Overview

• Reform introduces new examination formats such as presentations, a fifth Abitur subject, mandatory project courses and shorter written exams.
• It will apply to students starting the gymnasiale Oberstufe in summer 2027 and taking their Abitur in 2030.
• Education minister Dorothee Feller said the postponement responds to requests from schools and associations for more preparation time.
• The GEW has cautioned that the additional assessment requirements could overload teachers without sufficient staffing and resources.
• The measures implement a 2023 Kultusministerkonferenz agreement to harmonize Abitur standards across German states and reflect digitalization and AI-driven shifts in education.