Secondary schools canton Zurich and information on entrance exams
Anyone wishing to transfer to a secondary school in the canton of Zurich, i.e. a Grammar School, IT Secondary School (IMS), Commercial Secondary School (HMS), Technical Secondary School (FMS) or Vocational Baccalaureate School (BMS), must take the central entrance examination (ZAP).
Below, we briefly explain which school year these secondary schools start in, what qualification you obtain upon completion, what you can do with this qualification, and when the ZAP entrance exams for Zurich secondary schools are scheduled to take place in 2026, i.e., for Gymnasium, commercial secondary school (HMS), technical secondary school (FMS), and various options at vocational baccalaureate school (BMS), as well as for IT secondary school (IMS) and the BMS option BM 2 (business and services, three semesters) in 2025.
We have also compiled helpful links relating to admission to the respective secondary schools.
Long gymnasium
Secondary schools in the canton of Zurich also include grammar schools, which are divided into long-term and short-term grammar schools. The long-term gymnasium begins after the sixth grade of primary school, lasts six years, and concludes with the gymnasium Matura, which qualifies students to study at Swiss universities, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), and the Universities of Teacher Education (PH).
To be admitted to the long-term gymnasium, students must pass the central entrance examination ZAP1.
Registration deadline ZAP1:
- January 1, 2026, until February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP1:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
Helpful links about long-term gymnasium and ZAP1:
Art and Sports High School (K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl)
As a long-term grammar school, the K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl art and sports grammar school begins after the sixth grade of primary school, lasts seven years, and concludes with the gymnasium Matura, which enables students to study at Swiss universities, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), and the Universities of Teacher Education (PH). It lasts one year longer than the normal long-term secondary school so that students can pursue their athletic, dance, or musical training in addition to their normal school education.
To be admitted to the long-term program at K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl, students must pass the central entrance exam ZAP1 and successfully complete an additional application process to demonstrate that they meet the specific requirements in one of the three areas of music, dance, or sports.
Registration deadline ZAP1 - K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl:
- January 1, 2026, until January 15, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP1 - K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
- to registration
Helpful links about K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl and ZAP1:
Zurich secondary schools from the 2nd or 3rd sec:
Short gymnasium
The short-term gymnasium begins after the 2nd or 3rd year of secondary school, lasts 4 years, and concludes with the gymnasium Matura, which allows students to study at Swiss universities, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), and the Universities of Teacher Education (PH).
To be admitted to the short-term gymnasium, students must pass the central entrance examination ZAP2.
Registration deadline ZAP2:
- January 1, 2026, until February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP2:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
Helpful links about short-term gymnasium and ZAP2:
Art and Sports High School (K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl)
As a short-term grammar school, the K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl art and sports gymnasium begins after the 2nd or 3rd year of secondary school, lasts 5 years, and concludes with the gymnasium Matura which enables students to study at Swiss universities, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), and the Universities of Teacher Education (PH). It lasts one year longer than the normal short-cycle grammar school so that students can pursue their athletic, dance, or musical training in addition to their normal school education.
To be admitted to the short-term program at K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl, students must pass the central entrance exam ZAP2 and successfully complete an additional application process to demonstrate that they meet the specific requirements in one of the three areas of music, dance, or sports.
Registration deadline ZAP2 - K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl:
- January 1, 2026, until January 15, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP2 - K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
- to registration
Helpful links about K+S Gymnasium Rämibühl and ZAP2:
Liceo Artistico at the Freudenberg Cantonal School
The Liceo Artistico is only available as a short-term grammar school and begins after the 2nd or 3rd year of secondary school, lasts 5 years, and concludes with the gymnasium Matura, which allows students to study at Swiss universities, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH), and the Universities of Teacher Education (PH). In addition to the Swiss Matura, students at the Liceo Artistico also take the Italian Matura, which allows them to study at Italian universities and art academies (Accademia di Belle Arti). The Liceo Artistico lasts one year longer than the normal short-term secondary school, as more than a quarter of the compulsory lessons are devoted to art subjects.
