Abitur
Abitur (from Latin abire=go away, go off) is the word commonly used in Germany for the final exams young adults (aged 18 or 19) take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling. It is often called Abi in colloquial usage. The Abiturzeugnis, issued after a candidate has passed their final exams, is the document which contains their grades and which formally enables them to go to university.
It can only roughly be compared with a High school diploma of secondary education, as it usually requires specialization in a few subject areas and is the only school leaving certificate in Germany that allows the graduate, the Abiturient, to start studying at a University (although it is possible to get an equivalent degree without necessarily having gone to a Gymnasium). The other school leaving certificates, the Hauptschulabschluss and the Realschulabschluss, do not allow their holders to matriculate at a university. The Abitur's importance has grown beyond admission to the university, however, in that it became a frequent prerequisite to start an apprenticeship in some professions (e.g. banking).
The official term for Abitur in Germany is allgemeine Hochschulreife (often translated as general qualification for university entrance). The equivalent exam in Austria and other countries of continental Europe is Matura; while in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Malta, and the West Indies, it is A-levels; and in Scotland, it is Advanced Higher Grade.
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Abitur in Germany
In colloquial usage the term Abitur often refers to the final exams only. These generally consist of sets of written examinations and oral examinations. The subjects covered in these examinations vary according to the specialization chosen by the student during the last 2-3 years (Oberstufe) at the Gymnasium. The student's choice may be limited further, however, depending on the specific laws on higher education in a federal state (Bundesland), which has some independence in the design of its educational systems with respect to federal laws.
The marks obtained in these exams combine with some of the marks won during the last 2-3 years to a summary mark. This, in turn, is important to be admitted to a German university for some fields of study, in particular medical schools ("Numerus clausus").
The composite score of the Abitur is between 280 and 840, though both borders are rarely awarded. Students with a score below 280 fail and will not receive the Abitur. The student has the possibility to omit courses (if he/she has taken more then necessary) from his/her composite score. At the moment, 768 points are equivalent to 1,0 - the highest grade achievable in the lessons.
Other Qualifications called Abitur in colloquial usage
In the German language the European Baccalaureate is called europäisches Abitur, and the International Baccalaureate is called internationales Abitur, both not to be confused with the German Abitur.
Fachabitur is used for a variation of the Abitur. The official term for this German qualification is fachgebundene Hochschulreife. The Fachabitur includes only one foreign language (in most cases English). The Abitur, in contrast, includes two foreign languages. This school leaving certificate also allows the graduate to start studying at a University. However, he is limited to a specified range of majors. The range of majors depends on the specific subjects covered in his Abitur examinations.
Abitur in Finland
A model of this has also existed in Finland since the beginning of the 20th century. The test is called Ylioppilastutkinto in Finnish and Studentexam in Swedish. The official English language translation is Matriculation Examination.
Each pupil is required to participate in at least four tests in order to matriculate. As of 2005 the only mandatory test is that of Äidinkieli ("mother tongue"; Finnish for most students, Swedish for some). The student then has to choose three other subjects from
- Second domestic language (Swedish for Finnish-speakers or Finnish for Swedish-speakers)
- Foreign language (eg. English, German and French being most popular among students). Languages are separated into A, B and C levels depending on the demanded skill. The language counted as part of the four obligatory subjects must be one of A-level.
- Mathematics (short or in-depth)
- Reaali in which the student answers to a number of questions of at least two subjects, which may include subjects such as history, biology or physics, to name a few. As of 2006 the reaali is changed so that pupils write two exams, and are only allowed to answer to questions from a single subject per exam. These subjects have to be decided by the pupil in good time before taking the exam.
The score of each test varies with the subject. For example, the maximum score for the test in Finnish is 99 points, in mathematics 60 points and in foreign languages 299 points. The tests are graded according to Normal distribution into seven verbal grades with Latin names: Improbatur (I), Approbatur (A), Lubenter Approbatur (B) Cum Laude Approbatur (C), Magna Cum Laude Approbatur (M) Eximia Cum Laude Approbatur (E) and Laudatur (L), from bottom to top. At least the grade A is required for the test to be passed.
