Course Types
Course Options & Information: Preparation for the Commercial High School (HMS) Entrance Exam in Zurich
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HMS Entrance Exam Prep Course as a private, semi-private, or trio private course.
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Maximum progress in a short time—intensive, targeted, and exam-oriented instruction in small groups.
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Targeted preparation for the final phase—concise, efficient, and directly geared toward the exam.
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ABOUT THE EXAM
More info: HMS Entrance Exam Prep Courses in Zurich
The Commercial Secondary School is a three-year business-focused secondary school followed by a one-year internship. It combines a broad general education with a solid vocational training in business.
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Degree: After 4 years, graduates receive the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) in Business Administration and the Vocational Maturity Diploma (with a focus on Business and Services).
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Career Prospects: This degree qualifies graduates for direct entry into the workforce or for admission to a university of applied sciences (FH) without having to take entrance exams.
Admission to a Zurich commercial secondary school takes place after the 3rd grade of secondary school (11th school year).
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Academic Eligibility: Students in Secondary Level Division A or Division B (Secondary Level B requires an official recommendation from a teacher).
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Age requirement: To be eligible for admission for the 2027–28 school year, applicants must have been born after June 30, 2009.
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Requirement: Successful completion of the Central Admissions Exam (ZAP).
The ZAP for the commercial secondary school is identical to the exam for the vocational secondary school (FMS) and the vocational maturity exam taken concurrently with apprenticeship training (BM 1). It is a purely written exam.
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Exam Subjects: Only proficiency in German and mathematics is tested.
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Exam duration:
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Mathematics: 90 minutes (arithmetic, algebra, and geometry).
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German, Part 1: 45 minutes (language analysis & reading comprehension).
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German, Part 2: 90 minutes (essay / writing assignment).
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The final grade is calculated based on exam performance and previous grades, depending on the type of school.
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With prior coursework (Sek A): The grade is calculated as 50% from the exam score and 50% from the performance grade on the January report card (average of German, math, English, French, and science and technology). The passing threshold is an average of at least 4.5.
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No prior coursework required (Sek B / private schools): The exam score alone counts 100%. An exam grade of at least 4.25 is sufficient to pass.
These dates are mandatory for all cantonal commercial high schools in Zurich and must be strictly adhered to.
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Registration period: From January 1 through February 10, 2027, online via the cantonal ZAP portal. The registration fee is CHF 50.
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Exam Date: The written entrance exam will take place on Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
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Outcome: The results will be mailed out at the end of March 2027. The probationary period at HMS begins after summer break in August 2027.
The requirements for the ZAP are significantly more advanced than the regular secondary school curriculum. ILS Tutoring offers specialized courses to effectively bridge this gap.
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ZAP Simulations: We provide targeted practice using actual exam questions from previous years under real-world time constraints.
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Focus on Weak Areas: Whether it's geometry problems or uncertainties when writing an essay—we systematically correct mistakes.
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Successfully Navigating the Probationary Period: Even after the ZAP, we continue to support young people in successfully navigating the challenging probationary period during their first semester at HMS.
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