The teachers carry out tests in the respective subjects during the school year. Generally, a grade scale of 1 to 6 is used (6 = best grade, 4 = sufficient, below 4 = insufficient). The pupils receive reports twice a year in the majority of the cantons. In addition to the report, an appraisal interview usually takes place with the pupils and the parents or guardians. Learning behaviour, social behaviour and work attitude can also be part of the assessment. Written learning reports are seldom used. In various cantons, facultative or compulsory year-end tests or achievement tests are conducted in certain school years and subjects. These can be used to assess the performance of the pupils and also allow the teachers to compare the learning success of the class to that of other classes. Projects are underway, in which at the end of school year 8, a skill and performance assessment is conducted, so as to encourage pupils with specific measures in school year 9. In school year 9, final assignments or portfolios with a personal performance profile of the pupils can be used. In a number of cantons, efforts to coordinate the measurement of performance are being made.
Particularly able pupils have the possibility of skipping a year. Individual encouragement is also provided within normal classes. On the lower secondary level, there are few special classes or schools for gifted pupils.

 

Transfer into the next class
The transfer into the next class is determined on the basis of performance during a school year. An adequate overall average grade and, in general, adequate grades in the core subjects, are prerequisites for transfer into the next class.
If a report is insufficient, a provisional transfer occurs. If the next report is also insufficient, transfer to the next higher class does not occur. The pupil can repeat the previously attended year, or continue in the next lower performance-based group. Allocation to special needs support measures may also be necessary. Pupils who receive teaching in the performance-based group at basic level can repeat the previously attended year in a performance-based group at a higher level, so as to improve their education opportunities.

Final examinations
As there is no Swiss-wide final school examination in compulsory education, there is also no corresponding graduation certificate. A few cantons conduct a final examination at the end of the lower secondary level in the core subjects, either in the performance-based group at advanced level, or in all performance-based groups.