The Zurich Gymnasium Entrance Exam: The New Rules, Explained

In short: The Canton of Zurich has reformed admission to the Gymnasium. The most important change: the entrance exam is no longer the only criterion, as prior grades (Vornoten, your child’s existing school marks) now count too. The exam also focuses on German and Mathematics. For families, this mainly means that consistently good school grades have become more important, and an early, calm build-up pays off.

A lot has changed around the Zurich Gymi exam, and many parents are unsure what now applies. This article explains the new rules in plain terms and shows what they mean for preparation.

A quick recap: what is the ZAP?

The Gymi exam is officially called the central entrance examination, or ZAP for short. It is held once a year in March and decides on admission to a Gymnasium, split into the long-track and short-track. It tests German, with a language paper and an essay, and Mathematics.

What has changed

According to current information from the canton, the main changes concern three points:

• Prior grades now count. Existing school marks in the main subjects now feed into the admission decision. The exam alone no longer decides admission.
• Focus on German and Mathematics. At lower-secondary level the exam concentrates on these two subjects; French is no longer part of the central entrance examination.
• Short-track now written only. Admission to the short-track Gymnasium uses a written entrance exam.

The exact weighting of prior grades, the subjects and the procedures are set by the canton and may be adjusted. Only the official pages of the Canton of Zurich are binding.

A note from Lern Academy: We summarise the situation here in plain terms. For the binding, current rules, the official cantonal source always applies (zh.ch).

What it means for preparation

The most important consequence of the reform: because prior grades count, preparation effectively starts earlier. Consistently good school results in the main subjects now matter not just for the report card but directly for admission. Two things follow:

1. Do not neglect school. A child who focuses only on past papers during the exam phase and lets current school grades slip risks losing points on the prior-grade side.
2. Build up early and calmly. The proven window for focused exam preparation is still about a year. When exactly to start is covered in when to start Gymnasium exam preparation, and how to divide the year is laid out in the 12-month plan.

What stays the same

Much is unchanged: the ZAP still takes place once a year in March, it tests understanding rather than memorisation, and German and Mathematics remain the central subjects. The best preparation also stays the same, namely regular practice over months and working with past papers under realistic conditions.

How Lern Academy helps

Precisely because both school grades and the exam now count, continuous, individual support helps. Lern Academy offers Gymnasium exam preparation in one-to-one lessons that strengthen school foundations while preparing specifically for the exam, in German or English.

Frequently asked questions

Do prior grades now count towards the Gymnasium exam? Yes. Under the current rules, existing school marks in the main subjects feed into the admission decision. The exam is no longer the only criterion.

Is French still tested in the entrance exam? At lower-secondary level the exam now focuses on German and Mathematics according to current information; French is no longer part of it.

When is the next Gymnasium exam? The ZAP takes place once a year in March, the next one in March 2027. The exact dates are set by the canton.

Does Lern Academy offer Gymnasium exam preparation? Yes, individually and one-to-one throughout the whole preparation, not as a group course. Lessons can be held in German or English.

This summary is for orientation only. Binding information is published by the education directorate of the Canton of Zurich (zh.ch).