The agreement makes it possible to obtain a qualification in a subject in which one has not obtained a final assessment previously (first time external candidate) or to improve a grade in a subject one has previously passed (external candidate improving a grade). Some candidates combine within the same school year exams towards obtaining a qualification in a subject for the first time and improving a grade in a subject they have previously passed (external combination candidates).

In this report, we will analyse what external candidates in the school year 2016/2017 do the same year they take an exam as an external candidate. We will also look at what they do one year and five years afterwards.

Among first time external candidates, as well as external candidates improving a grade, it was most common to take one examination as an external candidate per academic year, whereas among external combination candidates, 43 per cent took five or more exams. First time external candidates differed from the two other groups; they were on average older and had a higher share of immigrants and parents with lower educational attainment compared to the other groups. Moreover, first time external candidates had lower grade point averages from lower secondary education and a lower share has completed upper secondary education before taking an exam as an external candidate.

Most candidates took education and/or are employed in the autumn of 2016 in addition to taking exams as external candidates. Among those participating in education, nine out of ten first time external candidates participated in education at upper secondary level, compared to two out of three candidates in the two other groups. At the end of the school year 2016/2017, about half of the first time external candidates had not yet completed upper secondary education, while the same share is 11 per cent among external candidates improving a grade. Approximately one in five first time external candidates had obtained a vocational qualification.

Three out of four external candidates improving a grade and external combination candidates had applied for admission to study programmes in higher education one year after they took the exam as an external candidate. Among first time external candidates, the corresponding share was one out of four. Nursing, as well as business and administration were the two studies with most applications. Among external combination candidates, a higher share compared to the two other groups had applied for studies with high admission criteria; medicine and psychology. One year after taking an exam as an external candidate, most candidates were employed and participated in education, but the external candidates improving a grade and external combination candidates had the highest share of participation in education. Among those taking education, more than four out of five external candidates improving a grade were enrolled at a university or college, while the corresponding share was one out of three among the first time external candidates.

Three out of five external candidates improving a grade, as well as combining external candidates had attained a university- and college degree four years after having taken an exam as an external candidate. Only one out of four first time external candidates had attained this level. Also in 2021, most candidates were employed or in education, yet first time external candidates had a larger share not being in education or employment.