Testing for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus for the purposes of entrance examinations for secondary education

Dear applicants,

entrance examinations for secondary schools are governed by an extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health, which requires participants in entrance examinations to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result no older than 7 days.

The conditions for a student to be allowed to take part in the examination are:

– a negative test, and

– no symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing for applicants to secondary education who are pupils of a primary school must be enabled by the primary school they attend, even where teaching takes place remotely. The relevant primary school will issue a confirmation serving as proof that the test was carried out. The confirmation must contain the identity of the person tested, the identity of the school, the date the test was performed, and the test result. The confirmation may also be submitted in electronic form with a guaranteed electronic signature (e.g. sent by the primary school to the applicant's e-mail).

The same obligation to enable student testing for the admissions procedure also applies to the applicant's home secondary school, if the applicant is already a pupil of another secondary school (in the case of an applicant who is a pupil of a multi-year gymnázium).

If an applicant for secondary education is not a pupil of a primary school or another secondary school, they may use a registered collection site and bring proof of a negative test result issued by a healthcare provider. This alternative may also be used by pupils of primary or secondary schools.

An applicant who did not take part in the regular term of the entrance examination due to not presenting proof of a negative test result, and who excused their absence for this reason in writing no later than within 3 days to the headteacher of the school where they were to take it, may take the examination in a substitute term.

If an applicant has the right to be accompanied at the entrance examination by a supporting person or another person, that person must also present proof of a negative test, the same as the applicant, otherwise the school will not permit that person's presence at the entrance examination.

Alternative ways of proving a test was carried out for the entrance examinations

Confirmation of a test carried out at school may be replaced by:

a) proof that the person has had a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, that their period of isolation under the applicable extraordinary measure of the Ministry of Health has ended, and that no more than 90 days have passed since the first positive POC antigen test or RT-PCR test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen,

b) proof of a negative result of a POC antigen test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen or an RT-PCR test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, no older than 7 days, carried out by a healthcare provider under the currently valid extraordinary measure on carrying out tests,

c) a certificate from the Czech Ministry of Health confirming vaccination against COVID-19, where at least 14 days have passed since the second dose of the vaccine in a two-dose schedule according to the product's summary of characteristics, or at least 14 days have passed since the first dose in a single-dose schedule according to the SPC.

The above methods apply both to the student and to the supporting person.

Positive test result for the purposes of the entrance examinations

If an applicant or supporting person has a positive antigen test result and a subsequent RT-PCR test shows a negative result, the RT-PCR test is decisive.

Proof of a positive test result is attached to the excuse for the applicant's absence from the examination.

Earliest dates on which a test may be carried out for the purposes of the admissions procedure for secondary education

Date of the unified entrance examination and school entrance examination (regular) – 3 and 4 May 2021

Testing date at primary school – 27 April 2021 (for both days of the regular-term entrance examinations)

Date of the unified entrance examination and school entrance examination (substitute) – 2 and 3 June 2021

Testing date at primary school – 26 and 27 May 2021