How do you get in grammar school? Canton Zurich and Aargau

In Switzerland, the answer to the question “How do you get into a grammar school (Gymnasium)?” depends on the specific canton.  

In the following article, we explain how to get into a grammar school in the cantons of Zurich and Aargau.  

It’s best to start preparing for grammar school in Zurich early!  

Lay the foundation for grammar school early with the Check 5 prep course in Aargau!

Table of contents

• The basics of preparing for grammar school exam

• How do you get into a grammar school in the Canton of Zurich?
  • Required grades for grammar school
    • Composition of the preliminary grade
    • Composition of the ZAP exam grade
  • Grammar school entrance exam
  • Which preparatory courses help with admission to a grammar school?

• How do you get into a grammar school in the Canton of Aargau?
  • Required grades for grammar school
  • Grammar school entrance exam
  • Which preparatory courses help with admission to grammar school?

• Is there a minimum IQ requirement for grammar school in Switzerland?

• Alternative private grammar schools

• Last chance: Adult grammar school (secondary education pathway)

• Conclusion

In the first part of our guide, we answer the question: “How do you get into a grammar school (high school, Gymnasium) in the Canton of Zurich?”  

Specifically, there are three ways to enter a public grammar school in the Canton of Zurich during the regular school year:  

• Transfer to a long-term grammar school after elementary school

• Transfer to a short-term grammar school after the 2nd year of secondary school

• Transfer to the short-term grammar school after the 3rd year of secondary school  

However, in the Canton of Zurich, in all three cases, you must have passed the central entrance exam (ZAP)—also known as the Gymi exam—to be allowed to transfer to the grammar school.  

Read our article “Zurich school system - explained simply”.

To pass the entrance exam for the long-term and short-term grammar schools, you must achieve a certain minimum grade, the exact score of which depends on whether the preliminary grade is included in the calculation:

• Minimum grade if the preliminary grade counts: 4.75  (Composition: 50% ZAP exam grade, 50% preliminary grade)

• Minimum grade if the preliminary grade does not count: 4.5  (equivalent to the ZAP exam grade)

The composition of the preliminary score for the entrance exam to the long-term grammar school differs from that of the preliminary score for the entrance exam to the short-term grammar school.

Preliminary Score for the Long-Term Grammar School Exam

For the long-term grammar school exam, the preliminary grade consists of 50% each from the school grades in German and mathematics, specifically the grades awarded in the last report card prior to the Gymnasium exam.  

Preliminary Score for the Short-Term Grammar School Exam

For the short-term grammar school exam, the preliminary grade consists of 20% each from the school grades in German, mathematics, English, French, and science & technology, specifically from the grades awarded in the last report card prior to the Gymnasium exam.

However, the calculation of the grade in mathematics depends on the report card submitted upon registration for the Gymnasium entrance exam. For the 2nd-year secondary school report card, arithmetic and algebra count for two-thirds, while geometry counts for one-third. For the 3rd-year secondary school report card, only arithmetic and algebra are counted.

The composition of the ZAP exam grade is the same for the entrance exam for the long-term grammar school and the short-term grammar school:  

• 50% of the ZAP exam grade consists of the grade from the ZAP exam in mathematics

• 50% of the ZAP exam grade consists of the grade from the ZAP exam in German. The German grade for the ZAP consists of 50% of the grade from the German exam section “Writing a Text (Essay)” and 50% of the grade from the German exam section “Language Analysis and Text Comprehension.”

To take the grammar school entrance exam in the Canton of Zurich, you must first register online via the Canton of Zurich’s website, where you’ll need to create an account.  

When registering, you must adhere to specific deadlines and registration periods, which are published on the Canton of Zurich’s website—one for the long-term grammar school and one for the short-term grammar school. A different registration period applies to the “Gymnasium Kunst und Sport (K+S) (K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl).”  

You may also be interested in the following article: “All grammar schools in canton Zurich and grammar school profiles” 

The other requirements for registering for the Gymnasium entrance exam—such as age limits—and the documents to be submitted are also listed on the Canton of Zurich’s website, again separately for the long-term Gymnasium and the short-term Gymnasium.  

