general information
German and French students sit a joint Abitur. This is a centralised Abitur organised by the five Franco-German High Schools. The Abitur comprises the examinations in the first examination group and the second examination group (oral). The Abitur marks are calculated on the basis of the preliminary marks, the results of the two examination groups, and the examinations in PE and optional subjects.
The Franco-German Abitur grants graduates all the entitlements associated with the German Abitur certificate in Germany and the Baccalauréat in France. Franco-German High School graduates do not need to sit a language examination before commencing a degree course in Germany or France; in other words, they can enrol directly at universities.
The entire Abitur examination takes place during Terminale (Year 12); there are therefore no early examinations, such as those for French in France (exception: optional examinations in music and art, and parts of the PE examination).
THE EXAMS
FIRST EXAM GROUP:
Written exams in:
- Department language (mother tongue)
- Partner language
- 1st specialisation subject
- 2nd specialisation subject
Oral exam in a compulsory subject.
Subject areas
- Language, literature and the arts: German, French, English, Spanish, Art, Music
- Social sciences: Social studies subjects, Social Studies and Economics, Philosophy, Religion
- Mathematics and natural sciences: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
The oral examination subject must be chosen in such a way that the five examination subjects together cover all three subject areas.
SECOND EXAMINATION GROUP:
Examinations are only available in subjects assessed by written examination. The candidate chooses which subjects to sit.
Candidates who have not yet passed the Abitur may sit examinations in a maximum of two subjects (excluding the partner language).
Candidates who have already passed the Abitur may sit examinations in a maximum of one subject (excluding the partner language).
CALCULATION OF abitur average
Calculation of preliminary marks:
- For all compulsory subjects, except Physical Education: → Average of all four half-yearly marks.
- For Physical Education and optional subjects: → Average of the best three half-yearly marks.
Calculation of the final examination mark (PEN):
This applies to the five examination subjects in the first examination group.
For the four written examination subjects, the following applies:
Partner language: PEN = written examination × 0.5 + oral examination × 0.5
Remaining subjects: Where there is only a written examination: PEN = mark for the written examination
Remaining subjects: Where there is a written and an oral examination: PEN = written examination × 2/3 + oral examination × 1/3
For the fifth oral examination subject: PEN = mark for the oral examination
ORAL EXAMINATION IN THE PARTNER LANGUAGE
An oral examination in the partner language – compulsory for all candidates – forms part of the examinations in the so-called first examination group.
CALCULATION OF THE OVERALL AVERAGE GRADE
Weightings:
- All final examination grades are weighted by a factor of 4.
- The preliminary grades for the two specialisation subjects are weighted by a factor of 3.
- All preliminary marks for the remaining subjects are multiplied by a coefficient of 2.
Calculation of the overall average mark (OAM):
OAM = the sum of all preliminary marks and final examination marks, taking the coefficients into account, divided by the sum of all coefficients
OPTIONAL EXAMS
These may be taken in two subjects. (In three subjects if the candidate is exempt from physical education on the basis of a medical certificate.) To be eligible for either of these options, the relevant elective subject must have been studied for three years prior to the Abitur.
- Art
- Music
- Latin
- Other modern languages (Spanish, Italian)
- Religion
- Computer Science
CONDITIONS FOR AWARDING THE ABITUR
a) The overall average mark must be at least 10, and no individual mark may be 4 or below.
b) The overall average mark must be at least 10, and the Abitur mark must be at least 10 in at least 3 of the 5 examination subjects. (In at least one specialised subject, the Abitur mark must be at least 10.)
More than just the ABI-BAC!
The key difference from the so-called ‘ABI-BAC’ is that pupils at Franco-German High Schools acquire not only language skills but also, and above all, intercultural skills at their school, as they learn and work alongside pupils and teachers from the neighbouring country on a daily basis. At ABI-BAC schools, bilingual lessons in social science subjects are not usually taught by native speakers. At Franco-German High Schools, however, the natural sciences, mathematics and economics are also taught in the neighbouring country’s language – and by native-speaking teachers!
Franco-German High School graduates do not need to sit a language exam before starting a degree in Germany or France, meaning they can enrol directly at universities.