Past Gymi exams from Zürich: how to use the ZAP archive properly

In short: Past Gymi exams are the earlier papers of the Central Entrance Examination (Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung, ZAP) in the Canton of Zürich. They show exactly what kind of tasks are set in German and Mathematics. The Canton of Zürich makes a selection of these exams, complete with solutions, available free of charge. Practising regularly with past exams is the most effective way to prepare for the Gymi exam.

If your child wants to attend a Gymnasium, the route in the Canton of Zürich runs through the Central Entrance Examination. Past Gymi exams are by far the most valuable practice material here, because they match the real thing most closely in structure, language and level of difficulty. In this article we explain exactly what past exams are, where to find them free of charge, how best to learn with them, and how families in which the parents do not speak German can help.

What is the Gymiprüfung (ZAP)?

The Gymi exam is officially called the Central Entrance Examination, or ZAP for short. It is held once a year in March in the Canton of Zürich and decides on admission to a Gymnasium. Two subjects are tested: German and Mathematics. In German, the exam consists of a language paper covering reading comprehension and grammar, together with an essay. In Mathematics, the tasks are structured differently from the usual schoolwork, which is why many children first have to get used to this style of problem.

There are two routes into the Gymnasium, and each has its own exam:

• Long-track Gymnasium (Langgymnasium): exam after the 6th year of primary school.
• Short-track Gymnasium (Kurzgymnasium): exam after the 2nd or 3rd year of lower secondary school. Only here is a simple, non-programmable calculator allowed.

The exact exam dates, registration deadlines and admission requirements are set anew by the canton each year. Registration usually takes place in January and February. For current dates, always rely on the official pages of the Canton of Zürich rather than on information from third-party sites.

Why past exams are the best preparation

Past exams are so valuable for one simple reason: they are the original. No textbook mirrors the real situation as precisely as an actual exam from an earlier year. Concretely, they offer three advantages:

• Making gaps in knowledge visible. A child who works through a whole past exam quickly notices which topics are solid and where gaps remain. These gaps can then be closed in a targeted way before the exam.
• Getting to know the task types. ZAP questions are worded differently from the exercises in the classroom. A child who knows the phrasing loses no time understanding the question on exam day.
• Training time management. Working under time pressure is part of the exam. By using past exams under realistic conditions, your child practises pacing themselves correctly.

Where do I find past Gymi exams from Zürich?

The most reliable source is the Canton of Zürich itself. On the Canton of Zürich’s official pages on the central entrance examination (zh.ch/zap and zentraleaufnahmepruefung.ch), the canton makes a selection of sample papers and solutions available as free PDF downloads, split into the long-track and short-track Gymnasium. There you will find essay topics, the reading text, the language paper and the Mathematics tasks, each with a model solution.

In addition, various private providers offer larger archives of earlier years. If you use these, check that the material is up to date and that solutions are included. For binding information on procedure, dates and rules, however, the official cantonal pages always apply.

A note from Lern Academy: We do not host third-party exam PDFs on our site. The official cantonal source is free, complete and legally sound. Our job is to help your child learn with it the right way.

How to practise with past exams the right way

A stack of past exams on its own achieves little. The method is what matters. These steps have proven their worth:

1. Start realistically. Have your child complete a full past exam under exam conditions: a fixed time limit, no aids other than the permitted ones, and a quiet setting.
2. Check against the model solution. Afterwards, compare the exam with the official solution. What matters is not only the score, but understanding the mistakes.
3. Group mistakes by topic. If mistakes cluster around a particular topic, such as word problems or grammar, work specifically on that topic before moving to the next exam.
4. Repeat. Redo the same exam two to three weeks later. This shows whether the material has really stuck.
5. Start early. Practising regularly over several months works far better than cramming shortly before the exam.

Permitted aids in the exam

To avoid surprises on exam day, it is worth checking the canton’s rules. In general:

• Only blue or black non-erasable pens are allowed. A pencil may be used only for sketches.
• You may not bring your own paper; the sheets are provided.
• Digital devices such as smartphones and smartwatches are handed in before the exam. An analogue watch is recommended.
• A calculator is allowed only for the short-track Gymnasium, and only in a non-programmable version.

The binding, up-to-date list is available on the official cantonal pages.

For families where the parents don’t speak German

Many children in Zürich attend the public school while their parents speak little or no German. For these families, the Gymi exam is a particular challenge, because the preparation runs almost entirely in German and the parents can offer little support.

Two things are important to know here:

• Bilingual dictionary: A child whose first language is not German may use a bilingual dictionary (first language to German) in the Mathematics part of the exam. However, this must be stated as early as registration.
• Language and subject support: Especially in the German part, but also in the word problems in Mathematics, language comprehension is often decisive. Support from someone who confidently commands both the material and the exam language makes the biggest difference here.

This is exactly where Lern Academy comes in. We offer no group courses, but individual one-to-one support throughout the entire preparation phase. Our tutors teach and study at leading Zürich institutions and can hold lessons in English where needed, so that even families without German skills can understand and share in their child’s progress.

Frequently asked questions about past Gymi exams

What are past Gymi exams? Past Gymi exams are the papers from earlier years of the Central Entrance Examination (ZAP) in the Canton of Zürich, in German and Mathematics. They serve as practice material for preparing for the current exam.

Where can I download past Zürich Gymi exams for free? The Canton of Zürich publishes a selection of sample papers with solutions free as PDFs on its official pages for the central entrance examination, split into the long-track and short-track Gymnasium.

Which subjects are tested in the Gymi exam? The exam covers German (a language paper with reading comprehension and grammar, plus an essay) and Mathematics.

When does the Gymi exam take place? The ZAP is held once a year in March. Registration usually takes place in January and February. The exact dates are set anew by the canton each year.

How many past exams should my child work through? It is best to practise regularly over several months and to repeat each paper after a few weeks. What matters more than the number is learning purposefully from the mistakes in each exam.

Does Lern Academy offer Gymi preparation? We offer individual one-to-one support throughout the preparation, not group courses. Lessons can be held in German or English.

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Last updated 2026. All information without guarantee. The information from the Education Directorate of the Canton of Zürich is binding.