Abitur in Rhineland-Palatinate
The Abitur in Rhineland-Palatinate is usually achieved through the successful completion of the upper level ( Mainz study level , MSS for short) and the decentralized Abitur examination.
The pilot phase for the MSS started in 1967 at the Bischöflichen Willigis-Gymnasium in Mainz , hence the name.
Upper level G9
The upper secondary school level in Rhineland-Palatinate is also called Mainz study level ( MSS for short ) and takes two years and seven months. The written final exams (in the three selected at the beginning of high school credit courses ) for January, the oral (n) test (s) in March.
The MSS is divided into two overlapping phases, namely the one-year introductory phase (11 / 1,11 / 2) and the two-year qualification phase (11/2, 12/1, 12/2, 13). Year 13 does not end at the end of the half year (end of January), but when the certificates are issued (end of February). The Abitur certificates will be handed over no later than March 31 of the respective Abitur year.
The introductory phase helps the students to get used to the MSS system, in particular to the three advanced courses; a change of subject combination may still be possible after ten weeks at the latest. In the qualification phase, the students collect points for the Abitur. The half year 11/2 belongs to both the introductory and the qualification phase.
Before beginning level 11, different subjects can be freely chosen, but mathematics, German, two foreign languages and one natural science or one foreign language and two natural sciences, history, another social science as well as religion or ethics and sport must always be taken. In MSS 12, visual arts, music or performing games must be taken, if these have not already been selected.
Each student chooses three subjects from the school's offer as a major for class 11. A minimum of seven and a maximum of nine further subjects are taken as a basic subject. The number of hours and learning content of the advanced courses are more extensive and demanding in the advanced subjects than in the basic courses. In addition, the performance subjects are compulsory among the examination subjects in the Abitur.
Upper level G8
The upper school level in Rhineland-Palatinate in G8 lasts three full years. G8 is only offered together in full-time operation in the 7th to 9th grade (intermediate). The written final exams (in the three selected at the beginning of high school credit courses ) in May, the oral (n) test (s) in June.
The MSS is divided into two phases, namely the one-year introductory phase (grade 10) and the two-year qualification phase (11/1, 11/2, 12/1, 12/2). There is no overlap within the two phases as in G9.
As in G9, the introductory phase helps the students to get used to the MSS course system; it is also possible to change the combination of subjects after six weeks. In the qualification phase, the students collect points for admission to the written Abitur. In G8, the introductory phase lasts one school year (MSS 10). Admission to grade 11 is a prerequisite for entry into the MSS 11 and MSS 12 qualification phases and at the same time confers the secondary qualification I (secondary school leaving certificate).
As in G9, different subjects can be freely chosen, but mathematics, German, a foreign language and two natural sciences or two foreign languages and a natural science, history, another social science as well as religion or ethics and sport must always be taken.
Each student chooses three subjects from the school's offer as a major for class 10. In grade 10, nine basic subjects are taken, two of which can be deselected in the qualification phase (one foreign language and one natural science or two natural sciences). The number of hours and learning content of the advanced courses are more extensive and demanding in the advanced subjects than in the basic courses. Mathematics and German are taught one hour more than at G9. All performance subjects are compulsory examination subjects in the Abitur. In Rhineland-Palatinate there are currently 19 high schools that offer the Abitur after eight school years.
Canon of subjects
Some subjects are only offered by a few schools (especially as advanced courses). The schools also have the option of having other subjects approved by the Ministry of Education.
Basic courses are taught for two or three hours, advanced courses for five hours, and in G8 even six hours. In contrast to this, history, social studies and geography are taught as advanced courses lasting four hours. Sport is taught as an advanced course for seven hours, with only five hours being counted towards the number of compulsory hours. The basic courses in history, social studies / geography, sports, religion and ethics are only two hours long. A new foreign language is taught every five hours, whereby only three hours are counted towards the compulsory number of hours. It can only be chosen as a basic course.
