Ausbildung Exams Explained

October 18, 2026 T. Ausbildung Corner

Short answer: Ausbildung ends with a final exam (Abschlussprüfung, or Gesellenprüfung in the crafts) run by the responsible chamber. Depending on the occupation, you take either an ungraded intermediate exam or a two-part final exam in which both parts count. A failed final exam can be repeated twice.

This guide explains the exams during and at the end of a dual Ausbildung: which exams exist, who runs them, how you are admitted, how to prepare and what happens if you fail. Visa and entry rules are outside the scope of this site.

Table of Contents

How Ausbildung exams work

A dual Ausbildung (see our guide to what Ausbildung is) ends with an exam that shows you can work in your occupation. According to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the exam is called a Gesellenprüfung (journeyman’s exam) in the crafts and an Abschlussprüfung (final exam) in industry and commerce. Which one applies depends on the chamber with which your training is registered: the craft chamber or the IHK.

The content, structure and timing of the exams are set in the training regulation (Ausbildungsordnung) of your occupation, and the responsible chamber issues the exam rules.

The exams at a glance

Exam	When	What to know
Intermediate exam (Zwischenprüfung)	Usually around the middle of the training	Shows you and your employer where you stand. You get points for each part and a certificate of participation, with no pass or fail. It does not count toward the final result, but taking part is a condition for admission to the final exam
Final exam, part 1	By the end of the second year at the latest. IHK Munich says around the middle of the second year	Used in a two-part final exam instead of the intermediate exam. It tests what you have learned so far, and its result counts toward the final result. IHK Munich gives a share of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the occupation
Final exam (Abschlussprüfung), or part 2	At the end of the training	Shows that you can work in your occupation. In a two-part exam, part 1 and part 2 together form one exam
Journeyman’s exam (Gesellenprüfung)	At the end of training in the crafts	The craft version of the final exam, run by the craft chamber

Which structure does your occupation have?

Each occupation follows one of two patterns: an intermediate exam plus a final exam, or a two-part final exam. IHK Munich says many three-year and three-and-a-half-year trainings use the two-part form, and expects the classic intermediate exam to disappear over time. An example is our IT specialist guide, where the final exam has two parts. Check your training contract and ask your employer or chamber which pattern applies to you.

What the final exam tests

Your ability to do the job. BIBB says you must show the practical skills and the knowledge your occupation requires, and that you know the vocational school material that is essential for it.
All training content. Anything taught in the training can be examined, including content from before the intermediate exam.
Written and practical parts. For IHK occupations, IHK Munich says the written exam dates are the same nationwide and the oral or practical parts follow afterwards.
A work assignment in some occupations. IHK Munich describes a practical task from your company, called a work assignment, report or project. You carry it out, document it and discuss it with the exam committee. Its length depends on the occupation and can run from several hours to several days.

Admission to the final exam

The chamber decides whether you are admitted. BIBB lists these conditions:

You have completed the required training period. IHK Munich says it can also end within two months after the exam date.
You took part in the required intermediate exam. In a two-part exam you must have taken part in part 1, whether or not you passed.
Your training record (Ausbildungsnachweis, often called Berichtsheft) has been kept properly.
Your training relationship is registered with the chamber. This is your employer’s job.

IHK Munich also warns that absences at school or at work can endanger admission, and that the chamber decides such cases individually.

According to BIBB, your employer must register you on time, pay the exam fees and release you from work for the exam. IHK Munich says the IHK sends the registration documents to the company automatically, and that both the company and the trainee are responsible for registration.

How to prepare

Use school and company. IHK Munich says that ideally both prepare you with revision and mock exams. Ask your trainer and teachers for practice tasks.
Take your own initiative. IHK Munich recommends occupation-specific study collections and tasks from earlier exams, and notes that apps and learning videos let you study at your own pace.
Ask about support. IHK Munich mentions training-accompanying help (ausbildungsbegleitende Hilfen) as an option. Ask your employer, school or chamber.
Learn the German technical terms. The BA says vocational school lessons are in German, and the exam covers the school material, so build your vocabulary for your occupation. See our guide to the German level for Ausbildung.
Keep your training record up to date. It is needed for admission.

If you do not pass

You can repeat the final exam twice. BIBB gives this rule. IHK Munich adds that after a third failure you cannot earn the qualification in that occupation.
Your training can be extended. IHK Munich says that on your request it is extended automatically by up to one year.
The repeat form depends on the regulation. IHK Munich says you take either an oral supplementary exam or repeat the exam at the next regular date.
In a two-part exam, part 1 cannot be repeated alone. BIBB says you repeat both parts, but you can ask to be exempt from parts you already passed. A weak part 1 has to be made up in part 2.
The intermediate exam has no pass or fail. It has no legal consequence for continuing your training.

Details differ by occupation and chamber, so read your chamber’s exam rules and ask its advisers if you are unsure.

From the first year to exam day, step by step

Find out at the start which exam structure your occupation has.
Keep your training record up to date from the first week.
Write down the exam dates as soon as the chamber or your employer announces them.
Take the intermediate exam or part 1 seriously and use the result to find your weak areas.
Ask for earlier exam tasks and practice papers, and revise the vocational school material.
If your occupation has a work assignment, plan it early with your trainer.
Check that your employer registered you on time and will release you for the exam.
After the exam, read the chamber’s notice carefully. If you did not pass, note the deadlines for repeating.

Common mistakes

Treating the intermediate exam as unimportant. Taking part is a condition for admission.
Neglecting the training record. A missing record can block admission.
Assuming a poor part 1 can be repeated alone. It cannot.
Starting to prepare in the last few weeks.
Relying on information about another occupation. Exam structures differ.
Ignoring the German technical vocabulary of your occupation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the intermediate exam graded?

It gives points for each part but no pass or fail and no overall grade. BIBB says it has no legal consequence for your training, but taking part is a condition for the final exam.

How many times can I repeat the final exam?

Twice. After a third failure you cannot earn the qualification in that occupation, according to IHK Munich.

Who pays the exam fees?

Your employer. BIBB says the training company must pay the exam fees.

Do I get time off for the exam?

Yes. BIBB says the employer must release you from work for the duration of the exam.

What is a two-part final exam?

It replaces the intermediate exam with part 1 of the final exam, held at the latest by the end of the second year. Part 2 follows at the end of the training, and both results count toward the final result.

Sources

Last updated: 18 October 2026. Rules and figures can change, so confirm details with the official source before you decide.

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