Transparency push as Finland's 500 exam sensors face scrutiny

Nearly 500 exam sensors are evaluating the responses of more than 50,000 candidates as Finland's spring matriculation exams begin, YLE writes. The exams start nationwide with a record 50,400 candidates, about 2,100 more than spring 2025, and 5,097 in Pirkanmaa (up from 4,769). The Matriculation Examination Board says the major disruption from last autumn has been addressed, and guidelines have been clarified; it can activate an incident page to share status updates and instructions with schools if needed. The spring 2026 exam will be the last to use the Abitti 1 testing system, as Abitti 2 will be introduced in autumn 2026. The sensors' identities are kept strictly secret, and YLE notes that a 2024 list includes almost 500 names, with 2025 data not yet public. Four sensors spoke to the story, illustrating a wide range of backgrounds from university lecturers and professors to a sales and marketing manager who has spent 15 years teaching French in high school.

Tamperelainen reports that spring matriculation exams began with a record nationwide candidate pool of 50,400, about 2,100 more than spring 2025, with Pirkanmaa contributing 5,097 candidates (up from 4,769).

Tamperelainen adds that Tiina Tähkä, secretary-general of the Matriculation Examination Board, says examinees should stay calm and focus on their exams.

Interviews with four sensors show the diversity of backgrounds, with many being current or former high school teachers. Recruitment is handled by invitation rather than an open search. Work happens outside regular hours and compensation depends on workload, with a single language arts test potentially yielding a total of about 5,530 euros for one sensor; by contrast, teachers are paid much more for their own school's initial assessment of the tests.

Age data from the board indicate the pool skews older, with about half of 2024 sensors over 55 and a notable share in the 65–74 bracket; roughly a third are 55–64 while 45–54 is the largest single group, and fewer than 3% are under 35. Some educators argue for more openness. Hanna Ylöstalo of Tampere University says openness would be positive, while Jyri Pesonen of Laukaa High School supports open recruitment. Nina Penttinen of the Education Ministry notes that experience matters and that many sensors are comfortable speaking about their work when asked. The piece also explains that sensor data are fully anonymized and that discussions among sensors during scoring are deep, with calls for potential case-by-case transparency after evaluation rounds.