Pan-hellenic Exams 2025: The Unexpected Topic of Modern Greek Language Close to Candidates’ Experiences – Experts’ Analysis

A topic beyond predictions but close to the personal experiences of candidates was presented in today’s Pan-hellenic exams for the subject of Literature on Friday, May 30, 2025. Although creativity wasn’t expected to be a focal point for these exams, candidates could draw information from their personal experiences, according to Eleftheria Politis, philologist and teacher at the Social Frontistirio of Nea Smyrni Municipality. ‘The topic itself could be characterized as creative and revolutionary,’ she said, adding that ‘at the same time, it was open-ended, and students could easily approach it based on their own experiences since it touches their everyday lives.’ According to Ms. Politis, the texts were recent, without linguistic peculiarities, while topics A, B, and C followed the same motif and tone as previous years. ‘These are typical topics with which candidates have familiarity,’ she explained. For the essay, Ms. Politis mentioned that ‘the questions were accessible for candidates to approach, as they could take ideas both from the given texts and their experiences.’ It is reminded that the theme discussed in today’s exams was creativity and its significance. Candidates were tasked to analyze an excerpt from a text by Antonis Lenakakis, Professor of Dramatic Arts and Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, defining creativity, an article by Kelly Fanariotou from tovima.gr (August 13, 2024), slightly edited for exam needs, and an excerpt from the book ‘For a Respectful Life’ by Giorgos Ioannou, also edited for the exam. Beyond syntactic, lexicographic, and interpretive questions, candidates were asked to write a 350-400-word article for their personal blog about why modern schools should cultivate student creativity and how they personally express their creativity in daily life. The Pan-hellenic Examinations for GEL candidates will continue on Monday, June 2, 2025, with Orientation subjects: Ancient Greek (Humanistic Studies Group), Mathematics (Science and Economics & Informatics Studies Groups), and Biology (Health Studies Group). Tomorrow, Saturday, May 31, 2025, EPAL candidates will take the Modern Greek Language (General Education) exam.