The grading system in Germany is quite complex. Elementary school is from the 1st to the 4th grade and during 4th grade your test results are quite important. Tests are graded with numbers and an A is equivalent to a 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, 5, F = 6. After the 4th grade, students are separated into 3 types of schools based on their grades. If their grade average for German, math and one that"s like simple biology mixed with other things, is above 2.0 they can attend the Gymnasium. If it"s above 2.33 they can attend the Realschule. Otherwise they are sent to the Hauptschule. The Hauptschule is up till 9th grade and after that you would need to work. As for the Realschule, you have till the 10th grade and you can then continue to study a profession for 3 years if your grades are adequate enough. The Gymnasium is a bit different and a bit more complicated. It is up to the 12th grade, and you can then attend a university however the grading system is quite complex especially for the 11th and 12th grades. During these two years, german students need to earn their "Abitur" qualifications where there are tons of tests worth half their grade for a subject"s semester and the final exams worth a third of the total. During the year students collect points which are then totalled at the end. The school year is also divided into 2 parts and each part is worth 15 points per cla.s.s.Gymnasium students need to learn not only English but also French or Latin up till the 10th grade. After that you can choose to drop either English or French/Latin.