Families who move to the Czech Republic usually meet the admissions system for the first time a few months before it starts. The rules are not complicated, but almost nothing about them is intuitive, and most of the information online is in Czech only. This is the short version.
Children apply at three different ages
Czech pupils can leave primary school for a gymnázium at three points: after grade 5 into an eight-year programme, after grade 7 into a six-year programme, and after grade 9 into a four-year programme or another type of secondary school. The earlier the entry, the more selective it usually is, because the schools take one or two classes and everyone applies at once.
One exam, set by the state
The unified entrance exam is written by Cermat, the state testing centre, and is the same on the same day across the country. It has two tests: Czech language and mathematics, 50 points each, 100 in total. Every applicant sits both, and there are two regular dates. Your child takes the exam twice and the better result in each subject counts.
Many selective schools add their own part on top: an aptitude test, an essay, an English test or an interview. The unified exam still has to carry at least 60 percent of the weight, so the school's own part cannot outweigh it.
The calendar
- January: schools publish their criteria, between the 15th and the 31st.
- By 22 February: applications, up to three schools ranked by priority, plus up to two talent programmes. Online through the DiPSy system or on paper.
- 15 March to 23 April: the schools' own exams, only where a school runs one.
- 12 to 15 April: the unified entrance exam, both dates.
- 14 May: results. Second-round applications run from 19 to 24 May.
Why the ranking of the three schools matters
You rank your three schools by priority and that order is binding. The system places your child at the highest-priority school where the result is good enough. It is therefore not a good idea to put three equally selective schools on the form: if the points fall short everywhere, your child ends up in the second round with whatever places are left.
The sensible pattern is one ambitious school, one that matches where your child stands today, and one where admission is likely and the school still makes sense for them.
What newcomers often miss
- The Czech test can be waived for children schooled abroad, the maths test cannot.
- Points from last year are public, so you can see what a school actually asked for instead of guessing.
- In Prague the number of applicants per place is far higher than elsewhere, so a strong result is not automatically enough.
- Preparation in Czech and preparation for an interview in English are two different jobs and both take time.
AuthorZdeněk VlčekZakladatel, analýza a metodika