Schools and Gymnasium entry in Baden-Württemberg

Primary school (Grundschule) in Baden-Württemberg lasts four years. Children usually move to a secondary school in Grade 5, and Gymnasium is the academic pathway that leads to the Abitur. Alongside Gymnasium, the state offers other secondary school types with different leaving qualifications.

The state uses a procedure called NAVi 4. Your wish for Gymnasium has to be supported by evidence: either the primary school's overall assessment or the result of Kompass 4, the state assessment in German and maths. At least one of the two should support Gymnasium; you do not need both.

If neither does, your child can still be considered. They take the central Potenzialtest at a Gymnasium, which checks German, maths and broader learning skills. The result of that test decides whether this route is open.

One detail worth knowing: Kompass 4 usually takes place in November and the main Potenzialtest in February, so ask your primary school for the exact dates for your child's year.

This page describes the ordinary move from primary school. Later transfers into Gymnasium, and specialist schools with their own profiles, can have different requirements.