10th Grade Gymnasium Preparation

Step into Gymnasium with confidence

Starting with the school year 2026/2027, our private school will offer a dedicated 10th grade bridge year program on our beautiful Küsnacht Campus.

This additional school year is designed for motivated pupils (typically ages 15–16) who want to prepare thoroughly for the Kurzgymnasium entrance exam in a supportive, inspiring learning environment close to Zürich.

 
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A Year to Grow, Gain Confidence, and Get Ahead

Many pupils are academically ready after completing secondary school but choose to invest an extra year to deepen their knowledge, gain confidence, and improve their chances of passing the Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung (ZAP).

Our 10th grade turns this decision into an opportunity: a year designed to help pupils grow, strengthen their skills, and approach the Gymnasium entrance with clarity and self-assurance. This bridge year is a launchpad paving the way toward the Swiss Matura and long-term academic success.

What Pupils Will Learn

In our 10th grade, pupils strengthen core knowledge in math, sciences, languages, and humanities while developing the skills needed to excel at the Gymnasium entrance exam (ZAP). Through hands-on projects, problem-solving, and focused exam preparation, they build critical thinking, confidence, and independent learning strategies. By the end of the year, pupils are supported in developing the skills and confidence needed to approach the Gymnasium entrance exam successfully.

 

Core Academic Skills

German: Advanced reading comprehension, essay writing, grammar mastery

Mathematics: Algebra, geometry, and logical problem-solving

English & French: Academic practice that deepens vocabulary, fluency, and cultural understanding

 

Exam Readiness

Realistic simulations of the Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung (ZAP)

Targeted strategies
for managing time, staying calm, and performing under pressure

Individual feedback to address specific learning gaps

 

Personalized Learning Support

Small class sizes for maximum attention

Individual coaching on learning techniques and study habits

Continuous communication with parents to support progress

Personal Growth & Confidence

Mentoring programs to encourage motivation and self-organization

Opportunities to build independence and self-confidence

Guidance on the educational pathway toward Gymnasium and the Swiss Matura
 

WELCOME TO TANDEM INTERNATIONAL MULTILINGUAL SCHOOL

Each of our schools offer full day educational programmes and care.

Our Spaces

Tandem IMS is a dynamic day school, offering high-quality multilingual education (German, English and French) in a warm and child-friendly environment where both local Swiss and international families are welcome. Our unique multilingual concept accompanies children from early childhood all the way to the Swiss Matura. All pupils engage in translanguaging, seamlessly incorporating German, English and French into their learning experience, supported by two native language teachers working together in the same classroom. In addition, our enquiry-based learning curriculum, based on the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate (IB) ensures a stimulating, creative and thought-provoking multidimensional education.

What makes our campus Küsnacht unique?

From its lakeside setting to its purpose-built learning spaces, our Küsnacht campus offers more than just classrooms, it’s designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and connection at every stage of education.

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Gymnasium Küsnacht

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Our mission

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Swiss Education System

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Tuition Fees

Get all the information you need regarding tuition fees.

Discover our Campus Küsnacht

Step inside a campus where every space tells a story. From themed classrooms that spark imagination to bright, modern studios equipped for design thinking and digital creation, our learning environment is as dynamic as the minds it shapes. Each floor follows a unique design concept, encouraging pupils to explore, collaborate, and reflect in spaces purpose-built for their development. Whether it's a quiet reading nook, a buzzing media lab, every corner invites discovery. This is where architecture and education come together to inspire.

Meet our teachers

Our dedicated teaching team combines expertise, passion, and a personal approach. With small class sizes and diverse international experience, they guide each student to achieve their full potential.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is this program for?

Our 10th grade bridge year is ideal for pupils ages 15–16 who have completed Sekundarstufe I and want to prepare thoroughly for the Kurzgymnasium entrance exam (ZAP). It’s perfect for pupils who want to strengthen their skills, gain confidence, and approach Gymnasium well-prepared.

Where will classes take place?

All classes are held at our Küsnacht Campus, which offers a calm, inspiring environment just minutes from Zürich.

What are the tuition fees?

Find all the details about our tuition fees for the 2026/2027 school year here

When does the school year run?

The 10th grade program follows the Zürich school calendar.

A full holiday calendar will be shared upon enrollment.

 

How big are the classes?

Class sizes are deliberately small  to ensure every pupil receives individual attention and support.

