Germany Austria Switzerland

Starts at age 5/6 Introduction to School Choices Grade 4 (age 10) Grade 5 and 6 (choose track) Hauptschule Realschule Gymnasium

The Basics (not college prep) Vocational Track Graduate age 15/16 Same subjects as other schools but slower pace

Most like American or Canadian high school Middle level learning Graduate age 16/17 Can go to university, but only certain subjects Apprenticeship also an option

College preparatory Graduate age 18/19 Grade 13 is strictly devoted to studying the “Abitur” “Abitur” is comprehensive test of all subjects studied from grade 7-12

To attend must receive recommendation from Grade 6 teachers Must learn 2 foreign languages -English or Latin -French, English, Latin, Greek, Spanish, Russian Admitted to college with Abitur -Not required, but recommended for certain subjects