Državna Matura Latin case studies

The Državna matura – Latinski jezik is the Croatian state-matriculation examination in Latin, taken by gymnasium students and other candidates who want a formally recognised Latin grade for university admission. It is a written examination in a single session. The paper tests the whole language apparatus rather than isolated trivia: nominal and verbal morphology, case usage and clause syntax including sequence of tenses and indirect speech, core vocabulary with attention to lexical semantics, translation of an unseen Latin prose passage into Croatian, comprehension questions on that passage, Roman civilisation and daily life, and commentary on prescribed literary texts and their authors. Preparation works best in layers. Topics on this exam: Morphology (nominal and verbal system), Syntax (cases, clauses, sequence of tenses, indirect speech), Vocabulary and lexical semantics, Translation of unseen Latin prose into Croatian, Reading comprehension of an unseen Latin passage, Roman civilisation, history and daily life, and Prescribed literary texts and their authors. The Državna Matura Latin case studies are 5 cases and about 2,424 words.