The bacalaureat is the exam that everyone who is hoping to graduate high school and/or get into College must take. While the subjects may vary depending on whether the student taking it studied humanities or sciences, there is one test neither is getting out of: the Romanian exam. This, however, raises the following question: Should literary analysis be part of the be required as part of the high school graduation exam in Romania?

On the one hand, being able to understand books is essential. While reading is one of the most important activities any cultured being could take part in, being able to understand and analyze what one is reading is what gives it its true value. Giving students literary analysis as part of the Romanian exam is one way to make sure that they are able to think and filter the information they are given by books so that they can understand it better.

On the other hand, however, it could be argued that the student will not be using literary analysis anywhere outside of literature classes. This fact would effectively make giving this on such an important exam almost entirely useless and a waste of time and resources. Instead, the student should be given as a test something essential for them to survive and thrive in the real world.

In conclusion, while literary analysis is an essential skill for everyone to have, making it a test that the student must pass to be able to graduate could be seen as redundant.