University entrance exam task asks to recognise Orbán quote, actor outraged

This year’s entrance exam of the University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) caused a big stir, as in one of the questions the candidates had to recognise a quote from PM Viktor Orbán. The university has issued a statement on the matter, saying that they are committed to the integrity of the admission procedure. They added that their non-ideological stance is proven by the fact that they also quoted Ferenc Gyurcsány, a member of the opposition, in the same task.

Military service and an Orbán quote at the SZFE entrance exam

Applicants to the University of Theatre and Film Arts (Színház- és Filmművészeti Egyetem, SZFE)’s television programme production course had to complete a test of general literacy, reading, creativity, and writing skills of about six pages in the first round of the admission procedure.

In the first half of the entrance exam, they had to recognise paintings, as well as film directors and capital cities. However, an Instagram post from the Hungarian actor and activist Áron Molnár revealed that Viktor Orbán was also part of the admission test, a fact that was later confirmed by the university.

“Explain to me,” the actor said in his video, “what the hell is going on at the University of Theatre and Film? Because in the first round of admissions to the university’s television programme production course, the question asked the applicants was which quote was from Viktor Orbán…”

The task Molnár talked about asked applicants to match four quotes to the right name, among which were Steve Jobs, John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II, János Kádár, Sir Winston Churchill, József Antall, and Ferenc Gyurcsány.

The following quote had to be connected to the name of Viktor Orbán:

“In Hungary, history has taught us that a country without borders is like an egg without a shell.”

In the second half of the test, candidates were asked to argue for and against the introduction of military conscription, and then, as part of a writing exercise they had to list five things they would change if they were decision-makers in Hungary.