 

Which languages are taught?

Our program is mostly focused on German (monolingual), with some additional lessons in English and French.

 

WHAT PARENTS SAY ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS

Our daughter Milla started in Kindergarten 1 and finished in grade 6. We are so thankful to all the teachers, management and administration for the great work they do with the children. Tandem IMS offers a friendly environment and the warmth of a family. Milla had a lot of fun but she also learned a lot. She is not only academically strong in English and German and advanced in French but she developed as an individual who loves and respects people, who is independent and confident, who is free to express her opinion, who knows how to organize her daily life and work under pressure. As she said in her graduation speech: «Here in Tandem I had the best time of my life! I am looking forward to the future because I know I am well prepared for the next step of my life.» 

Milla and her family
Kindergarten and Primary School

Our son Philip attended Tandem from Primary 1 through 6. What convinced us of this school were the multilingual education, the enquiry-based learning approach, and the excellent after-school care programme. The teachers we met over the years were all highly qualified and very motivated. The community spirit at the school is exceptional: fifth graders play with first graders, mixed age groups at Sports Day, and loyal alumni to the school. Philip also attended the preparation course for the Gymi exam offered at Tandem. The level of detailed preparation by his teacher was outstanding. It was integrated seamlessly into the school routine. The learning journey at Tandem gave Philip a head start for his secondary education. I can highly recommend Tandem to all families looking for a multilingual primary education.

Philip
Primary School

Our experience at Tandem Erlenbach has been wonderful and totally recommendable. Sara has been happy at Tandem IMS Erlenbach each and every day of the almost three years she has spent there. Tandem's educational method allows each child to progress in an individual and personalised way, but at the same time creates strong bonds with the rest of the children in each group. The diverse atmosphere and the values of Tandem IMS (tolerance, team spirit, kindness, respect…) are something that all schools should promote and that we truly appreciated.

Sara and her family
Early Years and Pre-School

Neven started in Kiga 1 and stayed until the end of Primary 6, a total of 8 years. He is a very active and lively boy. All the different teachers he had at Tandem IMS were able to motivate and interest him through all these years. They recognised his strengths and supported him when needed. Neven successfully passed the Gymiprüfung and also in Gymnasium it shows how well he is prepared for learning in a demanding environment. As we’re both working parents we always felt understood and supported by Tandem IMS. If we would start again with a younger child we would choose Tandem IMS again.

Neven and his mum
Primary School

Tandem IMS's sense of community and the depth of care and dedication teachers and staff bring to the school, is what makes it so special. At Tandem IMS, teachers get to know each child individually and take time to understand the best ways to help them learn and grow. Children learn to treat each other with respect, work together, and to appreciate differences of background, identity, and perspective. Both socially and academically, our son greatly benefitted from Tandem IMS's nurturing learning environment.

Viggo and his parents
Kindergarten

After relocating to Uetikon, our two children attended Uetikon/Erlenbach. We greatly appreciated the stability of the teaching team, which comprised individuals from various nationalities, including true native English speakers spanning various age groups. It was evident that they were all dedicated to playing a role in our children's education. The facilities, diverse classrooms, group dynamics, and educational curriculum were truly exceptional. Tandem IMS will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we are forever thankful that our little boys had the opportunity to be part of it!

Léandre and Aurèle
Early Years and Pre-School

We experienced Tandem IMS as a happy place to learn and to prepare students in many fields of life, not just school subjects but also social skills and community spirit. The teaching style and the multicultural environment is nurturing a growth mindset and lifelong learning which are so important in these times of constant changes. Our son Francesco has spent his whole primary school time at Tandem IMS and graduated after 6th Grade well prepared for the next step (Sek A, Küsnacht). He had a fantastic start there with many advantages already in French, English and an independent and self-organized homework attitude. His brother Lorenzo is still enjoying Tandem Primary school and will graduate in a couple of years.

Francesco and his mum
Primary School

We are incredibly grateful for the time our daughter Alisa spent at Tandem IMS. The teachers and administrators were exceptional—always attentive, nurturing, and genuinely invested in Alisa's well-being and development. Their warmth and professionalism made all the difference, giving us peace of mind every day. In the two years she was there, we saw remarkable growth in Alisa’s social skills, confidence, and love for learning. She also made remarkable progress towards her language skills in English and German. It was such a joy to see her excited to go to Tandem each morning and come home with new knowledge and stories to share. We couldn't have asked for a better foundation for her, and for that, we are eternally thankful to the amazing team at Tandem IMS.

