#...ups

The German school system confuses me…it seems really complicated

It is. Even more so, because it can varied from state to state. I’m just gonna try to break it down.

We normally start going to primary school with six. After four years the child gets recommendation from the teachers if they should go to a Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium. (Hauptschule is considered the “worst” and Gymnasium the “best. So some parents already put a lot of pressure on their ten year olds in order to get a recommendation for a Gymnasium.)

Normally you visit a Hauptschule and a Realschule six years and Gymnasium for eight or nine years depending on the state. On the Gymnasium you can make your Abitur which allows you to go to university.

But there’s also another different kind of school. The Integrierte Gesamtschule or short IGS. (I’m on a IGS btw) There pupils who normally would go to Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium have clases together (expect a exceptions starting in 9th grade but that would be too complicated).

In 10th grade all pupils have big exams and if their marks are good enough they can continue to do their Abitur or if they aren’t or the pupil doesn’t want to make Abitur leaves with Hauptschul or Realschul graduation.

The good thing about these kind of schools is that you have the change to do your Abitur even though you had recommendation for a different school in 4th grade. Of course you can also switch between schools, but that’s pretty hard.