The educational journey
A structured three-year route – with direct entry for qualified students.
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Year 1
Qualification Level
Prepares students for the rigour of International A-Levels through condensed teaching of IGCSE content by building the foundation before the stakes rise.
3 internal exam sessions
Year 2
Advanced Subsidiary (AS Level)
The first half of the full A-Level which is externally examined and reported, and the first grades banked toward the final qualification.
Direct entry possible cia placement tests and prior school achievement
Year 3
A2 Level
The final and most rigorous stage — completing the full Pearson International A-Level qualification and the university application alongside it.
Direct entry only with completed AS Level in relevant subjects
Programme Options: Accelerated Programme and Standard Programme
Programme length depends on entry point, prior qualifications, and a student’s motivation and commitment. The right pathway is assessed individually for every student at EIS.
The academic pathway
Pearson International A-Levels
A globally trusted, modular qualification built for international learners: in-depth study of the subjects that matter, recognised by universities worldwide, and a direct route into German higher education.
A-Level vs IB
Why we chose A-Levels over the International Baccalaureate.
The IB Diploma is a rigorous, respected qualification and for the right student, an excellent one. But for a STEM-focused learner aiming at a German university, the Pearson International A-Level is the better fit.
| What matters | Pearson Int. A-Level The EIS pathway | IB Diploma Programme For comparison |
| Subjects & focus | 3 - 4 subjects studied in depth with focus on mastery. | 6 subjects across required groups - broad by design, with less time per subject. |
| Assessment model | Modular: units examined in stages, so grades are built and banked over time. | Largely linear: most assessment falls at the end of the two years. |
| Benchmarking | Internationally benchmarked assessment data in regular intervals during the programme. | Performance data available only from teachers' internal assessments, with no external benchmarking until the final examinations. |
| Resits & safety net | Individual units can be retaken to improve a grade which reduces pressure for students. | Retakes mean re-sitting full exam sessions; less flexibility unit by unit. |
| STEM preparation | More contact hours per subject — a strong, specialised base for engineering and the sciences. | Solid science and maths, but breadth requirements limit depth in any one field. |
| Core requirements | No mandatory core — time is invested in subject mastery and our own enrichment programme. | Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS are compulsory alongside subjects. |
| German university entry | Recognised as a Hochschulzugangsberechtigung when the required subject combination is met. | Also recognized - both routes can lead to German universities. |
| Best suited to | Focused students with a clear STEM or Economics direction who want depth and flexibility. | All-rounders who want maximum breadth and a structured core across many disciplines. |
Where the IB shines – breadth, and the research and critical-thinking habits built through TOK and the Extended Essay – we deliver through our own career and enrichment programme: Jugend forscht for original research, Model United Nations for argument and diplomacy, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award for service and character. We chose depth in the subjects, and built the breadth around it.
Subjects & Language
Four subjects taught English. One language for life in Germany.
Mathematics
A rigorous, highly respected subject and the foundation for engineering, computer science, economics and the natural sciences. The full A-Level is made up of six units: four Pure Mathematics units (Pure 1–4) that build the core toolkit with algebra, calculus, trigonometry, sequences and proof and two applied units:
- Statistics 1:
probability, data analysis and interpreting results, so students learn to draw reliable conclusions from real-world information. - Decision Mathematics 1:
the mathematics behind computing and logistics — algorithms, networks and finding the most efficient solution to a problem. It's a modern, practical strand that connects strongly to computer science and operational planning.
Mathematics pairs naturally with Physics and Chemistry and is essential for most German university STEM programmes.
Physics
Physics explores how the universe works, from everyday motion to the structure of the cosmos. The six units are:
- Unit 1
Mechanics and Materials: motion, forces, momentum and the properties of solids and fluids. - Unit 2
Waves and Electricity: light, sound, the behaviour of waves, and electrical circuits. - Unit 3
Practical Skills I: hands-on experimental and laboratory technique. - Unit 4
Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles: circular motion, electric and magnetic fields, and particle physics. - Unit 5
Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology: heat, nuclear physics and the study of the universe. - Unit 6
Practical Skills II: more advanced experimental work, building on Units 4 and 5.
Practical work runs throughout the course, so students leave as confident, capable scientists.
Chemistry
Often called "the central science," Chemistry is the gateway to medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry and chemical engineering. Its six units are:
- Unit 1
Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry: atoms, bonding, the periodic table and the first organic compounds. - Unit 2
Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols: energy changes, reaction patterns and key organic families. - Unit 3
Practical Skills I: core laboratory techniques and analysis. - Unit 4
Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry: how fast reactions go, how they balance, and deeper organic chemistry. - Unit 5
Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry: the chemistry of metals, dyes, and molecules central to living things. - Unit 6
Practical Skills II: advanced experimental and investigative work.
Economics
Economics helps students understand the forces that shape markets, businesses and entire nations and is suitable for future study in economics, business, finance, law or international relations. The full A-Level is built from four units:
- Unit 1
Markets in Action: how prices, supply and demand allocate resources, and what happens when markets fail. - Unit 2
Macroeconomic Performance and Policy: growth, employment, inflation and the policies governments use to manage the economy. - Unit 3
Business Behaviour: how firms compete, set prices and operate in different market conditions. - Unit 4
Developments in the Global Economy: trade, globalisation, development and the workings of the world economy.
Students learn to analyse real-world data and current events, building the critical-thinking and writing skills universities value highly.
German
All students receive four lessons of German per week. Those targeting a German university place can then choose, depending on their level of German, between German Plus and Jugend forscht from our enrichment programme. German is also lived in the boarding house, where every motivated student has the opportunity to progress faster. The level each student reaches depends on their starting point, commitment and time with us.
Immersion, not just instruction
Students targeting C1 speak only German in the boarding house from the start. Language becomes lived, not learned in isolation.