Standardized High School Exam Results in North Rhine-Westphalia: Overall Average Grade Stays the Same - High school graduation in North Rhine-Westphalia: average mark remains unchanged
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the preliminary results from the Ministry of Education in Düsseldorf indicate that the overall performance of students in this year's Abitur exam has remained steady compared to previous years.
The Abitur, a high school diploma exam in NRW, was completed by approximately 77,000 students this year, with students from around 1,200 schools participating.
The results show that the proportion of students at vocational schools who received the top grade increased slightly, from 1.36 percent in 2024 to 1.6 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, the proportion of students at grammar and comprehensive schools who achieved the top grade was 3.38 percent in 2025, compared to 3.14 percent in 2024.
Interestingly, the average grade at general education schools remained constant in 2025, with a score of 2.37. Similarly, at vocational schools, the average grade remained stable at 2.47.
The consistency in the average Abitur grade can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the educational authorities in NRW maintain stable and rigorous standards for the Abitur exams to ensure fairness and comparability over time.
Secondly, if the curriculum and assessment criteria have not undergone substantial changes during these years, students are likely being evaluated on similar content and skills, contributing to stable results.
Thirdly, the student cohort size and overall academic performance might have remained relatively stable, without significant shifts in preparation levels, socioeconomic factors, or demographic changes that could impact average grades.
Lastly, moderation and review mechanisms help ensure grading remains aligned with established benchmarks, thus preventing grade inflation or deflation.
It's worth noting that the Abitur exam results are preliminary and subject to change. For instance, the proportion of students who failed their Abitur at vocational schools has significantly decreased from 8 percent in 2024 to 6.25 percent in 2025.
The Ministry of Education in Düsseldorf oversees the Abitur exam administration in NRW, ensuring a fair and consistent process for all students. As more final results become available, we will continue to monitor the trends and provide updates on the performance of NRW's students in the Abitur exam.
Vocational training in EC countries, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), gained attention as a significant portion of students at vocational schools in NRW saw an increase in top grades for the Abitur exam this year. This progress in learning and education-and-self-development was highlighted, with the proportion of students from vocational schools receiving the top grade rising from 1.36 percent in 2024 to 1.6 percent in 2025.
