Berlin's New Gymnasium Entry Test Faces Backlash After 97% Failure Rate

Parents, educators, and political groups criticize the fairness and impact of Berlin's revamped school admission process, which leaves most students unable to access gymnasium education.

Only 2.6% of students passed Berlin's newly introduced 'probeunterricht,' a test required for gymnasium admission if students lack the minimum grade average of 2.2.
The test, replacing the previous 'probejahr' system, evaluated students over three hours in small groups on German, math, and classroom interaction skills.
Parents and advocacy groups argue the process is unfair, overly difficult, and lacks transparency, with many calling for legal challenges and public disclosure of test materials and evaluation criteria.
Critics, including educators and political opposition, warn the policy exacerbates educational inequality, disproportionately affecting students from less privileged backgrounds.
Berlin's education senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch defends the system, citing its alignment with stricter academic standards, while promising an evaluation of the process in response to widespread criticism.