Schools and Gymnasium entry in Thüringen

Primary school in Thüringen lasts four years, and children usually move on in Grade 5. Gymnasium is the academic pathway that leads to the Abitur, and the state also offers other secondary school types with different leaving qualifications.

The direct grade route requires at least gut (grade 2) in each of German, maths and Heimat- und Sachkunde (primary general studies) in the Grade 4 half-year report. This is a minimum in every subject, not an overall average of 2.0.

If those grades are not met, parents can ask the primary school for a Gymnasium recommendation. Without qualifying grades or a recommendation, your child needs to pass an admission procedure in the form of Probeunterricht (trial teaching).

One detail worth knowing: the school authority names the test schools and the annual dates, so ask for the current calendar before you apply.

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