Academic secondary school (Allgemein bildende höhere Schule)

The academic secondary school comprises a four-year lower level and a four-year upper level terminating in the Reifeprüfung (matriculation exam).

The matriculation exam is an entrance exam for university, higher technical college, post-secondary college and academies (students may be required to sit additional examinations in some subjects) as well as for the civil service.

Admission to the first year: successful completion of the fourth year of Volksschule (primary school) with "very good" or "good" marks in German, reading and mathematics, or a statement from the primary school conference that in spite of a "satisfactory" grade in these required subjects, the student's overall achievement will probably meet the requirements of academic secondary school; or an entrance ex-amination.

• Admission to higher form
• Types of academic secondary schools
• Special types

Admission to higher form

From a Hauptschule (general secondary school):
Yearly report showing "excellent achievement" or the remark that in the subsequent year at Hauptschule (general secondary school) the student would be eligible to attend the top achievement group in the subjects German, modern languages and mathematics. "Satisfactory" is the minimum requirement for other required subjects: or an entrance examination.

After the fourth form:
Yearly report for the top achievement group (or "very good" or "good" or "satisfactory" marks by conference resolution in the second achievement group), with "satisfactory" as the minimum requirement for other required subjects; or an entrance examination.

From other types of schools:
If required, placement or entrance examinations in individual subjects.

  

Types of academic secondary schools

(Only the most important curricular differences are described below.)

• Lower level (forms 1 to 4):

Forms 1 and 2: identical curricula for all types; one modern language (first to eighth form).
Forms 3 and 4: Gymnasium: Latin or alternatively a second modern language; Realgymnasium: descriptive geometry, more mathematics, natural sciences; technical or textile handicrafts; Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium: more chemistry; technical or textile handicrafts.

• Upper level (forms 5 to 8):

Gymnasium:
Latin (continuation of lower level Latin or commencement of an abbreviated course); starting in the fifth form, Greek or a second modern language (start or continuation with third year).

Realgymnasium:
More mathematics; starting in the fifth form, Latin (Latin studies started in the lower level of Gymnasium may be continued) or a second modern language; in addition, descriptive geometry or more biology and environmental science, chemistry, physics.

Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium (home-economics type):
Starting in the fifth form, a second modern language or Latin. In addition to that: home economics and nutrition, more geography and economics, psychology and philosophy (including practical courses).

Oberstufenrealgymnasium (separate upper-level type):
In addition to the eight-year types of academic secondary school, there is a separate upper-level type (in some cases with a transition stage).
This type of school is identifiable by: admission after the eighth grade (fifth to eighth form); starting in the fifth form, a second modern language or Latin. In addition, instrumental music or fine arts and handicraft, or descriptive geometry and more mathematics or more biology and environmental science, chemistry, physics (and mathematics).

For all types: in the sixth (seventh) to eighth form, elective subjects must be chosen for six (Gymnasium, Oberstufenrealgymnasium), eight (Realgymnasium) or ten (wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium) periods a week. However, the number of periods may be changed autonomously by each school (minimum 4 periods, maximum 10 periods).
Within certain limits, in both lower and upper levels each school can adjust the courses it offers to suit its specific situation. It may even be entitled to issue autonomous curricula. In this way a school may develop its own special profile or priorities (e.g. languages, music, art and design, sports, science, ecology, computer science, etc.).

  

Special types

● Allgemeinbildende höhere Schulen (academic secondary schools) with an arts or sports bias and aptitude test.
– Sports bias either from the first form (Realgymnasium, with a special focus on sports training; eight years) or from the fifth form (Oberstufenrealgymnasium, with a special focus on sports training; four years)
– Music bias: either from the first form (Gymnasium or Realgymnasium, with a special focus on arts education, eight years; Realgymnasium, with a special focus on arts education for music students; nine years) or from the fifth form (Oberstufenrealgymnasium, with a special focus on arts education , four years; Oberstufenrealgymnasium, with a special focus on arts education for music students, five years)

● Aufbaugymnasium (language bias) and Aufbaurealgymnasium (science bias)( in some cases with transition stage; fifth to eighth form): admission without age restriction.

● Gymnasium, Realgymnasium and Wirtschaftskundliches Realgymnasium für Berufstätige (science, mathematics or homeeconomics bias and schools for working people): evening or longdistance classes, duration eight semesters. Age of admission: on reaching age 17 no later than the calendar year of admission

● AHS für sprachliche Minderheiten (academic secondary school for language minorities – Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian)

● Werkschulheim (trades and crafts bias): Academic secondary school offering training in a trade or craft, currently for carpentry, mechatronics and electronics (first to ninth grade); located in Ebenau/ Salzburg and the Vienna Evangelical Gymnasium.

● Gymnasium and Realgymnasium with extensive foreign language instruction (in some cases pilot projects), e.g.: Theresianum, Europagymnasium, Realgymnasium with four required foreign languages (details available from provincial school boards).

Information about other special types of school run as pilot projects (e.g. with a special focus on computer science, natural science or competitive athletics) and academic secondary schools with boarding facilities (both public and private) may be obtained from the various Landesschulrate (provincial school boards).

Further information is also available on the Internet at: www.bmukk.gv.at/schulen/bw/abs/abs.xml.

Geändert am 03.03.2009