General Education

General education providers can be state or private. Current types of general education providers are as follows: 

• pradinė mokykla (primary school), 
• progimnazija (pre-gymnasium) or pagrindinė mokykla (basic (lower secondary) school), 
• gimnazija (gymnasium). 

Under the school reform, since 1^st of September 2017, secondary schools (vidurinė mokykla) which provided primary and basic (lower) secondary, and upper secondary education programmes, do not exist as a separate type of general education institutions. 

The list of general education providers and general educational programmes which they are providing is presented at www.aikos.smm.lt.

General education system is with 12 years duration and consists of the following stages:

• primary education (pradinis ugdymas), 4 years; 
• basic (lower secondary) education (pagrindinis ugdymas), 6 years;
• upper secondary education (vidurinis ugdymas), 2 years.

In 2006, external evaluation of general education providers (institutional assessment) was introduced and Nacionalinė mokyklų vertinimo agentūra (National Agency for School Evaluation, https://www.nsa.smm.lt/english/) was authorised to provide such the assessment. Since 2017, the accreditation of the general education providers was established and this is under the authority of the Agency too. Only accredited school can provide upper secondary education programme.

Evaluation of primary education and basic (lower) education programmes, with exception of upper secondary education programmes, is not foreseen according to national legislation. However general education providers have to follow general requirements and standards, and general educational plans adopted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports. 

Accreditation of upper secondary education programmes was established in 2004. External expert group evaluates upper secondary programme of a particular general education provider and decision regarding accreditation on the basis of evaluation results is taken by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.  

Primary education (1-4 grades) 

Primary education is compulsory. It lasts for 4 years, from 7 to 11 (in exceptional cases from 6 to 10). The purpose of primary education programme is the development of a healthy, active, and creative child who has acquired elementary literacy, social, informational and cognitive skills, which are necessary for proceeding to basic (lower secondary) education.

The programme consists of the following subjects: moral education (religion or ethics), languages (mother tongue and first foreign language), mathematics, perception of the world, arts (drawing, music, dance), and physical education. Schools may also choose to offer non-traditional curricula based on Montessori, Waldorf, Suzuki.
Pupil assessment may take any form, depending on the teacher, such as notes, reviews, and descriptions. However, no grades are given at this stage. 

After successful completion of the primary education programme, pupils are awarded Pradinio išsilavinimo pažymėjimas (Primary Education Certificate). 

Basic (lower secondary) education (5-10 grades)  

Basic (lower secondary) education is compulsory and lasts for 6 years (ages 10/11 to 16/17). The purpose of basic education program is to provide an individual with the basics of moral, socio-cultural and civic maturity, general literacy and the basics of technological literacy, to cultivate national consciousness, to foster an intent and ability to make decisions and choices and to continue learning.

The programme consists of two stages: first stage is with 4 years duration (5th – 8th grades) and the second stage is with 2 years duration (9th – 10th grades, I-II grades in gymnasium). The purpose of first stage is to integrate the basics of knowledge, abilities and skills. The second stage is oriented to education of abstract thinking. 
Since the 9th grade (I grade in gymnasium), student can choose subjects or modules of subjects depending on abilities and interests. The second foreign language is compulsory since 6th grade but can be started to learn in the 5th grade too. 

Basic (lower secondary) education is offered by basic (lower secondary) schools, pre-gymnasiums, special schools, etc. 

The program consists of the following subjects: moral education (religion or ethics), languages (mother tongue, first and second foreign languages), mathematics, natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), social education (history, geography, civil education, economics and enterprise, etc.), arts (drawing, music, dance, theatre, and modern arts), information technologies, technologies, physical education. Some subjects could be studied at an intensified level.

At this stage, assessment is criterion-referenced. A 1 to 10 marking system is used with 10 as the highest mark and 4 as the lowest passing mark.

Pupils who complete basic (lower secondary) education are awarded Pagrindinio išsilavinimo pažymėjimas (Basic Education Certificate) which is at NQF level 3 of and at EQF level 3. The certificate provides right to upper secondary education or vocational training programmes. 

Basic (lower secondary) education can also be acquired at vocational education schools/centres (profesinės mokyklos, profesiniai centrai). The programmes offered by vocational education schools combine basic (lower secondary) and vocational training. The duration of such programmes is 3 years. After completion of such studies, pupils obtain Pagrindinio išsilavinimo pažymėjimas (Basic Education Certificate) and Profesinio mokymo diplomas (Vocational Education Diploma). 

Upper secondary education (III-IV grades in gymnasium) 

Secondary education is made available to everybody who has successfully completed basic (lower secondary) education. It lasts for 2 years (ages 17/18 to 18/19). The purpose of secondary education is to assist a person in the acquisition of general academic, socio-cultural and technological literacy, moral, national and civic maturity. 

Upper secondary education is offered by gymnasiums, special schools, etc. 

The core of the secondary program consists of the following subjects: moral education (religion or ethics), languages (mother tongue and foreign languages), mathematics, social education (history, geography, or an integrated social sciences course), natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry, or an integrated natural sciences course), arts (drawing, music, dance, theatre, or modern arts), information technologies, technologies, and physical education. The choice of subjects for each pupil is based on individuality and differentiation. 

After completing the secondary education curriculum, pupils must pass state-level leaving examinations. State Matura examination is an examination in which tasks are prepared in accordance with the state maturity examination programme (requirements). It is conducted at the state maturity examination centres. Until 2025, there were two types of leaving examinations: state level and school-level. School-level examinations were held and assessed at school.

