Abitur after Realschule

[shallnotgrumble 0]

Can anyone tell me about the system of Realschule and Gymnasium in Germany?

I want to put me children in Realschule because it's near where we will be living but I have been told I can put them in Gymnasium when we move to Niedersachsen from UK.

Can they still do Abitur after Realschule? So far I have understood from the internet research that they all sit an exam abit like GCSE and then go on to do Abitur after that at a different school or they join a Gymnasium. Am I right or should I just put them in the Gymnasium straight away?

[sarabyrd 18,767]

They can go to the Fachoberschule after Realschule. The Abitur they receive there does not entitle them to every branch of studies but does cover most. The FOS is subdivided into various branches as well (social studies, art, music).

 

The Gymnasium is not everybody's cup of tea. I loved it but I enjoy meeting challenges and throve on learning four languages as well as biology, history, geography, math, chemistry, music and arts and crafts. It's a headcase thing at Gymnasium, they teach you to study without much hands-on experience.

 

Realschule is more practice oriented and tries to teach you insight into maintaining a business or working in a trade/office environment. You are expected to do at least one internship in your penultimate year. Less languages and general knowledge, more practical goals.

[shallnotgrumble 0]

Which pupils join Gymnasium in year 11 or 12? I saw that most of the Gymnasium were offereing admissions for Year 5 and Year 11 or 12 (can't remember exactly the year) so does that mean that Realschule kids can also go to Gymnasium later or can they only do the Fachoberschule?

[Guest]

Hi, from what I have understood if children go through the Realschule they do the Realschule abschluss (GCSE's) and then they can then go onto the Gymnasium and do their Abitur, but they have to do 3 years instead of the normal 2 years for a child who did their whole secondary education in the Gymnasium. Here is a little info I have found...

 

Children from the Hauptschule can choose to go to work or to try to further their education by going to school and trying to qualify for FOS (Fachoberhochschule) or BOS (Berufoberschule...for students that have had a job.) FOS and BOS usually take three years to complete. But once, completed, the student has earned his/her Abitur which is required for university.

 

Realschule - ('Mittlerer Reife' qualification) It is NOT a school for students if they only want to go to vocational school.

 

Germans are usually satisfied when their children are sent to the Realschule instead of the Gymnasium...(Just please!!! not the Hauptschule.) With a Realschule qualification, (Grades 5-10), a student is able to get a better job or to go to FOS, (as explained above), for two years. After finishing FOS, the student has earned his/her Abitur and a ticket to university.

 

Inside information - A Realschule qualification is nothing to be frowned upon. It's a good qualification, because students are able to get good jobs in an office, or go straight into FOS (Fachoberhochschule) without the many problems that a Hauptschule student would face. The teachers and classes are generally better. FOS usually take three years to complete. But once, completed, the student has earned his/her Abitur which is required for university.

 

Also from Wikipedia...

 

the Realschulabschluss, also called Mittlere Reife (school leaving certificate of a Realschule after 10th Grade), and Abitur, also called Hochschulreife, after 12th Grade. Students who graduate from Hauptschule or Realschule may continue their schooling at a vocational school until they have full job qualifications. It is also possible to get an erweiterter Realschulabschluss after 10th grade that allows the students to continue their education at the Oberstufe of a gymnasium and get an Abitur. There are two types of vocational school in Germany. The Berufsschule, a part time vocational school and a part of Germany's dual education system, and the Berufsfachschule, a full time vocational school outside the dual education system. Both types of school are also part of Germany's secondary school system. Students who graduate from a vocational school and students who graduate with a good grade point average from a Realschule can continue their schooling at another type of German secondary school, the Fachoberschule, a vocational high school. The school leaving exam of this type of school, the Fachhochschulreife, enables the graduate to start studying at a Fachhochschule (polytechnic), and in Hesse also at a university within the state. Students who have graduated from vocational school and have been working in a job for at least three years can go to Berufsoberschule to get either a "Fachabitur" (meaning they may go to university, but they can only study the subjects belonging to the "branch" (economical, technical, social) they studied in at Berufschule.) after one year, or the normal "Abitur" (after two years), which gives them complete access to universities.

 

I hope this helps :)

[sarabyrd 18,767]

Have you spoken to the principal at your Realschule? S/he can answer your questions in much more detail than exparts who probably didn't graduate from the German school system.

You can join Gymnasium after Realschule but it's gruelling. If Abitur is your goal (or better: your children's goal) then start them at Gymnasium at the tender age of 10 or 11.

[Bell the cat 429]

As I understand it the brighter pupils go to Gymnasium to effectively be prepared for University. Intermediate pupils go to Realschule and the least bright go to Hauptschule where vocational education is the norm. Although this is analogous to the grammar/secondary modern division there is more fexibity to move been the schools in germany. If you want to avoid that kind of streaming/elitist divide you should look for a Gesamtschule (comprehensive) that offers all three types of education.

[shallnotgrumble 0]

Yes I would have liked to speak to the school but they are all closed up for summer. I think I can maybe speak to someone before I decide though at some school Hauptamt. Not sure what to do now! Still, they might have to sit a year twice over in Gymnasium if they find it too hard going so they might still not finish quicker than if they did Realschule and then 3 years for Abi.