For the “Liceo Artistico” at the Freudenberg Cantonal School and the “Gymnasium Kunst und Sport (K+S)” (K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl), there are a few special considerations to keep in mind when registering for the grammar school entrance exam.  

You may also be interested in the following article: “Alternative high school exam: Parents move from Zurich to Aargau”

The failure rate for the grammar school entrance exam is extremely high, at around 50 percent. This makes it all the more important to prepare for the exam, and it is advisable to take specialized preparation courses.   

The following preparation courses are suitable for grammar school entrance exam preparation, and students should begin preparing early, ideally as early as 4th grade:   

• Grammar school preparation for 4th grade
• Grammar school preparation for 5th grade
• Standard grammar school preparation courses (also available online)
• Essay writing courses
• Mock exams
• Supplementary courses
• Summer courses
• Self-study grammar school preparation course

Grammar school preparation for 4th grade

Ideally, children should begin preparing for grammar school as early as the 4th grade, in what is known as the 4th-grade preparatory course. This is because starting grammar school preparation early helps prevent knowledge gaps from developing in the first place.    

In addition, early support in mastering the school curriculum ensures that the child is among the top students from the very beginning. This is so important because teachers tend to focus their support on the top students on their path to high school.    

In addition to preparing for the grammar school entrance exam itself, it is also important that children consistently achieve good grades in math and German. This is because 50 percent of the overall grade for the grammar school entrance exam is based on the so-called preliminary grade, which is calculated from the math and German grades on the last midterm report card before the exam.

Register now for 4th-grade grammar school preparation
 

Grammar school preparation for 5th grade  

After the 4th-grade preparatory course, students move on to the 5th-grade preparatory course. It’s not too late for newcomers to start with the 5th-grade preparatory course. The 5th-grade preparatory course also focuses on ensuring that children are perceived as strong students, continue to achieve good grades, and prevent knowledge gaps from developing in the first place. In addition, the children now begin practicing essay writing, a skill that must be mastered for the grammar school entrance exam.

Register now for the 5th-grade grammar school preparation course

Standard grammar school preparation courses (also available online))  

Standard grammar school entrance exam preparation courses, which directly prepare students for the upcoming exam, vary in length. The grammar school entrance exam preparation institute Lern-Forum, for example, offers courses lasting 34, 30, 26, 18, 16, 14, or 10 days.    

In these courses, students are prepared in the exam subjects of mathematics and German, including essay writing practice. Essay writing, in particular, is often neglected in regular elementary school classes. Furthermore, students practice the specific exam tasks in the grammar school entrance exam courses. These specific Gymnasium exam tasks are not covered at all in regular school classes.  

Register now for grammar school preparation in Zurich

The Gymnasium preparation courses are also offered as online grammar school courses. The online Gymnasium courses are particularly suitable for students who do not have time to travel to the exam preparation institute’s classrooms on course days.

Essay writing courses  

You can also practice essay writing in specialized essay courses. After all, the essay accounts for half of the German grade on the grammar school entrance exam.    

Our specialized essay course addresses the requirements of exam essays and teaches students everything they need to write a successful essay. A key component of the course is writing practice. Here, under the guidance of our experienced teachers, students improve their vocabulary and stylistic skills.          

The courses are held in small groups to ensure individual and intensive support for each student.

As a highlight, every essay course offers essay correction, including a comprehensive written evaluation and an error analysis. The evaluation is based on the same principles used in the cantonal grammar schools.        

This means that after the course, students not only receive feedback on their skills but also a clear assessment of whether they meet the essay requirements for admission to grammar school.    

Register for the essay course now

Mock exams  

It is advisable for every child who plans to take the grammar school entrance exam to participate in at least one mock exam. These mock exams simulate the actual grammar school entrance exam under real test conditions.    

