Half of ninth-graders received a failing grade on their final math test.

Half of the ninth-year students who took the final math test this year received a failing grade (less than 50%), the National Examinations Jury (JNE) reported on Monday.

On the other hand, according to the JNE note, in the Portuguese language test, the majority of students (76%) obtained a positive score equal to or greater than 50%.

In total, 197,075 final tests of the 3rd cycle of basic education were administered during the first stage, which took place from 12 to 17 June, of which 94,002 were in mathematics and 92,142 in Portuguese.

The average scores for the math and Portuguese exams were 51 and 59 points respectively on a scale from 0 to 100.

Compared to 2023, the average score on Portuguese tests has fallen by two points, while in mathematics it has increased by eight points.

However, JNE points out, referring to the maths exam, that “the fact that tests in the same subject are not comparable across different school years does not allow us to conclude that student performance has improved.”

These statistics only include data from the Portuguese language and mathematics tests taken by the majority of students, excluding students with special educational needs or for whom Portuguese is not their first language.

The final examinations for the 9th year of basic education, which in 2024 continued to be held in paper format, with the exception of the Portuguese Second Language examinations for students with severe and profound deafness, were held in 1,219 schools in Portugal and abroad (with Portuguese-language curriculum).

The exams, which weigh 30% of the final grade, were assessed by 4,874 teachers, with around 10,000 teachers participating in the proctoring of the tests.

JNE stresses that the tests were carried out “with the necessary normality, without any serious problems.”

The first stage is mandatory for all boarding students who meet the admission requirements.