Preparation for the Business High School (WMS) Entrance Exam in Bern

Course Types

Course Options & Information: Preparation for the Business High School (WMS) Entrance Exam in Bern

Choose the learning style that's right for you!

tutoring-in-switzerland-bern-basel-zurich-st. gallen-aarau-tutoring-center-12

Private Lessons

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

learn morelearn more

tutoring-in-switzerland-bern-basel-zurich-st. gallen-aarau-tutoring-center-20

Long-Term Group Course

Our most comprehensive preparation—week by week in small groups.

learn morelearn more

tutoring-in-switzerland-bern-basel-zurich-st. gallen-aarau-tutoring-center-16

Intensive Course During the Holidays

Maximum progress in a short time—intensive, targeted, and exam-oriented instruction in small groups.

learn morelearn more

ABOUT THE EXAM

More info: WMS Entrance Exam Prep Courses in Bern

What exactly is the Wirtschaftsmittelschule (WMS) in the Canton of Bern?

The Business High School (often abbreviated as "bwd WMB" in the Bern area) is a four-year program that combines basic business training with a broad general education. It combines three years of classroom instruction with a one-year long-term internship at a company.

Degree: Upon successful completion, students earn both the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) in Business Administration and the Vocational Maturity Diploma (Economics track).
Outlook: This degree provides direct, exam-free admission to Swiss universities of applied sciences or serves as the foundation for the Passerelle program leading to a university.
Age limit: Candidates must not have turned 18 before May 1 of the year of admission.

How does the admissions process for WMS Bern work?

In the Canton of Bern, the transition from the 9th grade of lower secondary school to the WMS is governed by clear legal requirements.

The Recommendation Process (No Entrance Exams): Students from public secondary schools in Bern may transfer without taking entrance exams if, at the end of the first semester of 9th grade, they are deemed qualified and recommended by their elementary school in the subjects of German, French, mathematics, and Nature, People, and the World Around Us (NMM). Students who have been definitively admitted to a Gymnasium or an FMS are also admitted without an entrance exam.
The Entrance Exam: Students who do not receive a recommendation, attend a Realzug program, or do not fully meet the criteria for private schools must take the cantonal WMS entrance exam.

The Bern Cantonal WMS Entrance Exam 2026/27

If the exam-free route is not possible, the joint cantonal entrance exam for vocational baccalaureate schools in the “Business” track applies. This exam covers four subjects:

Exam Subjects and Time Allocation:
- Mathematics: 75-minute written exam (algebra, word problems, geometry).
- German: 75-minute written exam (text production / essay).
- French: 45 minutes written & 5 minutes oral (communicative skills).
- English: 45-minute written exam (reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary).
Passing Requirement: The exam is considered passed if the weighted average of the four exam grades is at least 4.0. Important: The mathematics course is weighted double for this calculation!

Application Deadlines and Exam Dates for Bern 2027

The dates for the WMS admissions process are coordinated at the cantonal level and have been set as follows for the 2027–28 school year:

Online registration deadline: Electronic registration (via the EMSA portal) must be completed by February 15, 2027.
Exam Dates:
- The oral entrance exam in French will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2027.
- The written entrance exams in all subjects will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
Start of the School Year: The program at WMS begins in August 2027, after summer break.

Why is targeted WMS preparation at ILS Tutoring Bern worth it?

The WMS entrance exam in the Canton of Bern is challenging because it combines four languages and math subjects under time pressure. Since math counts double, any weakness in this area carries double the weight. Professional course support helps mitigate these risks:

Ensuring the Double Weighting (Math): We specifically reinforce algebra, geometry, and word problems so that the math grade—which counts double—provides a solid foundation for passing the course.
Simulation of the oral exam: Since the French exam also requires a 5-minute oral segment, we simulate this stressful situation in advance in small groups.
Working with Original Bern Exams: We analyze and solve actual WMS/BM1 exam sets from previous years to thoroughly prepare students for the required level and pace.

INSIGHT