INCA Education around the world
Germany : Assessment arrangements
6.1.1 Control
6.1.2 Purpose(s)
6.1.3 Participation
6.1.4 Nature
6.1.5 Administration
6.1.6 Grading process
6.1.7 Consequences
6.1.8 Use of results
6.1.9 Output statistics
6.1 First phase: Pre-compulsory, age 3 - 6
[see 3.2.1]
6.1.1 Control
There is no formal, national system of assessment for children during this phase. Monitoring does, however, take place.
6.1.2 Purpose(s)
To grant access to the next phase of education
Although there is no formal, national system of assessment for children during this phase, children are monitored and if, on reaching compulsory school age (6 years), their level of development is judged inadequate to allow them to cope with Grundschule (primary school), the school authorities, in most Länder, are authorised to require them to attend special preparatory classes or institutions (known as Vorklassen, Schulkindergärten, Vorschulklassen, Vorbereitungsklassen, or Förderklassen depending on the Land).12
In other words, the start of school attendance is conditional on the child having attained an adequate level of development. A medical examination and an enrolment test may be carried out to establish whether a child has the physical and mental maturity required for school attendance. (In some Länder examinations are performed before, in some, after the first year at school has begun.)17
Children whose sixth birthday falls between 1 July and 31 December may be permitted to start Grundschule early on their parents' application, provided they have attained the requisite level of physical and mental maturity. The decision is taken either by the headteacher or, in some Länder, by the Grundschule supervisory authority - based on their own judgement and usually in consultation with the school doctor, the local health authority and the school psychologist (where one exists). Special tests are often employed to determine a child's level of development.17
To measure student achievement to date
The educational staff in Kindergärten monitor the development of all children in their care and inform parents of their child's progress and of any problems he or she may experience within the group.17
6.1.3 Participation
Although there is no formal, compulsory national system of assessment for children during this phase, monitoring of all students does take place during this phase prior to compulsory school entry (age 6). In most Länder if, on completion of such assessment, a child's level of development is judged inadequate to allow him/her to cope with the Grundschule, the Grundschule authorities are authorised to require him/her to attend special preparatory classes or institutions (known as Vorklassen, Schulkindergärten, Vorschulklassen, Vorbereitungsklassen, or Förderklassen depending on the Land).12
6.1.4 Nature
Continuous, informal monitoring of the development of all pre-school children takes place.
A medical examination and an enrolment test may be carried out to establish whether a child has the physical and mental maturity required to progress from Kindergarten to (compulsory) school attendance (in the Grundschule). In some Länder, such examinations are performed before, in some after, the first year at school has begun.17
6.1.5 Administration
The educational staff monitor the development of all pre-school children in their care.
6.1.6 Grading process
Children's performance in Kindergarten is not assessed in a formal sense, as teaching does not take place in the sense of lessons at school.
6.1.7 Consequences
Although, there is no formal, national system of assessment for children during this phase, children are monitored and, if on reaching compulsory school age (6 years), their level of development is judged inadequate to allow them to cope with Grundschule (primary school), the school authorities, in most Länder, are authorised to require them to attend special preparatory classes or institutions (known as Vorklassen, Schulkindergärten, Vorschulklassen, Vorbereitungsklassen, or Förderklassen depending on the Land).12
6.1.8 Use of results
The educational staff in Kindergärten monitor children's development and inform parents of their child's progress and of any problems he or she may experience within the group.17
6.1.9 Output statistics
Average national Kindergarten take-up rates in 1990 were around 76 per cent.24 Since that time, participation has increased, reaching a peak for 5-year-olds. In 1993, nearly 83 per cent of 5 year-olds were enrolled in Kindergärten.43
Children aged 3 to 6 years in Kindergärten in 1997
| Percentage of age group | |
| Children aged 3 to 4 | 45.7 |
| Children aged 4 to 5 | 78.1 |
| Children aged 5 to 6 | 87.8 * |
(* excludes children who might already have entered compulsory schooling)
Source: EURYDICE UNIT, GERMANY (Länder) (1999).
All students continue to the next phase of education, which is the commencement of compulsory schooling.
