The German Abitur is the highest school-leaving qualification available at secondary level and is required for admission to university in Germany. It is also recognised by other German-speaking countries (Austria, Switzerland, etc.) and accepted as equivalent to their own university entrance qualifications.
Preparing for the Abitur requires a well-planned course of study and disciplined work. During the examination phase, students are assessed in German, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Preparation Phase
- Year 10: Core subject knowledge and methods lay the foundation for the examinations taken in Years 11 and 12.
- Years 11 and 12: At the end of each half-year, students earn Abitur preparation grades through written and oral examinations. Written examination grades carry more weight than oral ones.
Registering for the Examinations
- Start of Year 12 (September):
- Every student sits four written examinations: German, English and Mathematics are compulsory, and the fourth is chosen from the sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics).
- There are two oral examinations. The student takes one of the two subjects not chosen for a written exam as an oral exam; the school management sets the second oral exam in one of the written subjects.
Written and Oral Examinations
- Written examinations: Held in February. To take part, students must have attended classes regularly and shown sufficient academic performance.
- Oral examinations: Held in May under the supervision of an examination chair from Germany. Eligibility for the oral examinations depends on performance in the written ones.
Diploma and Grading
- The result is calculated as the average of the grades in five subjects (German, English, Mathematics and two sciences).
- The half-year grades from Years 11 and 12 are combined with the final examination grades to produce a final grade for each subject.
- Requirements for passing the Abitur:
- The overall total must be at least 30
- The four written examinations must total at least 20
- No final subject grade may be 0
- A grade below 4 points is allowed in no more than two subjects
- Calculating the Abitur grade: Written examination grades are weighted twice and oral examination grades once.
The German grading scale runs from 1.0 to 6.0, with 1.0 being the best; students who score above 4.0 do not receive the diploma.
The Matura
- In Austria, the Matura is the school-leaving examination for Gymnasium graduates.
- In Turkey, only students of the Sankt Georg Austrian High School and the Austrian Commercial High School can take it.
- Candidates need German at C1 level to sit the examination.
- Like the Abitur, the Matura covers German, English, Mathematics and the sciences, with separate written and oral examinations.
Summary
The Abitur and Matura demand advanced proficiency in German and English as well as solid knowledge of science and mathematics. The examinations test analytical thinking, sustained concentration and academic ability. At DBT Danışmanlık we offer our students structured, systematic preparation for the Abitur and Matura and guide them towards success.
