Key takeaways

• Your child needs good grades and a primary school recommendation to enter the gymnasium in Germany.
• If there is a discrepancy between the school’s recommendation and the parent’s wish, an entrance exam or probationary classes are held to determine the secondary school.
• Each federal state can decide on the eligibility criteria for entering a gymnasium.

This is how you do it

• Attend the parent-teacher meeting to discuss the teacher’s recommendation.
• If you don’t agree with the school’s recommendation, discuss your options with the current school or local gymnasium.
• You must apply for up to 3 gymnasiums by February.

Table of Contents

Education is legally required for every child in Germany. In the German school system, every child starts in the primary school (Grundschule).

After finishing primary school, children can attend one of the different types of secondary schools. There are four types of secondary schools in Germany:

• Gymnasium,
• Realschule,
• Hauptschule, and
• Gesamtschule.

In this guide, you will learn what a gymnasium is and the eligibility criteria for admission.

What is a Gymnasium in Germany?

A Gymnasium is a type of secondary or high school in Germany. Children who perform well in their studies during primary school attend the Gymnasium.

The gymnasium starts in grade 5 or 7 and continues until grade 12 or 13. It aims to provide an in-depth general education and focus on a specific subject (science, maths, economics, etc.).

After grade 12 or 13 of the gymnasium, the students can take the university entrance exam (Abitur). If successful, they can attend the university of their choice.

Who decides the secondary school for your child?

In some federal states, like Bayern, the primary school decides whether a child should attend the gymnasium. In other cases, parents can choose their child’s secondary school.

Suppose there is a discrepancy between the school’s recommendation and the parent’s wish. In this case, an entrance exam or probationary classes determine the secondary school.

What are the requirements for entering a gymnasium in Germany?

The requirements for entering a gymnasium differ slightly in each German federal state. However, in general, all of them look for the following things.

• Your child has achieved good to very good grades in the core subjects. The core subjects are German, mathematics, and chosen second language.
• Recommendation from the primary school.

In some federal states, the first year of gymnasium is a probationary period.

Suppose the child didn’t perform well during the probationary period. In the next school year, they move to another type of secondary school.

The table below summarizes the eligibility criteria for entering a gymnasium in different federal states.

Federal state	Grades required	Who decides?	Is there a probationary period?
Baden-Württemberg	in German and Math – max 2.5	Parents	No
Bayern	in German, Math, History, and Specialised subjects  – max 2.33	Primary school In conflict, three days of probationary classes to determine the secondary school.	No
Berlin	in German, Math, Foreign language, Natural and Social Science – between 2.2 and 2.7	Parents	Yes
Brandenburg	The sum of the grades in Math, German, and one foreign language should not exceed 7.	Primary school In conflict, two days of probationary classes to determine the secondary school.	No
Bremen	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Hamburg	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Hessen	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	Yes
Niedersachsen	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Nordrhein-Westfalen	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Rheinland-Pfalz	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Saarland	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Sachsen	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Sachsen-Anhalt	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Schleswig-Holstein	Several factors count, including performance level, performance development, work attitude	Parents	No
Thüringen	In German, Math, and Specialised subjects – max 2.0	Primary school In conflict, two days of probationary classes to determine the secondary school	No

 Source: Ministries of Education of the Federal States

When does your child enter the gymnasium in Germany?

Your child enters the gymnasium in 5th or 7th grade, depending on the federal state. The federal ministry’s website has more information about the processes and eligibility criteria.

The table below shows the grade in which your child goes to gymnasium and the link to the federal website.

Federal State	Grade to enter the Gymnasium	Website
Baden-Wurttemberg	5	www.bw.schule.de
Bayern	5	www.stmuk.bayern.de
Berlin	7	www.berlin.de/sen/bwf/
Brandenburg	7	www.bildung-brandenburg.de
Bremen	5	www.bildung.bremen.de
Hamburg	5	www.bbs.hamburg.de
Hesse	5	www.kultusministerium.hessen.de
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern	5	www.kultus-mv.de
Lower Saxony	5	www.mk.niedersachsen.de
North Rhine-Westphalia	5	www.bildungsportal.nrw.de
Rhineland-Palatinate	5	www.bildung-rp.de
Saarland	5	www.bildung.saarland.de
Saxony	5	www.sachsen-macht-schule.de
Saxony-Anhalt	5	www.bildung-lsa.de
Schleswig-Holstein	5	www.lernnetz-sh.de
Thuringia	5	www.thueringen.de/de/tkm

Assess if your child is fit to attend the Gymnasium

We have created a checklist you can use to assess if your child is fit to attend a gymnasium. If you can check 26 out of 35 points, you can be assured that your child is fit for the gymnasium.

Doing this assessment is important as you don’t want to put your child through excessive pressure. 

Suppose your child is not fit for the gymnasium. In this case, they won’t be able to keep up with other students in the class.

Every primary school in Germany also has a meeting with parents to share their secondary school recommendations. This is also an opportunity to discuss which secondary school your child should attend.

Support your child in transitioning from primary to secondary school

Attending a high school can be exciting and scary for your child. So, to make the transition smooth, you can try the tips below.

• You can walk or cycle the new route to school together. Use it to point out any potential danger spots. If your child uses public transport, you can take a test drive together.
• Many schools in Germany have open days where they show you around the school. Participate in the open days and clarify your doubts. 
• To make the first day of school special, you can buy your child a new bag pack and school accessories.
• Create a day plan together with your child. Ensure that your child has enough time to relax and have fun.
• Familiarize yourself with new learning content. Arouse your child’s interest in the new subjects without exerting too much pressure.
• Talk openly to your child about any fears or worries. 

You must be patient and understanding if your child has difficulties at first. Your support and encouragement will help them navigate it successfully. 

References

• https://www.bildungsserver.de/uebergang-zur-weiterfuehrenden-schule-12373-de.html
• https://www.studienkreis.de/infothek/journal/uebertritt-ans-gymnasium/
• https://www.berlin.de/sen/bildung/schule/bildungswege/uebergang-weiterfuehrende-schule/
• https://www.elternwissen.com/erziehung-entwicklung/schule-und-eltern/uebertritt-gymnasium/anforderungen-fuers-gymnasium-welche-regelungen-gelten/
• https://deutsches-schulportal.de/bildungswesen/infografik-schuluebergang-auf-welche-schule-nach-der-grundschule/
• https://www.bildungsxperten.net/wissen/das-gymnasium-vorteile-und-ablauf/