High schools in Italy typically last five years and are known as scuole superiori. Students usually attend high school after completing middle school at around age 14. There are different types of high schools, including Liceo, which focuses on academic subjects, Istituto Tecnico, which emphasizes technical skills, and Istituto Professionale, which prepares students for specific trades. The curriculum in Italian high schools includes a mix of literature, mathematics, science, and foreign languages. At the end of their studies, students take the Esame di Stato, a national exam that qualifies them for university or vocational training.