Alisa
Early Years and Pre-School

Seeing our children becoming less and less happy attending public school, we felt compelled to look for a better alternative that could meet their needs.  What we found turned out to be so much more than expected: an inspiring culture, motivating teachers, and an exciting multilingual spirit.  While learning is never easy and often demanding, for our children, it suddenly became a fun and productive experience.  The depth and breadth of the learning opportunity offered by this school is nothing short of great!

Luca and his dad
Primary School

At Tandem IMS, I really felt that the children were growing their knowledge and improving their language skills in both, English and German. Caspar entered at the age of 4 into kindergarten 1 and stayed for 2 years. He could not speak one word of English and German when he joined, since we speak Italian and Russian at home. When he finished kindergarten 2 at the age of 6, he could communicate very well in both English and German and we were very proud of him.

Caspar and his dad
Kindergarten

Tandem IMS was the best choice and the best investment for our child. Tandem IMS makes parents confident that their child is in the best hands. The experience, the education and the engagement level of the teachers is set at the highest standards. And as a bonus, our little son was taught in 2 languages, so that for the Kindergarten he is well prepared and speaks, without any difficulties, German and English on top of Russian. Without any hesitations, our younger little baby was also enrolled at Tandem IMS.

Andrew and his family
Early Years and Pre-School

We were impressed how quickly Cédric settled in which was also due to the warm and caring atmosphere that welcomed him. Cédric loved to go to Tandem IMS as he found an environment that adapted to his needs and gave him brain food (he is a very curious boy). We felt that the excellent teachers recognize the strengths of each child individually and support children to develop further. During his time at Tandem IMS, Cédric progressed impressively and he always felt very safe and was very eager to go to Tandem IMS.

Cédric and his mum
Pre-School

Valentina and Mateo both started attending the nursery at 6 months old, followed by preschool. It was amazing to witness how quickly they picked up English and how effortlessly they can now switch between German, English, and Spanish. Valentina and Mateo always felt comfortable, and as parents, the open communication with the team consistently reassured us that our children were in the best hands. We are very grateful to Tandem IMS for the valuable chapter in our children's lives.

Valentina, Mateo and their parents
Early Years and Pre-School

Emma enjoyed the inspiring environment, the caring teachers and the super interesting curriculum. Each day was different and the children learned a lot by going through the various subjects that were spread throughout the year. A lot of effort also goes into organising special events through which the children can discover the entire world. Emma benefited a lot from Tandem and was now ready to go to kindergarten. We are very grateful for the great time Emma spent at Tandem IMS and are missing the team a lot!

Emma and her mum
Early Years and Pre-School

Massi grew up in the translanguaging environment of Tandem IMS, becoming fluent in both English and German from an early age. The enquiry-based learning allowed him to be himself, learning easily by asking questions constantly. We are grateful to all the teachers that accompanied him since he was two years old. Thank you for your patience, professionalism, creativity, and engagement. Tandem IMS and its teachers are putting a lot of effort in recognising each child's needs, adapting to their rhythm, their curiosity, making everyone feel unique. 

Massi and his parents
Early Years, Pre-School, Kindergarten

It was an incredible journey for the last 6 years and we will be missing every single day of this experience. Dedicated teachers truly loving the kids and the daily job they do, dedicated educational team, and outstanding curriculum to make sure kids are not only prepared for day-to-day life, but also for the school after. But more importantly, are the social skills which Arthur and Andrew watched and learned every day. Something, one can’t buy for money but have it in your heart.

Arthur, Andrew and their mum
Early Years and Pre-School

Mariana thrived in the familiar atmosphere of Tandem IMS. The bilingual education prepared her well for further language study, and the teachers were very professional, committed and caring of my child’s needs. After leaving Tandem IMS, Mariana settled exceptionally well in her new school and was academically well prepared for the new demands. Thank you, Tandem IMS!

Mariana and her mum
Primary School

Enrollment & Information

Enrolment for the school year 2026/2027 is open.

Classes will be held exclusively at our Küsnacht Campus, offering a safe, calm, and academically focused setting near Zürich.

Schedule a free consultation with our admissions team and together we’ll find the best path for your child.

Contact us today

email: kuesnacht@tandem-ims.ch

Phone: +41 43 500 14 80

 

Register here