Angry German students protest ‘unfair’ English exam

Thousands of German school students have voiced their frustration online with a recent English exam, arguing that the questions were “unfair”.

According to the BBC, students argued that questions in the English paper as part of the school-leaving Abitur exam in Baden-Württemberg used outdated vocabulary and excessively literary language.

One of the questions required students to consider the implications of Brexit through cartoons, which required current affairs knowledge.

Morgen. Mathe-Abitur. #abitur2018 pic.twitter.com/TAH2eCAaR1

— rené. (@xNaryk) May 1, 2018

Another question asked students to write about the Statute of Liberty.

The students have started a petition on Change.org which has gathered more than 35,000 signatures, declaring that the test was unfair. The exams are crucial in determining German students’ admission to local universities.

I'm a native English speaker and "roweling" is a new word to me, too. I'm pretty sure you can get by without it. #abitur2018https://t.co/1itwd1Z5B9

— MojoBeast (@MojoBeastLP) May 4, 2018

Baden-Württemberg have defended the exam paper, however, arguing it was “appropriate” for teenagers.

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