TL;DR — Updated June 22, 2026: The 2026 high school oral exam maintains the interview structure: discussion of the Italian written paper, presentation of a multidisciplinary thesis, discussion on topics proposed by the committee, brief report on PCTO. You can train for free with AI: free ChatGPT to generate questions, thesis outline, simulate answers; ChatGPT Plus with Advanced Voice Mode or AiLearn360 for realistic voice simulation; NotebookLM to generate audio overview of the thesis. In this guide you find 5 practical workflows (mock interview, thesis, scientific subjects, humanistic, languages), adaptation by school type (scientific lyceum, classical, linguistic, technical, vocational), common mistakes to avoid and 10 copy-paste prompts specific to Italian, history, philosophy, math, physics and English.
What the 2026 high school oral exam is (committee, subjects, duration, grade, news)
The State exam of the second cycle (official name of the high school exam since 2018) has a consolidated structure that remains valid in 2026 with ministerial updates and recommendations. Understanding it is the first step to good preparation.
Committee composition. The exam committee is mixed: 3 internal members (class teachers) + 3 external members (teachers from other schools appointed by the Ministry). The president is an external usually with managerial experience. This mix means the committee doesn't know in detail your preparation during the year: they rely on the exam, the documentation provided by the school, and the answers you give.
Interview structure (duration 45-60 minutes). The oral consists of 4 phases:
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Discussion of the Italian written paper (about 15 min). The paper is a written Italian test (type A: text analysis; type B: argumentative text; type C: current events theme) carried out in the preceding weeks. The committee asks you to comment on your choices, citations, thesis supported.
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Presentation of the multidisciplinary thesis (about 10-15 min). Presentation of your interdisciplinary path (max 5 minutes of exposition), with connections between multiple subjects and a guiding thread. Topic agreed with the class council in the preceding months.
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Multidisciplinary discussion (about 15-20 min). The committee proposes questions and insights that can touch different subjects, even those not in the thesis, to test your ability to connect and critical thinking.
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PCTO, civic education, brief report (5-10 min). Discussion of the experiences of the Pathway for Transversal Skills and Orientation (formerly school-work alternation) and citizenship skills.
2026 news. The 2026 ministerial recommendations strengthen: critical thinking (not just knowledge), interdisciplinary connections, current events application, civic education. The committee evaluates with 4 criteria: knowledge, skills, argumentation skills, connection skills.
Final grade. Maximum 100/100: three-year average (max 40) + written tests (max 40, of which 15 Italian + 15 subject of the track + 10 unchanged) + interview (max 20). Honors and mentions are rare. The interview is worth up to 20 points, and it's where AI can make the difference.
Optimal setup for AI simulation (choosing AI, materials, session duration)
Before starting the simulations, set up the setup well. Here are the 4 elements to prepare.
1. Choose the right AI tool for your case. Free or low-cost options:
- Free ChatGPT (free): great for generating exam questions, simulating written answers, preparing the thesis. Not suitable for realistic voice simulation.
- ChatGPT Plus with Advanced Voice Mode ($20/month): realistic voice simulation in Italian, with tutor personality (strict, patient, socratic). Excellent.
- AiLearn360 Free/Pro (free / €9.99/month): vertical platform for oral exam simulation with voice AI tutor, multiple personalities, configurable duration. Specific for oral exams.
- Google NotebookLM (free): generates audio overview of the thesis, useful for testing discourse coherence.
- Free TTS (ttsmaker.com, Speechify Free): to generate audio of exam questions, useful for training on the go.
For a student who wants to train seriously with €30-50 total budget, the ideal combo is: AiLearn360 Free (basic simulation) + free ChatGPT (content preparation) + ChatGPT Plus 1 month (for advanced voice simulation in the final 2 weeks).
2. Prepare the material. Upload or have ready:
- The text of the Italian written paper
- The thesis outline
- The textbooks of the main subjects
- A summary of the PCTO carried out
- The civic education skills acquired
The more context you give the AI, the better the simulation. With AiLearn360 or NotebookLM you can upload PDFs directly.
3. Session duration. The ideal is 15-25 minutes per session, 3-4 times a week, for 3-4 weeks before the exam. Too short sessions (5 min) don't train you to handle pressure; too long (60 min) tire you out.
