How entrance exams at secondary schools and multi-year grammar schools work (Cermat)

What are the Cermat unified entrance exams

The unified entrance exams organised by Cermat are taken by pupils applying to four-year, six-year and eight-year grammar schools and to secondary school programmes with a school-leaving exam. They consist of a Czech language and literature test and a mathematics test. Year 9 pupils have more time for both tests than Year 5 and Year 7 pupils, as the difficulty and scope of the material corresponds to each educational level.

Exam dates and organisation

The exams are usually held in April; the precise date is announced by the Ministry of Education well in advance. Each applicant may apply to up to three schools and may sit the exam for each programme (with some exceptions) twice – the better result counts. A resit date is available for pupils who were unable to attend the main date due to serious reasons.

Structure of the mathematics and Czech tests

The mathematics test includes problems on numbers and arithmetic operations, dependencies, relationships and data handling, plane and solid geometry, and non-standard applied problems. The Czech language test assesses spelling, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, reading comprehension and literary knowledge.

Both tests place great emphasis on working with the answer sheet and on time management – many pupils fail not because they do not know the material, but because they cannot keep up with the pace.

How to prepare effectively for the exams

Systematic preparation should combine learning the theory, repeatedly working through tests from previous years, and practising under conditions similar to the real exam. This last point – the so-called mock exams – helps children manage their nerves, learn to allocate time to individual problems, and receive feedback from tutors who can explain where and why a pupil is losing points.