here

7

The German school system

In Germany, compulsory schooling is compulsory from the age of 6. From then on you go to primary school for 4 years, that is until the fourth grade. When you have finished primary school, you continue on to secondary school. This term refers to schools like grammar schools or comprehensive schools. Depending on how your certificate is in the fourth grade, a school will be recommended to you and you can then choose for yourself which school you would like to go to. The schools then use the certificate to determine whether you can go to that school. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, you will be taught there from 7:40 am to 12:50 pm, or on long days until 14:25 pm. At the school you are then from the 5th grade up to the 10th grade or at grammar schools up to the 12th or 13 grade. This corresponds to an age of 11-18 years. With the exception of the grammar schools, you have to complete a middle school leaving certificate in the 10th grade. However, if you want to take the Abitur, you will have to go to a grammar school. You need this Abitur to be able to study later and earn more money because of better jobs.