4. Record everything. Each simulation should be recorded. You can use: Voice Memos on iPhone, Voice Recorder on Android, Audacity or OBS on PC. Replaying the recordings is the most formative part: you notice hesitations, incomplete sentences, content gaps, logical errors that escaped you during the simulation.
5 practical workflows for high school
Workflow 1 — Complete mock interview
Goal: simulate the entire exam to train time management, pressure, connections.
How to do it. Start a session with AiLearn360 or ChatGPT Plus Voice. Configure: "You are the exam committee of a [type] lyceum. I am a student. Start with the discussion of my Italian written paper, then move to the presentation of my thesis on [topic], finally ask multidisciplinary questions. Total duration: 50 minutes. Correct me in real time if I say something clearly wrong, otherwise let me express myself. At the end give me structured feedback.".
Conduct the exam as if it were real. At the end receive feedback. Record the session.
Time: 50-60 minutes (simulates real duration). Goal: 2-3 complete simulations in the 2 weeks before the exam.
Limit: AI cannot correct specific knowledge of your program (e.g. if your teacher explained an author in a specific way). For this, integrate with 1-2 live meetings with your teacher.
Workflow 2 — Thesis discussion
Goal: master the presentation of the thesis and possible committee questions.
How to do it. Prepare the thesis following the 5 steps already described (brainstorming, outline, draft, review, connections). Then ask ChatGPT: "Generate 20 possible questions the committee could ask me about this thesis, divided by subject: 5 of [subject 1], 5 of [subject 2], 5 of [subject 3], 5 multidisciplinary. Include at least 3 provocative or critical questions.".
Answer each question by voice (recording yourself). Replay. Identify weak answers. Reformulate.
Time: 2 hours per session. Goal: 2-3 sessions.
Limit: real questions will be different from those generated, but 70% will overlap by type.
Workflow 3 — Scientific subjects (math, physics, science)
Goal: master the scientific connections of the thesis, the discussion of problems/questions (for scientific lyceum), possible methodology questions.
How to do it. For the scientific lyceum, the committee can ask you to solve a math/physics problem on the spot. Ask ChatGPT: "Generate 10 typical math or physics problems for the scientific high school oral, divided by topic: derivatives, integrals, limits, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics. For each problem, give me only the outline (NOT the solution). I'll try to solve them by voice, you verify with Wolfram Alpha and correct me.".
Solve by voice, verify with Wolfram Alpha, correct.
Time: 2 hours per session. Goal: 3-4 sessions.
Limit: Wolfram Alpha verifies the calculations but doesn't explain. For explanations, use ChatGPT.
Workflow 4 — Humanistic subjects (Italian, history, philosophy, Latin, Greek)
Goal: master citations, connections, text commentary, current events.
How to do it. Ask ChatGPT: "Generate 15 possible exam questions on [work/author/historical period/philosophical current]. For each, tell me: (1) the standard answer (2 key points to cite), (2) 2 textual citations to use, (3) an interdisciplinary connection with [related subject], (4) a current events application (contemporary example).".
For Latin and Greek translations, use specific tools like Google Lens for text OCR, but translation is better done by you (the purpose is to demonstrate knowledge of the language).
Time: 1.5 hours per session. Goal: 3-4 sessions.
Limit: AI can confuse on exact citations. Always verify with a textbook or Google Books.
Workflow 5 — Foreign languages (English, French, German, Spanish)
Goal: train the presentation of the thesis in language, debate, exposition of a historical-cultural topic in foreign language.
How to do it. For linguistic lyceums, part of the interview can be in a foreign language. Ask ChatGPT: "I have 5 minutes to present my thesis in B2/C1 English. Help me prepare: (1) introduction (50 words), (2) development of the 3 main connections (300 words), (3) conclusion with personal message (50 words). Verify grammar, lexicon, naturalness.". Then practice by voice with Voice Mode or with a native tutor.
For debate: "Let's discuss the topic [X] in English for 10 minutes. You ask provocative questions, I defend my position. Correct me if I make serious errors.".
Time: 1.5 hours per session. Goal: 2-3 sessions.
Limit: for pronunciation, AI only evaluates clarity. For naturalness, better a native tutor.
