What is a top tier school?

What are the graduation requirements for top-tier German high school students?

• Graduation requirements = mandatory classes plus elective options What level of math would you take in your final year of high school to be competitive engineering major at college? How many foreign languages are studied? What is the scope and sequence of the science course?

• Answer:

  The precise mechanics of this question are heavily dependent on which of the 16 federal states you go to school and somewhat the school/teachers - particularly the outcome of what you actually learn in a subject. However, the final examinations themselves are very similar these days. In (very) general, you have to take around 10 subjects in high school until you are taking your Abitur. There is not that much choice, actually. You typically have to take Math, German, English, one natural science, a foreign language that you studied before in middle school, sports, ethics/religion. Then you can fill up with more languages, sciences, art/music as you wish. You pick 2-4 majors in which you get  around 5 instead of 3 lessons per week and would do your final exams (written/oral) in, again this is restricted to make sure you get a broad education (e.g. only languages or only math/science wouldn't work). Consequently, these are taught at a somewhat higher level. "Top-tier" isn't really a thing, there is no typical choice of subjects that a typical good German student would take. [1] As described, the variety in course choice isn't that big. If you get good grades, you're a good student, no matter what. The few courses at university that really care about good grades don't really care about what subjects you did. Exceptions to the rule exist. You need an A in pretty much every subject if you wanna do medicine. STEM courses at German universities on the other hand usually admit everyone that wishes to do them and then proceed to kick 50-60% out over the first 1-2 years when they can't cope with the standards. It does not really matter which university we're talking about here either. [2] So, your sub-questions are difficult to answer: a) You'd likely take Math and/or Physics as a major already, saves you some trouble in uni. But I've seen people mostly going with the basic STEM courses and do just fine later. As for the level, can't really tell without looking into curricula of other countries. It's the usual calculus, linear algebra, geometry and stochastics. [3] b) Two languages are required at least, normally English + French/Spanish/Latin or other popular stuff, more if you wish. Taking a third language wouldn't really set you apart from anyone these days (only if you actually spoke it in the end), that's rather common, at least doing Spanish or so for a couple of years. c) Varies widely. You pick what you want, physics, geography, biology, chemistry. If you pick it as a major, you might end up doing some toned-down stuff that is usually discussed in the first semester at uni again which can be a good preparation. [1] Unlike in the UK: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/feb/04/university-places-traditional-subjects-a-levels?guni=Table%3Ain+body+link Just one of the many sharp contrasts. [2] See, e.g., [3] If you read some German, this is an example of the baseline that is expected: http://www.nibis.de/nli1/gohrgs/13_zentralabitur/zentralabitur_2014/20120416MusteraufgabenMA.pdf (from Page 12)