Frequently asked questions (FAQ) on how the Lern-Forum works and how its courses are conducted

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• What does the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute offer?

  In Zurich (Canton of Zurich), the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute offers the following courses:

  • Grammar school preparation courses for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the long-term grammar school
  • Grammar school preparation courses for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the short-term grammar school
  • IMS preparation courses to prepare for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the Informatics Secondary School (IMS)
  • FMS preparation courses to prepare for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the Secondary Technical school (FMS)
  • BMS preparation courses to prepare for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the Vocational Baccalaureate school (BMS)
  • HMS preparation courses for the central entrance exam (ZAP) for the commercial secondary school (HMS)
  • Preliminary courses for the grammar school trial period
  • Grammar school trial period courses taken alongside regular school
  • Preliminary courses for grammar school preparation during 4th grade
  • Preliminary courses for grammar school preparation during 5th grade
  • Mock exams
  • Essay-writing courses
  • Multicheck preparation courses
  • Supplementary courses
  • Online grammar school courses
  • Grammar school preparation in self-study with learning control (milestone courses)
  • Grammar school vacation courses/intensive courses
  • DaZ courses

   

  In Wohlen (Canton of Aargau), the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute offers the following courses:

  • Preparation courses for the Check P5 achievement test
  • Courses to prepare for the entrance exam to the cantonal school in the canton of Aargau
  • Preparation courses for the FMS, WMS, IMS, and BMS exams in Aargau
  • Vacation courses
  • Math courses for grammar school seniors

• How long do the grammar school preparation courses and the other preparation courses—such as those for the BMS, IMS, and FMS exams—typically last?

  The duration of the grammar school preparation courses, as well as that of the other courses at Lern-Forum, depends on the specific course. For many types of courses, such as the grammar school preparation courses, courses of varying lengths are offered:

  • Pre-course 4th Grade: 10 or 8 weeks
  • Pre-course 5th Grade: 16, 12, or 8 weeks
  • Long-term grammar school preparation course: 34, 30, 26 (starting in 5th grade), 18, 16, 14, or 10 weeks (starting in 6th grade)
  • Pre-course 1st Sec.: 16, 12, or 8 weeks
  • Short-term grammar school preparation course: 18, 16, 14, or 10 weeks
  • Grammar school vacation intensive courses: 1 or 2 weeks

• On which days do the Gymnasium courses take place?

  The Lern-Forum’s grammar school preparation courses, which run alongside the school year, take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays, depending on the course.

  The grammar school vacation courses usually take place from Monday through Friday during school breaks.

• On which days do the other preparatory courses at Lern-Forum take place?

  For the other preparatory courses offered by Lern-Forum, the day on which the course takes place also depends on the specific course.

  The vacation courses usually take place from Monday through Friday during school breaks.

• How large are the grammar school courses and the other preparatory courses at Lern-Forum?

  The grammar school preparation courses and all other preparatory courses at Lern-Forum have between 3 and a maximum of 8 participants per course. This has proven to be the ideal group size, first, to create a productive learning environment in which students also learn from one another. On the other hand, this group size ensures that teachers can still address the individual needs of each student.

• Where exactly are the Lern-Forum courses offered?

  In Zurich, the Lern-Forum courses are held at two locations near the Zurich-Stadelhofen train station, right in the center of Zurich. One of the Lern-Forum’s Zurich locations is right next to Stadelhoferplatz at Mühlebachstrasse 2, 8008 Zurich, and the other is just a few minutes away from Stadelhoferplatz at Mühlebachstrasse 43, 8008 Zurich.

  In Wohlen (Canton of Aargau), the Lern-Forum courses are held at Zentralstr. 17, 5610 Wohlen, in the center of Wohlen.

• How can I sign up for a grammar school preparation course in Zurich or another preparatory course at Lern-Forum in Zurich?

  Booking a grammar school preparation course in Zurich or any other preparation course at the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute can only be done through the website, i.e., online.

  Bookings made by phone or in person will not be accepted. Any changes to the schedule will be communicated via email.

• How can I book a preparation course in Wohlen at the Lern-Forum?

  Booking a preparation course in Wohlen at the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute can only be done via the website—that is, online.

  Bookings made by phone or in person are not accepted. Any schedule changes will be communicated via email.

• How can I pay for courses at the Lern-Forum?

  Courses at the Lern-Forum can be paid for by invoice (payment slip or bank transfer), credit card, or PayPal.

  Course fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Payment in installments is possible in exceptional cases for those with good credit (1st installment before the course begins, 2nd installment 30 days after the course begins). There is no entitlement to payment in installments. For registrations made less than 10 days before the course begins, payment in installments is generally not possible.

• How can I find out if there are still open spots in the courses?

  You can check the Lern-Forum website to see if there are still open spots in the courses offered by the Lern-Forum Exam Preparation Institute. 

  To do this, go to the details page for the course you want by clicking ‘Details’. Then, on the details page, click the red ‘Register here’ button. This will take you to the registration page, where you’ll see the course location and, below it, the ‘more info’ link—click on it. You can now see the number of available spots (‘Seats available’).