I have noticed that there are alot more Gymnasium than Realschule and often 3 times as many pupils attend Gymnasium than Realschule in the area, looking at average 1000 pupils in most Gymnasium and 350 at the realschule

[Bipa 5,814]

There are a few variations in different German states, but this diagram of the Bavarian school system will give you an idea of the different paths students can take.

 

 

(taken from http://www.note1plus.de/1-WelcheSchu.htm)

[Holsteiner 85]

Try the Gymnasium. Our daughter has just finished 10th grade in Gymnasium (age 16) which automatically gives her the "erweiterten (extended) Realschulabschluss". This is as good as you can get if you don't manage the Abitur afterwards.

The other way around, as a pupil in Realschule you would need to have rather good grades to earn the extended Abschluss which would then allow you to go to Gymnasium (for another two years, in Niedersachsen).

[marie-claire 2,090]

 

As I understand it the brighter pupils go to Gymnasium to effectively be prepared for University. Intermediate pupils go to Realschule and the least bright go to Hauptschule where vocational education is the norm. Although this is analogous to the grammar/secondary modern division there is more fexibity to move been the schools in germany. If you want to avoid that kind of streaming/elitist divide you should look for a Gesamtschule (comprehensive) that offers all three types of education.

Bell the cat is right. Many parents I know prefer the IGS/Integrierte Gesamtschule to a Gymnasium because the IGS system puts less pressure on the children.

[HEM 11,068]

Our son completed Gymnasium just a year ago. Our daughter (now 17) went to Realschule^* and completed that also a year ago. Her final results were her entry to the Gymnasium (probably helped a little by fact that her brother had been there).

 

Despite being best girl in her class on leaving the Realschule its been quite hard in her first year at Gymnasium. There are two more years to go.

 

To OP I'd recommend that if her children are up to Gymnasium standards then they should go straight there.

 

BTW I get impression that schools in general are more language/arts oriented & less towards science than in UK. My personal experience in 60s when I spend a year at a school in Munich & I get similar impression now.

 

*_{I think she should have gone to Gymnasium from the start...}

[HEM 11,068]

 

Many parents I know prefer the IGS/Integrierte Gesamtschule to a Gymnasium because it puts less pressure on the children.

Unlike Real Life that has no pressure at all?

[RainyDays 2,453]

I assume your kids don't speak German yet? Then IMO it would make sense to look into the Gesamtschule, because your kids could take courses on different levels, e.g. a high-level English course and a low-level German course. There is the integrierte Gesamtschule without Hauptschule/Realschule/Gymnasium differenciation, and there is the kooperative Gesamtschule which does offer the three types, but with easier transition between them. With both, pupils can get Abitur.

[marie-claire 2,090]

 

Unlike Real Life that has no pressure at all?

No, of course, but why add to the pressure if you can avoid it? And why put young children into categories without giving them a chance to adjust?

At the IGS they don't have to change schools if they can't keep, which happens to a lot of children and is not something parents or teachers can easily predict after four years of primary school.

[Bell the cat 429]

if I had kids and lived somewhere with access to an IGS, that is where I would send them. The kind of place where they could find their own level to excel in whatever was their most appropriate fields.

[shallnotgrumble 0]

Both my children are fluent in German but obviously not the same standard as a real German child. I think I might as well try the Gymnasium if they offer me the places (will have to wait until the office is open at the end of July) and we can always try to get them extra help if they struggle. Now of to carry on packing, move is next week. How has the German summer been? Hope it's not too hot when I will be running around from Amt to Amt and getting everything sorted out.

[sarabyrd 18,767]

Depends which part you're moving to

I started Gymnasium 15 months after arriving here with almost zero prior knowledge of the language, my German at the time was fluent with mistakes and far from perfect but I lapped it up. Your kids will do, for sure, no matter where you place them.

[Yarra 60]

Where in Niedersachsen will you be relocating?

[Moondancer 5,723]

Son has Realschul abschluss, daughter is going into 13th grade at gymnasium this year, so am familiar with both. Her best friend went to a Gesamt schule and she was able to switch to gymnasium, but she really had to struggle. The classes that you get in Realschule are not as hard as the ones you would have had in gmynasium through the years. Daughter had to repeat a year as did my niece, and in fact it is very common for kids to have to repeat, as it is quite hard. They all go to Nach hilfe for extra help. Son was at a Gesamt schule where we were told he could take advanced classes in subjects he was good at, such as English or Math. It never happened, as those classes never fit into his schedule. I was extremely disappointed in the Real schule. Classes fell out all the time, teachers would not show up for weeks at a time, nor would they show up for parents night. If I had to do it all over again, I sure would not have chosen the school we did. There are probably better Gesamtschule out there, so make sure they stick by what they say. If you have the choice, pick the gymnasium.

[Owain Glyndwr 888]

 

Can anyone tell me about the system of Realschule and Gymnasium in Germany?

I want to put me children in Realschule because it's near where we will be living but I have been told I can put them in Gymnasium when we move to Niedersachsen from UK.

Can they still do Abitur after Realschule? So far I have understood from the internet research that they all sit an exam abit like GCSE and then go on to do Abitur after that at a different school or they join a Gymnasium. Am I right or should I just put them in the Gymnasium straight away?

basically, i would suggest that if you think your children are likely candidates to go on and study A-levels after their GCSE's do NOT send them to the Realschule, if you can help it, as this severely limits your options. Send them straight to the Gymnasium.