Subject Exam Catalog for General Knowledge External Matura

External Matura General Knowledge Catalog Introduction

The General Knowledge Test for the External Matura at JU Behram-begova medresa in Tuzla serves as the definitive assessment for students completing their secondary education, beginning with the 2024/25 school year. Since 2019, students at this institution have concluded their schooling through this standardized matura process, which is established as the most adequate and highest quality method for the mandatory graduation exam. The innovated and methodologically adaptable Subject Exam Catalog determines specifically the goals of individual matural subjects, a comprehensive list of thematic units, learning outcomes, and examples of exam tasks categorized by levels and scoring methods.

The matura goals emphasize the verification of rich knowledge and skills acquired during four years of schooling, providing a foundation for students to continueสู่ higher education. Through their creativity, persistence, and inventory-oriented relation to learning, students are expected to have mastered thinking models regarding universally accepted values of a democratic and civil society. For the student, the catalog provides a clear vision for career direction. For the school, it allows for an evaluation of the professional work of teachers and associates, analyzing success rates and taking measures to improve teaching processes for future generations. For society, it aligns general education with European quality standards.

Exam Administration and Procedures

The General Knowledge Test is mandatory for all students and covers five distinct areas: Islamic Area, Language Area, Social Area, Natural-Mathematical Area, and the Multidisciplinary Area. In addition to this mandatory test, students must choose two subjects from the elective portion of the curriculum. Candidates must submit their application for the matura between April 1 and April 10 of the current school year. Applications may be submitted up to 15 days before the start of the exam period under justified circumstances, as determined by the school matura commission.

The exam for the General Knowledge Test lasts between a minimum of $120.0$ minutes and a maximum of $180.0$ minutes ($3.0$ hours). Students take only one exam per day and within one week. The number of questions for each subject is proportionally represented based on the number of teaching hours for that subject over the four-year period. During the exam, students are monitored by two proctors and must adhere to strict rules. Violations result in measures including a warning, immediate suspension from that part of the exam, or a total ban if unauthorized materials or methods are used. Scores for suspended portions are not recognized.

Test evaluation is conducted by external examiners appointed by the Main Matura Commission. The grading scale for matural subjects is a five-point system: insufficient ($1.0$), sufficient ($2.0$), good ($3.0$), very good ($4.0$), and excellent ($5.0$). The General Knowledge Test is eliminatory. The conversion of points to grades is standardized as follows:

• $0.0$ to $39.0$ points: Grade $1.0$
• $40.0$ to $54.0$ points: Grade $2.0$
• $55.0$ to $69.0$ points: Grade $3.0$
• $70.0$ to $84.0$ points: Grade $4.0$
• $85.0$ to $100.0$ points: Grade $5.0$

Islamic Educational Area: Kiraet, Akaid, and Fikh

The study of Kiraet aims to develop the ability to recite the Qur’an correctly, precisely, and responsibly, focusing on the accurate articulation of Arabic sounds and the mastery of Tajweed science. Students must understand all definitions and practical applications of Tajweed rules. Key concepts include: the number of points of articulation for sounds ($17.0$); the distinction between Meddun munfesil (hemze at the start of the next word) and Meddun muttesil (hemze within the same word, lasting $4.0$ lengths); the rules of Idgam (merging), such as Idgamun me ̒a-l-gunneh (nasalized) and Idgamun bila gunneh (non-nasalized); and the classification of sounds like Calcahah (including $\text{qaf}$, $\text{tah}$, $\text{bah}$, $\text{jim}$, and $\text{dal}$).