On the one hand, the mock exam allows your child to identify any remaining weaknesses that can then be addressed before the actual entrance exam. On the other hand, the mock exam familiarizes your child with the structure of the entrance exam. Your child will then enter the actual entrance exam with a sense of routine that reduces exam stress and helps combat test anxiety.  

Register for the mock exam now

Supplementary courses  

Since 2023, report card grades have played a key role in admission to the short-term grammar school. This is where our supplementary courses come in: they help improve performance in core subjects, thereby increasing students’ chances of admission to the short-term grammar school. Whether it’s German, math, English, or French, the focus is on providing comprehensive support to students to systematically address existing gaps and significantly improve their grades.

At a glance:    

• Our tutors are experienced and specialized in their subject areas. They continuously adapt their lessons to the latest curricula and exam requirements.

• We keep class sizes small. With a maximum of 8 students per class, we ensure personalized attention and individual support for every student.

• Together, the preparatory and supplementary courses provide a solid foundation for exams and improve overall grades, which account for 50% of the final evaluation.  

Register now for the supplementary course

Summer courses  

Summer courses for grammar school preparation are intensive courses and are suitable, on the one hand, for students who have started preparing for grammar school too late.    

On the other hand, summer courses are suitable for students who do not have time to attend a grammar school preparation course during the regular school year outside of the summer break.    

Finally, vacation courses for grammar school preparation are suitable for students who still have weaknesses in certain areas and can address these during the vacation by attending an intensive vacation course.

Register for the vacation course now

Self-study grammar school preparation course  

Our popular milestone courses—also known as self-study grammar school preparation courses—are an excellent choice for early and consistent preparation. Here, students prepare independently using the proven Lern-Forum materials and instructional videos. They can then assess their progress every 4 weeks during our milestone course days (four times in total).      

Start your self-study grammar school preparation course now

The milestone principle explained simply:

• The grammar school preparation program with milestones at Lern-Forum is designed to optimally combine flexibility with structured learning. This course format is particularly suitable for students who want to prepare intensively for the Gymnasium entrance exam while maintaining flexibility in their schedule alongside their regular school routine.

• The focus is on independent learning and regular assessment of learning progress. Students receive high-quality teaching materials and course folders specially developed by Lern-Forum to optimally support the learning process at home. In addition, there are specially produced explanatory videos that break down complex topics into easy-to-understand concepts.

• Students’ independent learning is complemented by monthly course days, during which they meet in small groups. On these days, a short assessment is conducted to individually evaluate each student’s progress. This allows us to identify knowledge gaps early on and address them specifically.    

Even though a large part of the learning takes place independently, the support provided by professional teachers is a key advantage of this course. Our teachers provide individualized assistance and tailor their support to the needs of each student. This not only ensures efficient preparation but also boosts students’ self-confidence.  

Read our articles:  

• «Preparation for gymnasium exam necessary for passing»

• «When should I start the grammar school preparation?»

• «Gymi trial period at the Langgymi in Zurich tougher than Gymi exams»

In the second part of our guide, we answer the question: “How do you get into a grammar school in the canton of Aargau?”  

Specifically, there is only one way to enter a public grammar school in the canton of Aargau during the regular school year:

• Transferring to a grammar school after the 3rd grade of district school  

If you have achieved the required grades, you can transfer to a grammar school in Aargau without taking an entrance exam.

Read our article “Aargau school system - explained simply”.

Students in the 3rd grade of district school must have achieved the following grades to qualify for transfer to the grammar school without an entrance exam:

• In mathematics and German, a grade of at least 4.0 must have been achieved on the midterm report or the annual report card  

• The grade point average in the midterm report or annual report must be at least 4.7 (however, this grade point average is calculated using a special method in which, among other things, certain grades count double and minimum grades must be achieved in some cases)

A distinction is made between provisional and definitive admission to the grammar school. If the above-mentioned grade requirements are met in the first semester of the final district school class, provisional admission to the grammar school is granted. Students who meet the above-mentioned grade requirements in the second semester of the final district school class are definitively admitted to the grammar school in Aargau.

