Abitur
Abitur is the German school-leaving qualification and university entrance certificate, the counterpart of the Austrian Matura. It is awarded at the end of a Gymnasium education and carries the allgemeine Hochschulreife — general higher education entrance qualification. German-speaking families weighing an international school usually hold the Abitur up as the reference point.
Key facts
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Allgemeine Hochschulreife |
| Taken at the end of | Grade 12 or 13, depending on the federal state |
| Set by | Each federal state, within standards agreed by the Kultusministerkonferenz |
| Assessment | Written papers plus at least one oral examination |
| Marking | 0–15 points per course, converted to a final grade |
| Final grade | 1.0 best, 4.0 the pass threshold |
| Gives access to | German universities, and recognised across the EU |
Why the Abitur is not one exam
Education in Germany is run by the federal states, so there is no single national Abitur. Each state writes its own papers within standards agreed jointly by the state education ministers at the Kultusministerkonferenz, and the number of school years differs — some states finish at Grade 12, others at Grade 13. The result is a qualification consistent enough to be accepted anywhere in Germany, but whose difficulty and subject rules families genuinely do compare between states. Marking runs on a 0–15 point scale per course rather than school grades, and those points are combined into a final figure where 1.0 is the best result and 4.0 the pass threshold. Competitive subjects such as medicine are allocated largely on that number.
Abitur, IB Diploma or A Levels
Three questions usually settle it. Where will the child apply? The Abitur is unrivalled inside Germany and well understood across Europe; the IB Diploma and A Levels are read directly by admissions offices worldwide. In which language will they work? The Abitur is written in German, and that is a real constraint for a child whose academic German is still developing. And how broad should the final two years be? The IB Diploma keeps six subjects plus a core of Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and service; A Levels narrow to three or four; the Abitur sits between the two.
None of this is about rigour — all three are demanding — it is about fit. Our High School structure sets out how the choice is made here.
At Schloss Krumbach
Schloss Krumbach does not offer the Abitur. German is taught seriously — Middle School in Grades 7–9 runs bilingually in English and German, and German continues through the High School — but the leaving qualifications are the IB Diploma and Cambridge International A Levels, both taken in Grades 11–12 and both written in English. For a German family this is usually the point of the move: the child keeps German as a working language while gaining a diploma that does not tie the university decision to one country. German-taught universities will still ask for proof of German, which an IB student can satisfy by taking German as Language A. Entry is normally into Grade 10, the pre-diploma year — the admissions assessment decides placement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IB Diploma recognised in Germany?
Yes, as a higher education entrance qualification, under conditions set by the Kultusministerkonferenz — a required combination of subjects and levels. Each state applies them, so check the rules of the state where your child will apply.
Can my child switch from a German Gymnasium into your Grade 10?
That is the usual entry point. Grade 10 at Schloss Krumbach is a pre-diploma year that moves the language of instruction to English and prepares for the IB or A-Level choice. Placement is decided by our admissions assessment.
Will my child lose their German?
No. German runs through Middle School as a language of instruction and continues in the High School, and students live in a German-speaking country.
Free PDF guide
IGCSE, IB or A Levels: which route fits your child?
The routes from Grade 9 to university side by side: what each qualification involves, how universities read it, and the questions to ask any school.
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