Akaid is the fundamental science of Islamic beliefs, defining the six pillars of faith and defending the creed against incorrect opinions. It explores source materials like the Misak (EZEL covenant), the nature of Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk, and the roles of angels like Munkir and Nekir. Historical knowledge includes the original Kitabs: Tevrat (Musa, a.s.), Zebur (Davud, a.s.), Indžil (Isa, a.s.), and Kur’an (Muhammed, a.s.). It also treats signs of Judgment Day, such as the rising of the sun from the west (large sign) or the loss of knowledge (small sign). Sects like the Mu'tazila, Ash'ari, and Maturidi are studied, alongside the definitions of Iman (faith), which involves Tasdik (conviction), Ikrar (verbal testimony), and Amel (action) according to various scholars.

Fikh covers the practical regulations of Islamic law, including Ibadet (worship). Essential topics include the Fard (obligatory) acts of Wudu (washing feet beyond ankles) and Ghusl (rinsing the mouth and nose). It details the rules for Sahibi Uzur (excused persons), the conditions for prayer (Namaz), and specific types like Džuma, Dženaza, and Duha. Financial regulations include Zakat, with specific Nisab thresholds for gold ($91.6\,g$) and silver ($641.3\,g$). The Nisab of gold is specifically noted as $91.6\,g$ while silver is $641.3\,g$. Hajj regulations define different types like Temmetu and the specific Fard acts such as Tavafuz-zijare. Social law touches on Mehr and the Iddet period for widows ($4.0$ months and $10.0$ days).

Islamic Educational Area: Ahlak, Tefsir, Hadis, and Islamic History

Ahlak (Ethics) deals with character, moral values, and self-discipline. Key values include Tevhid, justice, mercy, and sincerity. It examines the sources of morality (Qur’an and Sunnah) and social duties. Students study the stages of repentance (Tevbe), the dangers of hypocrisy, envy, and pride, and the development of Islamic ethical thought across history. Specific issues like Euthanasia ("Mercy killing") are explicitly addressed as prohibited in Islamic ethics, being viewed as murder or suicide.

Tefsir (Exegesis) focuses on Ulumu’l-Kur’an. Concepts include Levhi mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet), the chronological order of revelation (Mekkan vs. Medinan suras), and Naskh (abrogation). It covers the codification of the Qur’an under Abu Bakr (after the Battle of Yamama) and its standardization under Uthman. Major works of exegesis include Al-Kashshaf by Zamakhshari and the classic Tafsir of Ibn Kathir. The longest verse in the Qur’an is identified as the Ajetu dejn (Verse of Debt).

Hadis involves the study of the Prophet's words and actions. Definitions of Ravija (narrator), Sened (chain of transmission), and Metn (text) are crucial. The Sahih collectors like Bukhari and Muslim are the most authoritative. Types of Hadith include Muttefaq 'alayh (agreed upon), Mutedžanisejn (merging similar sounds), and Merfu (attributed to the Prophet). The Kutubu sitte (Six Book) collections include the Sunan of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, alongside the Sahihs of Bukhari and Muslim.

Islamic History covers the period from the birth of Muhammad a.s. ($570.0$) to the present day. Key milestones include the Hijra ($622.0$), the Battle of Badr, the Conquest of Mecca ($630.0$), and the tenure of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs. It traces the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, the foundation of Baghdad and Cairo, the Crusades, and the fall of Granada ($1492.0$). Contemporary history focuses on the institutions of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the establishment of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences (FIN) in $1977.0$ and the periods of Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav rule.

Language Area: Bosnian, Arabic, and English

The Bosnian Language exam covers literature and linguistics. In literature, students distinguish between oral/folk and written traditions, identifying movements such as Humanism, Romanticism, and Realism. Key authors include Homer (Iliad/Odyssey), Dante, Shakespeare, Gogol, Dostoevsky, and Bosnian figures like Meša Selimović and Edhem Mulabdić. Grammar focuses on phonetics (allophones), morphology (conjugation and declension), and syntax (complex sentences, objects, and adverbial phrases). Orthography rules regarding capital letters, punctuation, and specific sounds like $\text{č}$ and $\text{ć}$ are tested.

