Swedish L1 High-stakes Exam in Finland Poised Between the Local and the Global

Abstract

In this article, we give a corpus-based overview of traces of influence from foreign languages that can be found in Matriculation Examination essays written by Swedish L1 speakers in Finland. We place our findings in an educational context where the Swedish L1 test, and especially its essay, requires formal language use and adaptation towards the prevailing Swedish language norms. Even in this high-stakes exam with high demands on normative language use, the influence of foreign languages can be seen. This study also provides an overview of the Matriculation Examination as a high-stakes exam that measures the extent to which the examinees have achieved maturity and readiness for further studies.