Preparation for the Informatikmittelschule (IMS) Entrance Exam in Bern

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IMS Entrance Exam Prep Course as a private, semi-private, or trio private course.

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ABOUT THE EXAM

More information: IMS Entrance Exam Prep Courses in Bern

What exactly is the Informatics Middle School (IMS) in the Canton of Bern?

IMS Bern is a four-year, practice-oriented educational program for young people with a strong interest in information technology, logic, and business. It combines three years of classroom instruction with a one-year long-term internship at an IT company.

Degree: Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) in Computer Science (specializing in application development) as well as the Vocational Maturity Diploma (with a focus on business).
Perspective: Direct, exam-free admission to Swiss universities of applied sciences (FH)—particularly for computer science and business informatics programs.
Age requirement: The applicant must not have turned 18 before May 1 of the year of admission.

How does the admissions process for IMS Bern work?

The IMS process in the Canton of Bern is structured in several stages, as technical and logical aptitude plays a key role alongside academic performance.

Step 1: Transition to the next grade level (recommendation or exam):
- No entrance exam: Students from Bern’s secondary school (9th grade) are admitted without an entrance exam if their January report card includes a recommendation from elementary school for admission to the BM or Gymnasium.
- School Entrance Exam: Students who do not have this recommendation, who attended the Realzug track, or who come from a private school must take the cantonal BM1 entrance exam (business track).
Step 2: The IT Aptitude Assessment & Interview: Regardless of their school grades, all applicants must submit a standardized aptitude test (often the Multicheck ICT Application Development test or a cantonal equivalent) and complete a personal interview at the respective school.

The Bern Cantonal IMS Entrance Exam 2026/27 (Academic Section)

If the exam-free route via recommendation is not sufficient, the joint cantonal entrance exam for vocational baccalaureate schools applies.

Exam Subjects and Time Allocation:
- Mathematics: 75-minute written exam (double-weighted —extremely important for aspiring computer scientists!).
- German: 75-minute written exam (text production / essay).
- French: 45 minutes written & 5 minutes oral.
- English: 45-minute written exam.
Passing Requirement: A weighted grade point average of at least 4.0 is required for the academic portion.

Registration Deadlines and IMS Dates for Bern 2027

The following deadlines apply in the Canton of Bern for enrollment in August 2027:

Fall/Winter 2026: Take the external IT aptitude test (e.g., Multicheck) early, as the certificate must be included with the application.
Online registration deadline: Official registration via the cantonal portal (EMSA) closes on February 15, 2027.
Exam Dates: The oral French exam will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2027; the written exams will follow on Saturday, March 13, 2027.

Why is it worth preparing specifically for the IMS at ILS Bern?

Of all secondary schools, the IMS sets the highest standards for logical and mathematical understanding. Since the math exam is also weighted twice in the BM1 entrance exam, this subject often determines whether a student passes or fails. Our preparation course ensures success:

Focus on the double weighting in math: We provide intensive training in algebra, logic problems, and word problems to ensure a high score on the school test.
Preparing for the Aptitude Test: We explain the typical logic and programming prerequisite questions that are asked in IT aptitude tests (Multicheck).
Mock Exams & Interview Coaching: In addition to working through actual Bern exams, we prepare the students for their interviews so they can convincingly demonstrate their motivation for a career in IT.

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