Preparation for the Informatikmittelschule (IMS) Entrance Exam in St. Gallen

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ABOUT THE EXAM

More information: IMS Entrance Exam Prep Courses in St. Gallen

What exactly is the Informatics Middle School (IMS) in St. Gallen?

The IMS follows the 3rd grade of secondary school and is offered in the region at the Kantonsschule am Brühl (St. Gallen) and the Kantonsschule Sargans. The program lasts 4 years.

Program Structure: 3 years of full-time schooling with integrated IT training, followed by a 1-year practical training period (internship) at an IT company.
Degree: Simultaneous completion of the EFZ in Computer Science (with a focus on application development) and the vocational baccalaureate.
Prospect: Direct admission to a university of applied sciences (e.g., OST) without additional exams.

How does the admissions process work in St. Gallen?

Exam-Only Admission: Unlike other types of secondary schools, the IMS in St. Gallen does not offer admission based solely on school grades. All applicants must successfully pass the cantonal entrance exam.
No preliminary grades: Passing or failing depends solely on the exams taken on the official exam day. The process is entirely written.

The St. Gallen Cantonal IMS Entrance Exam 2026/27

Since computer scientists need an excellent foundation in logic and mathematics, the mathematics exam carries particular weight in the St. Gallen system:

Exam Subjects and Weighting: There are written exams in three subjects, with mathematics counting double:
- German (1 subgrade)
- French (1 subgrade)
- Mathematics I & II (2 separate grades, since there are two separate exams).
Passing Threshold: The exam is considered passed if the unrounded average of the four partial grades (German, French, Mathematics I & II) is at least 4.0.

Registration Deadlines and IMS Dates in St. Gallen

Because of the earlier start date in the St. Gallen school system, administrative deadlines must be planned well in advance:

Application Deadline: Online registration via the official cantonal portal “Matura-Navigator” for admission in the summer of 2027 must be completed by August 24, 2026.
Exam Date: The centralized written entrance exam will take place on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Start of School: After passing the exam and successfully completing the 3rd year of secondary school, the program at IMS begins in August 2027.

Why is it worth doing targeted IMS preparation in St. Gallen?

Since the IMS entrance exam in the canton of St. Gallen is administered right at the beginning of the 3rd year of secondary school (in September), there is no time left to prepare for it after summer break.

Ensuring the double weighting for math: Since there are two separate math exams (Part I without a calculator, Part II with a calculator), this subject plays a decisive role in determining whether a student passes. We provide intensive training in mental math strategies and mathematical logic.
Take Advantage of Intensive Vacation Courses: We use the spring and summer breaks for 2nd-year secondary students to thoroughly cover all relevant exam material from Curriculum 21.
Practice with Original St. Gallen Exams: The students work through actual exam series from previous years under real-world time pressure to minimize careless mistakes on the big day in September.

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