Linguistic, literary and artistic field of activity
- German
- foreign languages
- English
- French
- Greek
- Italian
- Japanese (only as a basic course)
- Latin
- Russian
- Spanish
- Artistic subjects
- Visual arts
- Performing game (only as a basic course)
- music
Social science field of activity
- history
- Social Studies (only as advanced course)
- Geography (only as advanced course)
- Social Studies / Geography (only as a basic course)
- philosophy
Mathematical-scientific-technical field of activity
- mathematics
- Natural sciences
- biology
- chemistry
- physics
- Computer science
Other subjects
- Evangelical or Catholic religious teaching or ethics (the latter only as a basic course)
- Sports
Documentation obligations
In total, subjects with a compulsory number of at least 32 hours must be taken. The number of compulsory hours corresponds to the specified weekly hours for the respective subject (except for advanced sports courses and newly introduced foreign languages). Only subjects that have been attended before the upper level can be selected as advanced courses. In addition, the following rules must be observed:
Advanced courses
The three advanced courses must cover at least two fields of activity.
The first advanced course must be either a foreign language or mathematics or a natural science. If you choose a natural science, you have to choose either German or a foreign language or mathematics as the second advanced course. When choosing an artistic subject, computer science or religious studies as an advanced course, the other advanced subjects must be German or a foreign language and mathematics or a natural science.
Basic courses
Unless selected as an advanced course, the following subjects must be attended consistently:
- German
- mathematics
- history
- Social studies / geography
- foreign language
- natural Science
- another foreign language, natural science or computer science
- Religious teaching or ethics
- Sports
- any other subject
If no artistic subject is consistently taken, it must be taken in grade 12 in addition to the selected courses.
In addition, additional courses can be taken voluntarily. At the end of each semester, it is possible to deselect voluntary courses or to swap compulsory courses and voluntary courses, whereby this must still result in a valid subject combination. After the beginning of the upper level, however, no further subjects can be chosen (exception: artistic subject in the 12th grade).
Special regulations for foreign languages
Generally speaking, only foreign languages that have already been taken in lower secondary level can be selected as advanced courses. A distinction must be made between two cases in the area of basic courses:
a) Students who have studied a second foreign language in grades 6 to 10
In this case, at least one compulsory foreign language must be continued. In addition, if computer science or a second natural science is not chosen, another foreign language must be continued or a new foreign language must be taken.
b) Pupils who did not take a second foreign language in grades 6 to 10
The compulsory foreign language must be continued at least in grade 11. In addition, a new foreign language must be chosen.
Abitur examination
After two and a half or three years, a written Abitur examination is taken in each of the three advanced courses in mid to late January (G8 May). The fourth and, if applicable, the fifth Abitur subject is selected from the basic courses that have been taken for a full two years. An oral exam will be taken in these subjects from the beginning of March to mid-March (G8 June), if necessary additional oral exams will be taken in the three performance subjects, the latter upon request, if points are missing in the Abitur area or to improve the average grade. All successful high school graduates will receive their certificates by the end of March (G8 June).
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Abitur tasks are not set centrally by the Ministry of Education, but by the respective specialist teacher. A second correction procedure should ensure comparability. Since 2017, individual parts of the exam in the subjects German, mathematics, English and French have been centralized. The written examination paper is assessed in each case by the specialist teacher and then by a second corrector who usually comes from the same school.
Average grade
The Abitur grade is composed of the points collected in the qualification phase in the individual subjects and the performance in the Abitur examination. (If points are mentioned below, MSS points are meant.)
Qualification in block I.
For the qualification area, the scores for half-years 11/2, 12/1, 12/2 and 13 (in G8 11/1, 11/2, 12/1, 12/2) are important. Exactly 35 courses must be submitted. The following courses are mandatory :
- the four courses of the half years 11/2, 12/1, 12/2 and 13 (G8 11/1, 11/2, 12/1, 12/2) of the three main subjects. The two best advanced courses are counted twice,
- the four courses of the half years 11/2, 12/1, 12/2 and 13 (G8 11/1, 11/2, 12/1, 12/2) of the fourth and, if applicable, the fifth examination subject.