The Arabic Language exam tests the ability to communicate orally and in writing. Linguistic units include Hurufu šemsije (sun letters) and kamerije (moon letters), independent and attached pronouns, and declension of nouns ($I'rab$). Students must master verb forms (I to X), active and passive participles ($Ism al-fa'il, Ism al-maf'ul$), and sentence structures like the nominal ($Jumla ismiyya$) and verbal ($Jumla fi'liyya$) sentences. Numerical rules for counts up to $100.0$ and various types of objects ($Maf'ul bihi, Maf'ul mutlak$) are central to the curriculum.

The English Language curriculum emphasizes communicative competence across various scenarios like personal identification, travel, and professional interaction. Vocabulary assessment focuses on verbs like "implement," "polish," and "appreciate." Grammar assessment covers relative pronouns ("whose"), modal verbs of deduction ("must have worked"), conditionals ("If only I had studied"), and verb tenses such as the present perfect and future perfect. Prepositions and gerunds are also heavily featured to ensure fluent and accurate expression.

Social Sciences: History and Geography

History covers world and national development. Global history spans the fall of the Western Roman Empire ($476.0$ CE), the Great Schism ($1054.0$), and the industrial revolution. National history focuses on the medieval Bosnian state, ranging from Kulin Ban’s Charter ($1189.0$) to King Tvrtko I. The Ottoman conquest of Bosnia in $1463.0$ and the subsequent establishment of the Bosnian Eyalet in $1580.0$ are pivotal. Modern periods include the Austrian annexation ($1878.0$), the formation of Yugoslavia, and the recent aggression on Bosnia ($1992.0$ - $1995.0$), including the Srebrenica Genocide on July 11, $1995.0$.

Geography explores physical, social, and regional dimensions. Mathematical geography includes concepts like Astronomical Units (distance from Earth to Sun) and time zones (each spanning $15.0$ degrees of longitude). Physical geography covers the Earth's layers (specifically the Mohorovičić discontinuity), exogenous processes like abrasion and erosion, and climate classification (Köppen). Regional geography focuses on the specific topography of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as Karst fields (Glamočko polje), major rivers (Neretva, Vrbas, Una), and demographic data, noting that Bošnjaks comprised $43.0\%$ of the population in the $1991.0$ census.

Social Sciences: Philosophy, Psychology, Logic, and Sociology

Philosophy studies the origins of being and the history of thought across Cosmological, Anthropological, Medieval, Islamic, Renaissance, and Modern periods. Key figures include Thales (water as the primary substance), Protagoras ("man is the measure of all things"), and Kant (the categorical imperative). Logic, founded by Aristotle, focuses on the forms of valid thought, including concepts, judgments (categorical, hypothetical, disjunctive), and reasoning (deduction vs. induction). It covers symbolic logic, syllogisms, and fallacies like "Sophisms."

Psychology examines psychic processes and phenomena. It traces human development from prenatal to old age and explores cognitive processes like perception, memory (short-term vs. long-term), and intelligence (fluid vs. crystallized). Major theorists such as Wundt, Freud, and Maslow are studied, with a focus on human motivation through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Sociology focuses on society as a whole, studying groups, institutions, and social phenomena. Foundational thinkers like Comte, Durkheim, and Weber are reviewed, alongside specific concepts like "Social Stratification," "Bureaucracy," and "Globalization."

Natural-Mathematical Area: Mathematics

The mathematics curriculum requires mastery of algebraic and geometric laws. Algebraic concepts include powers, polynomials, and Bezu's theorem for remainders. Students must solve complex expressions such as quadratic equations like $x^2 - x - 12 = 0$ (roots are $x_1 = -3, x_2 = 4$) and find the coordinates of a parabola's vertex $y = x^2 - 4x + 3$ which is found at $T(2, -1)$. Logarithms are used to calculate values such as $\log_{\frac{1}{5}} 25 = -2$.

