Requirements for transfer after the 4th grade

The transfer to secondary school is possible regardless of the grade point average in the transfer certificate in the subjects German, mathematics and HSU. Your child must reach the 4th grade target. In principle, a compulsory schooling period of 9 years must be completed. As with the elementary school, which secondary school your child attends is determined by the "Sprengel", i.e. the residential address.

In Erlangen there is a school network of three secondary schools. Under certain conditions, there may be a redistribution. This means that your child attends a different middle school than planned.

Your child can attend the Städtische Wirtschaftsschule if the average grade in the subjects German, mathematics and HSU in the transfer certificate is 2.66 or better.

You can register your child at the Realschule. For this, the average grade in the subjects German, mathematics and HSU in the transfer certificate must be 2.66 or better.
If the average is lower, your child can attend a trial lesson. If your child passes this, you can register them (see section "Trial lessons").

You can register your child at a grammar school. For this, the average grade in the subjects German, mathematics and HSU in the transfer certificate must be 2.33 or better.
If the average is lower, your child can attend a trial lesson. If your child passes this, you can register them (see section "Trial lessons").

If your child would like to attend a music grammar school, they must have a particular musical talent. This must be proven by the grade in music education in the transfer certificate or by other means. You must apply to the elementary school in good time for the music grade to be entered in the transfer certificate.

They can transfer to a Realschule or Gymnasium with an average grade of 3.33 or better in their transfer certificate if

• they have only attended a German school after year 1
• an overall grade in German (not: DaZ) was awarded
• the average grade is due to weaknesses in the German language that can still be remedied. The elementary school must confirm this. To do this, the children must attend German lessons in year 4.

The trial lesson is an entrance examination for business school, secondary school or grammar school. It is possible that your child will not receive a recommendation for the type of school you would like. This happens if the average grade in German, mathematics and HSU in the transfer certificate is not good enough. You cannot then register your child directly at the desired school. Instead, you can register your child for trial lessons. The trial lessons take place on three consecutive days.

You will find the dates here from January.


Your child will be tested in the subjects German and mathematics. The content consists of the 4th grade subject matter. In German, for example, it is about how well your child understands texts, how well they can write essays or how good their spelling is. There are written and oral tests in both subjects.

The trial lessons are passed if at least a grade 3 is achieved in one subject and a grade 4 in the other. Your child can then move on to Year 5 at this type of school. If your child has achieved a grade 4 in both subjects, you can register them at your request.