In addition, the following courses must be included if they are not already covered by the examination subjects:
- four courses in German
- four courses in math
- four courses in a foreign language
- four courses in one natural science (no computer science)
- four courses in a social science subject
- two courses of the artistic subject
, if the artistic subject was taken voluntarily in the 11th grade, i.e. outside of the compulsory number of hours, the courses of half-year 12/1 and 12/2 must be included, even if the artistic subject was retained in 13. - the course in semester 13 from a further foreign language or a further natural science or computer science
The remaining courses to be included that are still missing to complete the 35 can be selected according to the following conditions:
- If one or more courses are included from a subject that is neither an examination subject nor a voluntarily chosen basic subject, the course for semester 13 (G8 12/2) must also be included.
- A maximum of three courses can be introduced from the basic subject of sport.
- A maximum of seven courses with less than five points may be submitted.
- A course that has been completed with zero points may not be included.
The scores of the courses introduced are added together with the grade for the specialist thesis, if applicable. To get the number of points in Block I, this sum is multiplied by the factor 10/11. At least 200 points must be achieved, with a maximum of 600 points.
Qualification in Block II
For the examination area, the scores of the Abitur exams and possibly those of a special learning achievement ( BLL for short ) are relevant.
In the case of four examination subjects without a BLL, the number of points achieved in the Abitur examination is increased fivefold in each of the four examination subjects .
With four examination subjects with BLL or with five examination subjects, the number of points achieved in the Abitur examination or the number of points of the BLL is quadrupled .
If a student can also be examined orally in a written examination subject, the scores from the written and oral examination are weighted in a ratio of 2: 1, with decimal places not being taken into account.
At least 25 points must be achieved in at least two examination subjects, in five examination subjects or with BLL it must be at least 20 points each. At least 100 points must be achieved, a maximum of 300 points are possible.
Overall qualification
To calculate the overall qualification, the total number of points achieved in the two areas is added and converted into an average grade. At least 300 points must be achieved, a maximum of 900 points are possible.
Average grade
The average Abitur grade results from the number of points for the overall qualification:
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Alternatively, the following formula can be used:
(P = number of points for the overall qualification, N = Abitur average, where N must be commercially rounded and an N less than 1 is calculated as 1.0)
There are also websites with online calculators.
Ancient languages
By attending Latin or Greek classes, you can acquire the Latinum , the great Latinum or the Graecum . This will be noted on the high school diploma. In order to be awarded, the grade of the last six months or school year in which you had lessons in the respective subject or, if applicable, the grade in the separate examination or in the Abitur examination must be at least 4.0 (five points). In addition, the lesson must have been attended for at least a certain period of time:
Latinum
- from grade 5 or 6 to at least 10,
- from grade 7 to at least 11,
- from grade 8 or 9 to 13,
- from grades 11 to 13 with a separate examination or as part of the Abitur examination.
Graecum
- from grade 8 or 9 to 13,
- from grades 11 to 13 with a separate examination or as part of the Abitur examination
University entrance qualification
With completion of the 12th grade (or the 11th grade for the G8), the school-based part of the advanced technical college entrance qualification can be obtained.
A total of 15 courses from two consecutive semesters from the qualification phase must be brought in: the 4 courses in two performance subjects (counted twice), which could be the first and second examination subject in the Abitur examination, and 11 basic courses. Two courses in German, a compulsory foreign language, social studies, mathematics and a natural science must be included. In addition, at least 5 points must be achieved in 2 of the 4 advanced courses and in 11 of the 15 courses in total. Courses with 0 points are not allowed. The sum of the points achieved in the advanced courses must be at least 40 and a total of at least 95.
The professional part of the advanced technical college entrance qualification can be achieved through a one-year internship, which has to be completed in an area that is close to the desired course, vocational training or a voluntary social or ecological year.
Web links
- Ministry of Education, Women and Youth
- Official website of the Ministry of Education for high schools
- Official website of the Mainz study level
- Information brochure on MSS, Abitur 2020 (PDF; 471 KiB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Agreement on the design of the upper school level and the Abitur examination: Resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education of July 7, 1972 as amended on February 15, 2018. Conference of Ministers of Education, accessed on May 11, 2019 . P. 25, Appendix 4: Table for calculating the average Abitur grade (N) from the number of points in the overall result (E).
- ↑ Abirechner for Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP). Retrieved August 27, 2017 .