Students who do not meet the grade requirements for direct admission to the grammar school must, in order to transfer to the grammar school, at least complete the final year of the district school and then take the grammar school entrance exam, also known as the Kanti entrance exam. However, this entrance exam can only be taken in the year following successful completion of the district school.  

See also our article “Kanti entrance examination in the canton of Aargau in certain cases”.  

The Kanti entrance exam consists of the subjects German, mathematics, English, and French. It is a written exam spread over two exam days.  

Passing the entrance exam entitles the student to definitive admission to the grammar school. Those who do not pass the grammar school entrance exam may retake it once.  

To pass the grammar school entrance exam, the following requirements must be met cumulatively (i.e., both together):        

• the average grade for foreign languages (average of the exam grades in English and French) and the grades in German and mathematics must be at least 4, and

• no more than one of the three subject grades may be below 4

The path to attending a grammar school in the canton of Aargau is determined very early on. This is because, in Aargau, students can only transfer to a grammar school if they have previously attended a district school (Bezirksschule).   

However, students can only be admitted to the district school from primary school upon the recommendation of their primary school teacher, and this teacher bases their decision, among other things, on the results of the Check P5 achievement test. This test—also known as Check 5—is administered in the second semester of the fifth grade of primary school.  

If a student does not qualify directly for the district school, there is still the possibility of transferring from the secondary school to the district school, provided certain conditions are met. Those who have only been accepted into the lower secondary school (Realschule) must first transfer to a higher secondary school in order to then transfer to the district school.  

Once at the district school, you can only transfer to the grammar school without an exam if you have the required grades. Otherwise, you must pass an entrance exam for the grammar school.  

The following preparatory courses are suitable for preparing for the transition to the grammar school:  

• Preparation course for Check 5
• Preparation course for the grammar school entrance exam
• Summer courses  

Read our article “Planning school career in canton Aargau - 5th grade counts”.

Preparation course for Check 5

The Check 5 exam assesses selected skills in the following subjects: German, mathematics, English, and science.  

At the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute, your child can enroll in a special Check 5 preparation course to prepare for the German, mathematics, and English sections.  

Register now for Check 5 preparation

Preparation course for the grammar school entrance exam

Students who do not have the required grades to transfer to a grammar school in Aargau must pass the grammar school entrance exam in order to transfer to a grammar school.  

The Lern-Forum exam preparation institute also offers special preparation courses for the grammar school entrance exam.

Prepare for the grammar school entrance exam now  

Summer courses

In addition, the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute in Aargau offers summer courses where elementary, higher secondary, and lower secondary school students can fill in the gaps in their knowledge to help them get into grammar school.  

Register now for summer courses in Aargau

There is no officially required minimum IQ for grammar school in Switzerland. However, researchers estimate that students should have a minimum IQ of 112.6 to qualify for grammar school. These researchers assume that 20 percent of students in Switzerland earn a grammar school diploma. Officially, there is no nationwide grammar school graduation rate of 20 percent set by government agencies. The actual nationwide grammar school graduation rate for the year 2023 is 23.2%.  

However, if one assumes a 20 percent official grammar school graduation rate in Switzerland and further assumes that only the top 20 percent of all students should attend grammar school, this would indeed result in a minimum IQ of 112.6.

In the canton of Zurich, as an alternative to the public grammar school, there is also the option of attending one of the fee-based private grammar schools. However, tuition fees for private grammar schools can be very high. In some cases, they can reach 30,000 CHF per year. There are both private long-term high schools and private short-term high schools in the canton of Zurich.  

While there are also private schools in Aargau, there are no private grammar schools. Students from Aargau who wish to transfer to a private grammar school would have to attend one in another canton, such as the canton of Zurich.

Students in the Canton of Zurich who do not qualify for a grammar school during the standard secondary school years can earn their grammar school diploma as adults at the Cantonal Maturity School for Adults (KME). However, certain requirements must be met for admission to this adult Gymnasium.    

In Aargau, too, adults can earn a grammar school diploma under certain conditions at the Aargau High School for Adults (AME).

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