Up until 2010, all state-level examinations had an equivalent examination at school-level. From 2010, the following examinations are offered: 

• State and school level (offered until 2025): Lithuanian.
• State level: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Information Technology, Mathematics, Foreign languages (English, French, German), Native language (Belorussian, Polish, Russian, German), Geography (offered only as school-level in 2010-2011). As of 2025, three new state-level examinations are introduced: Economics and Entrepreneurship, Philosophy and Engineering Technologies.
• School level (offered until 2025): Native language (Belorussian, Polish, Russian, German), Arts, Musicology, Technologies. 

All pupils must take a compulsory Lithuanian examination and one elective examination.

Previously more examinations were required, please see below: 

As in basic (lower secondary) education, assessment at school as well as in the school-level examinations is criterion-referenced. A 10 point scale is used with 10 as the highest mark and 4 as the lowest passing mark. 

Until 2013, the results of the state-level examinations were norm-referenced rated on a 1–100 point scale. Since 2013, a criterion-referenced grading is being gradually introduced for state-level examinations with 100 as the highest mark and 16 as the lowest passing mark. 

In 2025 the minimum passing threshold for Lithuania’s State Matura examinations was 40 out of 100 on the adjusted scale. A candidate is considered to have passed the State Matura examination if obtain at least 35 points out of the possible 100. For assessment purposes, raw State Matura examination scores ranging from 35 to 95 points inclusive are converted into the final grade (expressed in points) by adding five points to the candidate's raw score. The conversion formula is as follows: f(x) = x + 5, where x is the raw score obtained by the candidate (ranging from 35 to 95), and f(x) is the final grade expressed in points. If a candidate scores between 96 and 100 points, the result is converted to the maximum final grade of 100 points. A score of 40 corresponds to the threshold level of achievement. A score between 41 and 49 is considered satisfactory, between 50 and 85 is basic, and between 86 and 100 indicates an advanced level of achievement (Clause 27, as amended by Order No. V-21 of 13 January 2025).

In the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 academic years the minimum passing threshold for Lithuania’s State Matura examinations corresponds to 30 out of 100 points  on the adjusted scale  (according to the Order of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport No. V-1269 of 24 August 2022 ). A score between 30 and 40 corresponds to the threshold level of achievement. A score between 41 and 49 is considered satisfactory, between 50 and 85 is basic, and between 86 and 100 indicates an advanced level of achievement. The total score of the parts of the State Matura examination is set as 100 points. The state maturity examination is considered passed if a candidate scores 25 points out of 100 possible points (pursuant to the Description of the Procedure for Organizing and Conducting the State Matura examination (Valstybinių brandos egzaminų organizavimo ir vykdymo tvarkos aprašas)). Scores of the state maturity examination from 25 to 95 inclusive are converted into grades by adding five to the number of points obtained, while scores from 96 to 100 inclusive are converted into a final grade of 100 points.

Pupils who successfully complete the secondary education curriculum and pass the required examinations are considered to have acquired upper secondary education and awarded Brandos atestatas (Maturity Certificate). To obtain a Maturity Certificate, a pupil must pass two State Matura examinations (except for cases when a candidate is exempted from the selected State Matura examination by an order of the school principal).

When applying for higher education in Lithuania, it is necessary to pass three State Matura examinations: Lithuanian language and literature (A or B course), mathematics (A or B course), and one chosen subject.

The State Matura examination in mathematics is not mandatory for graduating from school. The State Matura examination in this subject is mandatory for admission to higher education institutions, except for those enrolling in arts studies.

Brandos atestatas is at NQF level 4 and at EQF level 4. 

Secondary education can also be acquired at vocational education schools/centres (profesinės mokyklos, profesiniai centrai). The programmes offered by vocational education schools combine upper secondary education curriculum and vocational training. The duration of such programmes is 3 years. After successful completion of such studies, pupils obtain Brandos atestatas (Maturity Certificate) and Profesinio mokymo diplomas (Vocational Education Diploma). Brandos atestatas leads to higher education studies. 

Digital verification of Maturity Certificates (Brandos atestatas)

From 2023-05-01 onwards general and vocational education credential diplomas, certificates and their duplicates are issued only as digital credentials, without a corresponding physical diploma. Thus, institutions interested in authenticity of these credentials are directed to request a verification code and/or QR code from the owner of the credential that can be used to check their authenticity online. The official state register can be found by following this link: https://www.dakpr.smm.lt/aikos2-dakpr/edocSearch.xhtml. Additional information on the register and verification can be found here: https://www.dakpr.smm.lt/aikos2-dakpr/.

From 2024, Lithuanian school graduates who pass the matriculation examinations will receive a digital Matriculation Certificate in Lithuanian and English. The form of the bilingual Matriculation Certificate is provided in Appendix 10 of the Procedure for the Issuance of Certificates and Matriculation Certificates and the example of filling out the Matriculation Certificate is provided in Appendix 11. Since last year, the Matriculation Certificate has been issued digitally and is issued without an appendix. A digital certificate of learning achievements (Mokymosi pasiekimų pažymėjimas) is issued to those who have obtained a Matriculation Certificate and have additionally or repeatedly taken matriculation exams (to achieve higher scores) or (and) after completing certain subject programs (to achieve higher annual grades). The certificate form is provided in Appendix 3 of the Procedure for Issuing Certificates and Matriculation Certificates. A bilingual digital Matriculation Certificate will simplify the procedures for those who plan to study abroad.

Useful links:  

• The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, www.smm.lt 
• National Agency for Education, www.nsa.smm.lt 
• Database AIKOS providing information on general education providers and their programmes, www.aikos.smm.lt 
• Diploma, attestation and qualification certificates register (DAKPR):  https://www.dakpr.smm.lt/aikos2-dakpr/