Adaptation by school type
Scientific lyceum
Focus: math, physics, natural sciences. The committee can ask you to solve a problem on the spot or prove a theorem. Prepare:
- An outline of key theorems (Pythagoras, Euclid, limits, derivatives, integrals, Maxwell, Newton)
- A collection of solved exercises from previous years
- Wolfram Alpha Pro to verify calculations
Classical lyceum
Focus: Latin, Greek, Italian, Philosophy, History. The committee will ask you for citations, paraphrases, comments. Prepare:
- Translations of key passages (at least 5-10 authors: Homer, Plato, Cicero, Seneca, Tacitus, Dante, Petrarch, Leopardi)
- Connections between philosophy and literature
- ChatGPT for paraphrases and comments (verify with textbook)
Linguistic lyceum
Focus: foreign languages, comparative literature, culture. Prepare:
- Presentation of thesis in at least 2 languages
- Debate on current events topics in language
- ChatGPT Voice for simulation, BBC for listening, iTalki for real conversation
Technical institute (economic, technological, administration)
Focus: technical subjects (economics, law, computer science, design). Prepare:
- The specific skills of your track
- Connections with the world of work (also via PCTO internships)
- ChatGPT for theoretical subjects, specific tools for technical subjects
Vocational institute
Focus: practical skills, internships, project work. Prepare:
- The presentation of the project work or internship experience
- The practical skills acquired
- Connections between theory and practice
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1 — Choosing a "impact" thesis without passion. The committee notices if you chose "Artificial Intelligence and the future of work" only because it sounds cool but you don't really care. Better a topic you're passionate about, even if simpler.
Mistake 2 — Thesis-storm of citations. A thesis with 50 citations without a guiding thread is worse than a slim thesis with 15 well-connected citations. Less but better.
Mistake 3 — Not training to speak. Many students prepare the perfect written thesis, but at the oral they stutter, hesitate, lose the thread. Voice simulation is non-negotiable.
Mistake 4 — Inventing citations or data. AI can help you remember, but if you cite a book you haven't read or an invented data, the committee catches you. Better to cite less, but cite things you know.
Mistake 5 — Ignoring PCTO and civic education. They seem "B-series subjects", but are worth up to 4-5 points. A good presentation of your internship or civic education project makes the difference.
Mistake 6 — Not recording simulations. If you don't replay yourself, you don't notice your hesitations. Recording is the most formative ally.
10 copy-paste prompts specific to high school
Here are 10 ready-to-use prompts, divided by subject and phase.
1. Thesis brainstorming.
"I am a student of [classical/scientific/... lyceum]. Passionate about [topic]. I need a multidisciplinary thesis for the 2026 high school exam. Give me 5 original ideas that connect [topic] with 3-4 subjects of my course of study. For each idea, tell me the title, the guiding thread, and the subjects involved."
2. Detailed outline.
"I chose the thesis '[title]'. Make me a detailed outline: introduction (5 min), 3 main connections (5 min each), conclusion (3 min). For each section tell me what I say, which citations to use, which examples."
3. Thesis draft.
"Write me a thesis draft in oral interview style, max 5 minutes of reading (1000 words). Tone: brilliant but not pedantic. Use at least 3 citations. Include 2 interdisciplinary connections and 1 current events application."
4. Critique as a strict commissioner.
"Read my thesis below. Act as a strict commissioner. Identify: (1) weak or forced connections, (2) irrelevant citations, (3) confusing passages, (4) possible critical questions. Give me a score from 1 to 10 and tell me how to bring it to 9."
5. Generate possible committee questions.
"My thesis deals with [topic]. Generate 20 possible questions the committee could ask me: 5 of [subject 1], 5 of [subject 2], 5 of [subject 3], 5 multidisciplinary. Include at least 3 provocative or critical questions."
6. Quick answer to a difficult question.
"The committee just asked me: '[question]'. I only have 30 seconds to answer. Give me a structured answer: (1) a summary sentence, (2) a concrete example, (3) a connection to [other concept]."
7. Paraphrase of a literary passage (classical).
"I paste you a passage from [work, author]. Make me: (1) clear paraphrase, (2) text analysis (rhetorical figures, syntax, lexicon), (3) critical interpretation (meaning in the context of the work and in the history of criticism), (4) 2 citations from illustrious commentators, (5) connection with [other author/subject]."