• Why are grammar school preparation courses so expensive?

  There are several reasons for the high cost of grammar school preparation courses. At Lern-Forum, the costs are determined by the following factors:

  • Quality of the teaching
    • Employment of highly qualified teachers
    • In-house teaching materials
    • Video explanations for difficult problems
    • Comprehensive essay corrections
    • Monthly assessments of learning objectives
  • Individual Support and Communication
    • Small class sizes (3 to a maximum of 8 students per class)
    • Sending progress reports to parents
  • Infrastructure and Locations
    • Modern classrooms
    • Centrally located classrooms in Zurich and Wohlen
  • Organization and Administration
    • Employment of administrative staff for email and phone support
  • Course duration

• What is the success rate at Lern-Forum?

  The success rate for students taking entrance exams who participate in Lern-Forum’s preparatory courses—such as the grammar school preparation courses—is over 90%.

• What are Lern-Forum’s quality standards?

  The Lern-Forum places great emphasis on the highest quality in its course offerings.

  It employs only highly qualified teachers, uses teaching materials of the highest quality developed in-house, and utilizes classrooms equipped with modern facilities.

• What are the reviews like for Lern-Forum?

  On Google, the vast majority of reviews for Lern-Forum are 5-star ratings. Customers particularly liked the following aspects of Lern-Forum’s courses:

  • Course participants go into the exam with confidence
  • Course participants earn better grades
  • Course participants pass the exam
  • Teachers are dedicated, knowledgeable, and friendly
  • A motivating learning atmosphere
  • Up-to-date and engaging teaching materials
  • High standard of essay corrections
  • High standard of mock exam corrections
  • Small groups
  • Individualized support
  • Teaching of efficient study methods
  • Tips on exam techniques
  • Regular assessments of learning objectives
  • Targeted exam preparation
  • Regular progress reports to parents
  • Central location of classrooms
  • Modern classroom facilities

• Who is behind Lern-Forum?

  The exam preparation institute Lern-Forum is operated by ‘Lern- und Sprachsysteme Mühlebach AG’, whose managing director is Susanna Roshardt. Susanna Roshardt is currently responsible for management and administration at Lern-Forum. In the past, Susanna Roshardt also taught preparation courses herself, specifically in mathematics and French. Susanna Roshardt is also the founder of both the Lern-Forum and ‘Lern- und Sprachsysteme Mühlebach AG’.

• How long has the Lern-Forum been around?

  The Lern-Forum was founded in Zurich in 1991 by Susanna Roshardt.

• How many teachers work at the Lern-Forum?

  There are 30 to 35 teachers at the Lern-Forum exam preparation institute.

• Can I cancel a grammar school preparation course if I don't like it?

  Registration for a grammar school preparation course or any other course at the Lern-Forum is binding and generally cannot be canceled.

  If a registration was made in error, it can be canceled via email within 24 hours. Before booking, you should carefully check the details regarding the course time, location, and date, as well as the associated costs. If anything is unclear, you should contact the Lern-Forum for more information before registering.

  If you’re unsure whether the Lern-Forum’s courses are the right fit, you should first book a shorter course or attend a summer camp. In addition, the Lern-Forum offers a trial day for its grammar school preparation courses after summer break.

  If a child wishes to take the same course as their classmates, parents are advised to confirm exactly which course provider the classmate has registered with.

  If parents cancel their child’s registration after the cancellation deadline has passed, the following fee policy applies (even in cases of illness certified by a doctor through no fault of the child):

  Cancellation, or No-Show, or Illness	Fees
  30 calendar days before the start of the course	300 CHF processing fee
  29–15 calendar days before the start of the course	40% of the course fee
  14–7 calendar days before the start of the course	60% of the course fee
  6 calendar days to 24 hours before the start of the course	80% of the course fee
  Cancellation via email or text message at the start of the course	100% of the course fee
  Failure to attend at the start of the course	100% of the course fee
  Failure to attend at the start of the course due to an unpaid invoice	100% of the course fee
  Illness at the start of the course (even with a doctor’s note)	100% of the course fee

• Does the Lern-Forum offer trial days?

  For its grammar school preparation courses for the long-term and short-term grammar school programs, the Lern-Forum offers a trial day after summer break.

  During this trial day, interested students participate in two 45-minute trial lessons. Registration for the trial day is required, and a fee of CHF 25 must be paid.

• What makes the Lern-Forum’s grammar school preparation courses—as well as its other courses, such as those for BMS, IMS, FMS, HMS/WMS, and Multicheck preparation—so special?

  With over 35 years of experience, the Lern-Forum is one of the oldest exam preparation institutes in Zurich (Canton of Zurich) and Wohlen (Canton of Aargau). As a result, the Lern-Forum has decades of accumulated experience that many other exam preparation institutes lack.

  Only highly qualified teachers instruct the courses at the Lern-Forum.

  In addition, the Lern-Forum uses its own high-quality teaching materials, allowing it to prepare students specifically for their respective entrance exams.

  The classrooms are equipped with modern facilities and are centrally located.

  Overall, the Lern-Forum consistently prioritizes the highest quality.