Trigonometry covers functions in different quadrants and essential identities like $\sin^2(\alpha) + \cos^2(\alpha) = 1$. Specific values like $\sin(210^{\circ}) = - \frac{1}{2}$ and $\cos(1500^{\circ}) = - \frac{1}{2}$ are assessed. Geometry and analytical geometry involve calculating distances between points such as $A(-3, 2)$ and $B(1, 6)$, which is calculated as $4\sqrt{2}$, and determining the center of circles like $x^2 + y^2 - 10x - 2 = 0$ at $S(5, 0)$ with $r = 3\sqrt{3}$. Calculus includes calculating limits such as $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{3n^2 + 5n - 1}{n^2 - 7n + 32} = 3$ and finding derivatives like the third derivative of $\cos(x)$, which is $\sin(x)$.

Natural-Mathematical Area: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

Physics focuses on mechanical laws, electromagnetism, and optics. Kinematics studies motion, while dynamics uses Newton's laws. For example, the force required for a $1.5$ ton car to reach $36.0\,km/h$ in $5.0\,s$ is calculated as $3.0\,kN$. Electromagnetism introduces concepts like capacitance (parallel/series) and Ohm's law. Optics covers mirrors and lenses, calculating optical power from focal length (e.g., $6.0\,cm$ results in $16.7\,D$). Modern physics addresses the Wien displacement law, Einstein’s photoelectric effect, and nuclear reactions like fission and fusion.

Chemistry encompasses general, inorganic, organic, and biochemistry. General chemistry treats atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons) and the periodic table organized by atomic number. Quantitative chemistry utilizes molar concentration units like $mol/dm^3$. Organic chemistry explores hydrocarbons like methane, ethene, and ethyne, as well as functional groups like hydroxyl for alcohols. Biochemistry analyzes ATP (made of sugar, base, and phosphate), amino acids ($20.0$ standard types), and the structure of hemoglobin and glucose.

Biology studies living systems from the cellular level to the biosphere. Cellular biology covers organelles (ribosomes, mitochondria, plastids), mitosis (resulting in diploid cells), and meiosis (resulting in haploid gametes). Anatomy and physiology study the human nervous system (neurons, cerebellum), endocrinology (thyroid hormones like thyroxine), and cardiovascular systems. Genetics focuses on DNA replication, Mendel’s laws, and chromosomal disorders like Down Syndrome (trisomy $21.0$). Ecology looks at ecosystems and biodiversity, identifying national parks in Bosnia like Sutjeska, Kozara, and Una.

Multidisciplinary Area: Informatics, Physical Education, and Democracy

Informatics covers computer architecture and information technology. Hardware components studied include SSDs (Solid State Drives), skanners (resolution measured in dpi), and processors (performance based on word length and clock speed in Hz). Data representation includes binary, octal, and hexadecimal systems, requiring calculations like $11001101 + 1011100$ in binary. Software focus includes logic functions (AND, OR, NOT) and MS Excel formulas like SUM(AVERAGE(A1:A10), AVERAGE(B1:B11)).

Physical Education promotes health and sporting knowledge. The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" is a foundational concept. The history of the Games, including the first modern Olympics in Athens ($1896.0$) and the Sarajevo ZOI in $1984.0$, is covered. Specific sport regulations, like the height of a basketball hoop ($3.05\,m$) or volleyball net ($2.43\,m$ per seniors), and tactical terms like "Zeppelin" in handball or the "VAR" system in football are evaluated.

Democracy and Human Rights explore the roles of citizens in a parliamentary system. It analyzes social contracts from Hobbes and Locke and the separation of powers as envisioned by Montesquiev. High-level legal documents like the Constitution are defined as tools to limit power and protect rights. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the specific administrative status of Brčko as a district and the functions of the Presidency and Parliamentary Assembly are critical topics. Global organizations like the UN, EU, OSCE, and the Office of the High Representative (OHR) are key facets of current political literacy.