Entry Requirements

GESS is a non-selective international school and we welcome students with a diverse range of talents and abilities that meet our entry requirements and where we can fully support the child.

Applications can be submitted at any time during the year and students may start school on any Friday during school time except, for Grades 11 and 12. Applications may be submitted for the current and next school year only.

Age Requirement
Language Requirements
Children with learning difficulties
Entry Tests

Age Requirement

Grade Age for the grade 2023-24 2024-25
Pre-Kindergarten
Age 2 – 3
Aug 2020 - Jul 2021
Aug 2021 - Jul 2022
Kindergarten 1
Age 3 – 4
Aug 2019 - Jul 2020
Aug 2020 - Jul 2021
Kindergarten 2
Age 4 – 5
Aug 2018 - Jul 2019
Aug 2019 - Jul 2020
Pre-Primary
Age 5 – 6
Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
Aug 2018 - Jul 2019
Grade 1
Age 6 – 7
Aug 2016 - Jul 2017
Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
Grade 2
Age 7 – 8
Aug 2015 - Jul 2016
Aug 2016 - Jul 2017
Grade 3
Age 8 – 9
Aug 2014 - Jul 2015
Aug 2015 - Jul 2016
Grade 4
Age 9 – 10
Aug 2013 - Jul 2014
Aug 2014 - Jul 2015
Grade 5
Age 10 – 11
Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
Aug 2013 - Jul 2014
Grade 6
Age 11 – 12
Aug 2011 - Jul 2012
Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
Grade 7
Age 12 – 13
Aug 2010 - Jul 2011
Aug 2011 - Jul 2012
Grade 8
Age 13 – 14
Aug 2009 - Jul 2008
Aug 2010 - Jul 2011
Grade 9
Age 14 – 15
Aug 2008 - Jul 2007
Aug 2009 - Jul 2008
Grade 10
Age 15 – 16
Aug 2007 - Jul 2006
Aug 2008 - Jul 2007
Grade 11
Age 16 – 17
Aug 2006 - Jul 2005
Aug 2007 - Jul 2006
Grade 12
Age 17 – 18
Aug 2005 - Jul 2004
Aug 2006 - Jul 2005

Language Requirements

Curriculum Requirement
Preschool
No minimum English level requirement
IB Primary (Grades 1 - 5)
No minimum English level requirement*
IB Middle (Grades 6 - 7)
A2 Elementary level of English
IB Middle (Grade 8)
B2 Upper-Intermediate level of English
IB High (Grades 9-10)
C1 Advanced level of English
IB Diploma (Grades 11 - 12)
C1 Advanced level of English
IB Primary and Secondary
No previous German language studies required
German curriculum
Native or near native level of German
*Language or learning support in Primary and Secondary will incur an additional semester fee

Children with learning difficulties

At GESS, we care about enabling all students to reach their full potential. If your child requires special support, please contact our admissions team directly.

Every effort will be made to support students, however, for students requiring learning support beyond what the school can provide and where it is not in the best interests of the student, GESS reserves right to decline admittance.

Learning support is provided for an additional semester fee charge and where outside help is required, such as shadow teachers, costs will be payable by parents.

Entry Tests

Students applying for entry into Grades 3 to 12 of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, will take an online English and Maths test.

Students applying for entry into our German Curriculum stream will be evaluated based on their past report card and grades. In exceptional cases, placement tests might be necessary for the student's benefit. Admission into Grade 11 and 12 of the German Section might require the approval of the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs in particular cases.

Age Requirement
Language Requirements
Children with learning difficulties
Entry Tests

Age Requirement

Grade Age for the grade 2023-24 2024-25
Pre-Kindergarten
Age 2 – 3
Aug 2020 - Jul 2021
Aug 2021 - Jul 2022
Kindergarten 1
Age 3 – 4
Aug 2019 - Jul 2020
Aug 2020 - Jul 2021
Kindergarten 2
Age 4 – 5
Aug 2018 - Jul 2019
Aug 2019 - Jul 2020
Pre-Primary
Age 5 – 6
Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
Aug 2018 - Jul 2019
Grade 1
Age 6 – 7
Aug 2016 - Jul 2017
Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
Grade 2
Age 7 – 8
Aug 2015 - Jul 2016
Aug 2016 - Jul 2017
Grade 3
Age 8 – 9
Aug 2014 - Jul 2015
Aug 2015 - Jul 2016
Grade 4
Age 9 – 10
Aug 2013 - Jul 2014
Aug 2014 - Jul 2015
Grade 5
Age 10 – 11
Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
Aug 2013 - Jul 2014
Grade 6
Age 11 – 12
Aug 2011 - Jul 2012
Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
Grade 7
Age 12 – 13
Aug 2010 - Jul 2011
Aug 2011 - Jul 2012
Grade 8
Age 13 – 14
Aug 2009 - Jul 2008
Aug 2010 - Jul 2011
Grade 9
Age 14 – 15
Aug 2008 - Jul 2007
Aug 2009 - Jul 2008
Grade 10
Age 15 – 16
Aug 2007 - Jul 2006
Aug 2008 - Jul 2007
Grade 11
Age 16 – 17
Aug 2006 - Jul 2005
Aug 2007 - Jul 2006
Grade 12
Age 17 – 18
Aug 2005 - Jul 2004
Aug 2006 - Jul 2005

Language Requirements

Curriculum Requirement
Preschool
No minimum English level requirement
IB Primary (Grades 1 - 5)
No minimum English level requirement*
IB Middle (Grades 6 - 7)
A2 Elementary level of English
IB Middle (Grade 8)
B2 Upper-Intermediate level of English
IB High (Grades 9-10)
C1 Advanced level of English
IB Diploma (Grades 11 - 12)
C1 Advanced level of English
IB Primary and Secondary
No previous German language studies required
German curriculum
Native or near native level of German
*Language or learning support in Primary and Secondary will incur an additional semester fee

Children with learning difficulties

At GESS, we care about enabling all students to reach their full potential. If your child requires special support, please contact our admissions team directly.

Every effort will be made to support students, however, for students requiring learning support beyond what the school can provide and where it is not in the best interests of the student, GESS reserves right to decline admittance.

Learning support is provided for an additional semester fee charge and where outside help is required, such as shadow teachers, costs will be payable by parents.

Entry Tests

Students applying for entry into Grades 3 to 12 of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, will take an online English and Maths test.

Students applying for entry into our German Curriculum stream will be evaluated based on their past report card and grades. In exceptional cases, placement tests might be necessary for the student's benefit. Admission into Grade 11 and 12 of the German Section might require the approval of the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs in particular cases.