External Independent Assessment for 9th Graders from 2028: Which Subjects Are Mandatory and What Will Change.

According to ТСН: The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has announced the introduction of the state final certification (DPA) for graduates of the 9th grades in the format of external independent evaluation starting in 2028.

According to this order, in May 2028, 9th-grade students must pass the DPA in Ukrainian language and literature, as well as mathematics. In the following years, it is planned to expand the list of subjects to include natural sciences, civic education, history, and foreign languages.

Creation of a New Platform and Testing the Tasks

For the implementation of the DPA, a separate educational platform will be created, and the tasks for testing will be developed by the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEEQA).

Already in 2026, the testing of test tasks and the new model of DPA in Ukrainian language, literature, and mathematics will begin. About 2000 ninth graders will participate in this process without using the platform. The following year, about 10 thousand students will test the updated platform.

During 2027-2028, similar tests will also be conducted for other subjects, such as history, civic education, natural sciences, and foreign languages.

It should be noted that the last DPA for students of 4th, 9th, and 11th grades was conducted in 2019. After that, the evaluation format was canceled by the decision of the Verkhovna Rada. In September 2025, UCEEQA announced intentions to restore the DPA for ninth graders from 2028. Full implementation of certification in all areas is expected no earlier than 2029.

These changes are an important step in reforming the education system in Ukraine, which aims to improve the quality of learning and assessment of students. The introduction of a new format of DPA will allow for a maximum objective assessment of students' knowledge and lead to new standards in education.