Some students said this year’s papers were easier than expected, but education experts and NGOs warned that the exams may no longer provide a sufficiently demanding measure of skills. The debate comes amid mixed signals about Poland’s education system. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data show Polish 15-year-olds continue to perform above the OECD average in reading, mathematics and science, but adult skills data point to a sharper problem. Poland recorded one of the steepest declines in adult literacy between the previous OECD survey and the 2022–23 assessment. The findings have intensified questions over lifelong learning, employer investment in training and whether school-leaving exams test deeper knowledge or merely certify completion. The Matura has also drawn wider attention this year after Ukrainian was added to Poland’s graduation exam options.