Maltese students are tested on more subjects than their counterparts in the EU, according to a report by an EU network for education, which is having a negative effect on their stress levels.

Maltese students have to face at least 10 'decisive' exams during their years in primary and secondary education, more than three times the average in the EU, according to a report by Eurydice entitled 'National Testing of Pupils in Europe'.

According to the report, European pupils sit for an average of three national tests during compulsory education. Although Denmark tops the league on the number of tests during compulsory education, 11 over the whole primary and secondary period, Danish students are only tested on two subjects a year.

Maltese, on the other hand, are tested on almost every subject on their curriculum each year, a unique system which is not repeated in any other EU member state.

The fact that Malta's educational system is so heavily based on exams is having a negative impact on student stress levels. The report says: "Experts have concluded that some tests - especially those with much at stake for pupils - create undue stress which can, in time, demotivate them."

Examinations in other EU countries are not considered to be 'decisive'; they are only used to identify failures in a student's educational abilities to enable teachers to give more attention where it is due.

But in Malta, the opposite happens.

According to Eurydice, all of Malta's exams are decisive for pupils as they are used as a "means of progression from one school year to the next as well as streaming pupils in core subjects".

The report concludes that this is undoubtedly increasing pressure on Maltese students as a bad result may translate into a repeat year, or may impinge on the choice of school in the transition between primary and secondary.

Although in 16 EU countries or regions there is much at stake for pupils in national tests because the results influence their school careers in various ways, Malta is still considered to be an exception according to Eurydice.

"Of these countries (or regions), Malta is the only one in which pupils (at primary and secondary levels) have to sit for more than one test whose results are taken into account in qualifying them to move on to the next class. Malta uses national tests for this purpose in every class from year five of primary education onwards. It is also the only country which stipulates that schools should use the results of tests to place pupils in different ability groups in years five and six of primary education."