance in mathematics education throughout the country.

Laura Kirke Bertel Pertel, a graduate of Miina Härma Gymnasium who scored perfectly on the Estonian language state exam, shared her perspective on achieving the top result. She noted that it wasn't an initial goal but a natural outcome after scoring 99 points on a practice exam. "It just happened that way," she said, expressing initial disbelief at her results.

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The most important thing was simply to read a lot.

Bertel Pertel attributed her success significantly to consistent reading habits. She mentioned a recent conscious effort to prioritize works by female authors, explaining that the school's mandatory reading list is dominated by male writers. By exploring a wider range of authors, she aimed to broaden her understanding of different writing styles and perspectives.

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Lately, I have consciously preferred the works of female authors, because in the school's compulsory literature, male authors dominate in my opinion. Thus, I wanted to broaden my horizons and get acquainted with different writing styles.