These days, many people tend to look down on all kinds of “school” or factual knowledge, as if it were meaningless in real life. But that is a misconception.
Factual knowledge — like knowing things such as “Jupiter’s moons” — isn’t valuable on its own, but because it forms the foundation on which thinking, reasoning, and recognizing connections are built. You can’t think creatively with an empty head.
Knowledge is not uncool, outdated, or unnecessary. A well-educated person understands new things faster, communicates better, and is less easily misled. It’s no coincidence that manipulation works best where knowledge levels are low.
So no, the high school final exam (érettségi) is not a complete measure of intelligence — but it is an indicator that someone has reached a basic level of education. And that should not be underestimated; it deserves respect.
Knowledge does not replace life wisdom, but life wisdom does not replace knowledge either.