To be admitted to the Liceo Artistico, students must pass the central entrance exam ZAP2 and the creative aptitude test.
Registration deadline ZAP2 - Liceo Artistico:
- January 1, 2026, until February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP2 - Liceo Artistico:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
- to registration
Helpful links about Liceo Artistico and ZAP2:
Commercial secondary schools – HMS (same exam as short gymnasium)
Another type of secondary school in the canton of Zurich is the commercial secondary school (HMS). The HMS begins after the 2nd or 3rd year of secondary school and lasts four years – three years of classes and one year of internship – and concludes with the EFZ commercial certificate and the commercial vocational baccalaureate. This allows exam-free admission to universities of applied sciences.
To be admitted to the HMS, you must pass the central entrance exam ZAP2
Registration deadline ZAP2:
- January 1, 2026, until February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP2:
- Monday, March 2, 2026
Helpful links about HMS and ZAP2:
Zurich secondary schools from the 3rd sec:
Technical Secondary School – (FMS) (same test as BMS)
There is also the technical secondary school (FMS) among Zurich's secondary schools. The FMS begins after the third year of secondary school and concludes after three years with the federal technical secondary school certificate, which grants access to higher technical colleges. Alternatively, students can optionally complete the FMS after four years with the federal technical maturity certificate, which enables them to study at a university of applied sciences.
To be admitted to the FMS, students must pass the central entrance examination ZAP3 Secondary School
Registration deadline ZAP3 - FMS:
- January 1, 2026, until February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP3 - FMS:
- Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Helpful links about FMS and ZAP3:
IT secondary school – (IMS)
Another secondary school in the canton of Zurich is the IT secondary school (IMS). The IMS begins after the third year of secondary school and concludes after four years with a federal vocational certificate in informatics and a commercial baccalaureate, which qualifies students to study at a university of applied sciences.
To be admitted to the IMS, students must pass the central entrance examination ZAP3.
Registration deadline ZAP3 - IMS:
- September 1, 2025, until September 30, 2025
Entrance examination ZAP3 - IMS:
- Monday, October 27, 2025 (in writing)
Helpful links about IMS and ZAP3:
Vocational baccalaureate school – (BMS)
Finally, there is also the vocational baccalaureate school (BMS) as a secondary school in the canton of Zurich. The BMS begins after the third year of secondary school and concludes differently depending on the option chosen. There are three options in total at the BMS:
1. Option “BMS during apprenticeship”: Completion after 3-4 years with a vocational baccalaureate certificate parallel to the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ), which enables study at a university of applied sciences.
2. Option “BMS after apprenticeship”: for full-time BMS training after 1 year, for part-time training after 1.5 to 2 years, graduation with a vocational baccalaureate certificate, which is obtained in addition to the EFZ apprenticeship, enabling study at a university of applied sciences.
3. Option “BM 1 flex”: BMS training can be extended over a longer period as part of a three-year apprenticeship, and the vocational baccalaureate is completed after the end of the vocational apprenticeship, which enables students to study at a university of applied sciences.
To be admitted to the BMS, students must pass the central entrance examination ZAP3.
Registration deadline ZAP3 - BMS:
- January 1, 2026 to February 10, 2026
Entrance examination ZAP3 - BMS:
- BM 2 (Business and services types, three semesters): Friday, June 20, 2025
- BM 1: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- BM 2 (all specializations): Saturday, March 14, 2026
- BM 2 (business and services, three semesters): Friday, June 19, 2026
Helpful links about BMS and ZAP3:
Preparatory courses long-term gymnasium
Free spots
Vacation Intensive Courses Long-Gymnasium
Free spots
Preparatory courses short-term gymnasium
Free Spots
Supplementary courses for the school report
Free spots
Vacation Intensive Courses Short-Gymnasium
Free spots
Grammar school preparation costs (gymnasium prep costs)
Total cost of gymnasium preparation depends especially on how early the grammar school preparation begins and whether intensive holiday courses are attended.
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