8. Proof of a theorem (scientific).
"Prove the theorem of [X] to me in 3 minutes of oral exposition. Structure: (1) statement, (2) idea of the proof, (3) step-by-step development, (4) an application example, (5) a connection with [related concept]."
9. Physics problem discussion (scientific).
"Solve this physics problem: [text of the problem]. Explain it to me step by step as if presenting it at the scientific high school oral: (1) data, (2) approach, (3) formulas to use, (4) calculations, (5) verification with Wolfram Alpha. Target duration: 5 minutes."
10. PCTO presentation.
"I did the PCTO at [company/agency] for [total hours]. Main activities: [list]. Help me prepare a 3-minute presentation: (1) context of the company, (2) what I did, (3) skills acquired (at least 3), (4) connection with the course of study, (5) what it taught me in terms of active citizenship."
Limits of AI for oral simulation (mimicry, gestures, emotions)
Voice AI simulates the conversation structure well, but has limits that must be recognized.
Mimicry and gestures. AI doesn't see your face, your posture, your gestures. It can't tell you "you're looking down, you seem insecure" or "you're moving your hands too much". For non-verbal communication, train in front of a mirror or record yourself on video.
Emotions. AI doesn't perceive your anxiety, your fear, your enthusiasm. It can't console you if you freeze. For emotional management, practice breathing techniques, positive visualization, and talk with friends/family to reduce anxiety.
Real committee context. AI simulates the committee, but it's not the committee. The real committee has specific personalities, can have dislikes, can ask you questions on specific topics of your program. For this, integrate with 1-2 live meetings with your teacher to understand the committee's style.
Specific program knowledge. AI knows the subject in general, but doesn't know what your teacher specifically explained. It can ask you something your teacher covered in a unique way.
Mood and patience. AI is always patient and available. The real committee can get tired, distracted, ask you questions roughly. For this, also train to be resilient to less controlled contexts.
Combo workflow with other AI and tools
Combo 1 — ChatGPT + Wolfram Alpha for scientific subjects. ChatGPT to generate problems and explain concepts. Wolfram Alpha to verify calculations.
Combo 2 — ChatGPT + NotebookLM for the thesis. NotebookLM loads the materials, generates audio overview. ChatGPT to review, critique, generate questions.
Combo 3 — ChatGPT + AiLearn360 for complete simulation. ChatGPT for content preparation. AiLearn360 for realistic voice simulation with multiple personalities.
Combo 4 — ChatGPT + BBC Learning English (for linguistic). BBC for listening and vocabulary. ChatGPT for debate simulation in English.
Combo 5 — ChatGPT + iTalki/Preply for languages. For really speaking in language, nothing beats a native. iTalki and Preply offer lessons from €10-30/hour.
Related subject hubs
To integrate preparation with AI, here are our related hubs:
- Medicine oral exam simulator — for related subjects
- Private law oral exam simulator — for technical institutes
- AI Tutor for studying — how an AI tutor works for high school
- PDF quiz generator — upload material and generate quizzes
- AiLearn360 features — all the platform's features
- Pricing — transparent plans and costs
Editorial verdict
AI is a formidable ally for the 2026 high school preparation, but doesn't replace study and live training. The most effective combo: free ChatGPT for content preparation + AiLearn360 or ChatGPT Plus Voice for voice simulation + 1-2 meetings with your teacher for specific context. Start at least 2 months before with the thesis, intensify in the final 4 weeks with 3-4 weekly simulations. The 10 prompts in the dedicated section are ready to copy. Clear limits: AI cannot correct non-verbal communication, doesn't perceive anxiety, doesn't know your specific teacher. For this, always integrate with real practice.
Who wrote this guide
This guide was written by the editorial team of AiLearn360 (editor: Lorenzo Bianchi, Senior Content Strategist, former external high school commissioner 2024). Pedagogical review: Prof. Maria De Rossi, teacher of Italian and History, 20 years of experience. Contact: [email protected].
Editorial disclaimer
This guide is the "use case + high school" version updated June 22, 2026. Information on the 2026 State exam is based on ministerial indications available at the date of drafting; any updates from the MIM (Ministry of Education and Merit) after publication may modify the structure. AI is a preparation tool, strictly forbidden in the exam venue. For official regulatory references, see the website of the Ministry of Education and Merit, ISTAT Education and Wikipedia: Esame di Stato.