The sharp decline stems from the phasing out of the eight-year high school model (G8) and the return to the traditional nine-year system (G9).
Last G8 Cohort Faces Exceptional Exam Conditions
The 2025 graduating class is the final group to complete their education under the G8 curriculum, making their examination year an exception in terms of both structure and size. Starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, all students in Bavaria will complete nine years of Gymnasium before taking the Abitur.
In a typical year, around 34,000 students in Bavaria sit the Abitur exams. According to the Ministry of Education, this number is expected to stabilize between 32,000 and 38,000 annually from 2026 onward.
Exams Begin with German – Students Reassigned to Host Schools
As is tradition, the Abitur began with the German written exam. Due to the reduced number of candidates, around 100 of Bavaria’s 430 high schools were designated as host schools. These institutions accommodated students from schools that no longer had a graduating G8 class.
This arrangement led to longer travel times for some students and, in certain cases, limited subject choices, as not all host schools could offer the full range of examination options.
Minister Praises Students’ Resilience Ahead of Exams
Bavaria’s Education Minister Anna Stolz (Free Voters) addressed the graduating students with words of encouragement:
“You have prepared intensively for this moment with the support of your teachers. Now begins the critical phase – a demanding time that calls for focus and strength,” she stated.
She also extended her gratitude to educators and urged students to have confidence in their abilities:
“You have everything it takes to meet this challenge.”
Second Chance in Autumn for Those Who Fail
Students who do not pass the Abitur this year will be granted a special opportunity: they may retake the exams in autumn 2025, still under the G8 framework.
All standard examinations are scheduled to conclude before the Pentecost holidays, with Abitur certificates to be issued on June 27, 2025.
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