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The pre-gymnasium track (VP) is one of the two pathways at lower secondary level in the Canton of Vaud. It welcomes students from 9th to 11th grade of compulsory schooling and prepares them directly for Swiss Matura studies, and therefore for university, universities of applied sciences, and other higher education institutions. It is a demanding pathway, governed by the Law on Compulsory Education (LEO), which requires a strong level in core subjects and a clear educational plan.
In the Canton of Vaud’s school system, compulsory education lasts 11 years. After primary school (grades 1 to 8), students enter secondary school, also known as lower secondary level, which lasts three years, from 9th to 11th grade. This cycle includes two pathways: the pre-gymnasium track (VP) and the general track (VG).The pre-gymnasium track is intended for students whose academic performance and school record allow them to aim for gymnasium studies. From the first year of this cycle, students follow a demanding curriculum governed by the Law on Compulsory Education (LEO), which came into force in 2013, and aligned with the Plan d’études romand (PER), the same framework used in public schools in Vaud.At the end of 11th grade, students obtain a lower secondary certificate from the pre-gymnasium track, which grants access to public gymnasium in the Canton of Vaud.
The pre-gymnasium track (VP) lasts 3 years, from 9th to 11th grade of compulsory schooling. At the end of 11th grade, a certification exam is held. Students who obtain their lower secondary pre-gymnasium certificate can directly enter gymnasium at the start of the following school year.For more information on the official structure of the lower secondary cycle, the Canton of Vaud provides an overview including timetables, certification requirements, and brochures for parents.
At the end of 8th grade of primary school, the school’s governing board directs each student toward either the pre-gymnasium track or the general track, based on their academic results. This decision is a key milestone in the child’s educational pathway: it determines entry into the third cycle of compulsory schooling, which leads directly to gymnasium for VP students.In the public system, the standardized cantonal assessments (ECR) in 8th grade—French, mathematics, and German—play a decisive role in this decision. They account for 30% of the final annual grade, while the remaining 70% comes from continuous assessment throughout the school year. A few hours of testing can therefore have a significant impact on a student’s orientation.For students in private schools, placement is based solely on continuous assessment, without ECR exams. This is one of the practical advantages of private schooling: students are evaluated on their overall performance throughout the year, without their orientation depending on a single exam taken over a few hours.At École Vinet, a structured and high-quality teaching organization is implemented throughout the year to ensure that each student develops the skills expected in the VP track: rigor, autonomy, and the ability to work consistently and methodically.
Admission criteria for the pre-gymnasium track are based on results in two groups of subjects, according to a structure defined by the Law on Compulsory Education (LEO):
The exact admission requirements are detailed in the official brochures of the Canton of Vaud.
The timetable for the pre-gymnasium track includes a common core of fundamental subjects taught to all students:
These subjects are taught at a homogeneous level in the pre-gymnasium track (VP), unlike in the general track (VG), where certain subjects are taught at two levels (N1 and N2). This is one of the defining features of this pathway: all students follow the same demanding curriculum.
In addition to the core curriculum, each VP student chooses a specific option (OS) from four subjects:
The choice of the specific option in VP is primarily an initial exploration: the options offered at lower secondary level are more limited than at gymnasium, where new ones become available. A student can perfectly well choose economics at gymnasium without having studied it in VP. It is mainly at gymnasium level that this choice becomes structuring for the rest of the academic pathway.The Canton of Vaud provides students with a brochure to help them choose their option.
The Canton of Vaud offers four official videos to help students choose their specific option: a useful tool to understand the content of each OS and to get a concrete idea of what each one involves.To complement this overview, here are some additional guidelines to help your child make a choice that truly matches their profile and educational goals.
What each OS involves in practice:
Choosing the “easiest” OS instead of the one that matches the student’s educational and career goals. Opting for economics and law because Latin feels intimidating, or choosing Latin because the student is “not good at maths,” without considering what they want to do after gymnasium. These choices may still work, but they should be made with full awareness of their implications.
The right time to make this decision is not in a rush at the start of 9th grade, but after a guided reflection process beginning at the end of 8th grade. An academic advisor can help the student identify their strengths, interests, and educational goals, and choose the OS that truly aligns with them.
This is one of the questions parents ask most often—and the answer is yes, under certain conditions.The Vaud school system, in the spirit of the LEO, was designed to remain flexible. Bridges between the two tracks are possible at several points during lower secondary education:
These reorientations are always made in the student’s best interest, to help them progress in the pathway that best matches their actual abilities and educational goals.This system of flexible pathways is intended to be one of the strengths of the Vaud school system: it prevents a child’s academic trajectory from being fixed by a decision made at the age of 12.
In practice, however, this is not always the case, which is why private schools can play a significant role. This information is available in the official cantonal brochures; do not hesitate to share it with your child so they can also understand the options available to them.
This is a question many parents hesitate to ask, because they do not want to consider this scenario. And yet, it is a reality experienced by many families during lower secondary school: academic results do not meet expectations, and a reorientation becomes necessary.
The first thing to understand is that moving from VP to VG is not a school failure. It is a normal educational decision, foreseen by the LEO, which protects the student’s academic pathway by directing them toward the track that best matches their actual abilities at that point in time.
What this means in practical terms: the student changes track but remains in the same school. They keep their learning progress. And above all, doors do not close. RAC Matura remains accessible at the end of compulsory schooling, and many students coming from VG eventually gain access to gymnasium.
The real difference between a student “who does not have the level for VP” and one “who does not yet have the level for VP” often comes down to environment and support. In a class of 22 students, difficulties can go unnoticed for several months. In a private school with small class sizes, teachers are able to identify early signs of struggle much sooner, before the situation becomes critical and before the school board is forced to act.
This early detection makes it possible to put targeted support in place: reinforcement in core subjects, methodological work, and an adapted pace, without waiting for a formal reorientation decision to react.The message that is rarely heard, but worth stating: a well-managed reorientation is better than a forced VP experience. A student who progresses in VG with confidence and good results is better equipped to move forward than one who remains in VP without the necessary foundations.
“I spent four years at École Vinet with teachers who were committed to giving us the best chances in a consistently supportive environment. I don’t think I would be living from my passion today if I had not completed a significant part of my schooling there.”
— Hugo Braillard
At the end of 11th grade, VP students take a certification exam. Depending on their results, several pathways become available.In case of successful completion of the VP certificate:
In case of insufficient results:
To learn more about the RAC Matura, please consult our complete guide to the gymnasium bridging program in Lausanne.
In the public system, VP classes generally include between 18 and 22 students. In a private school such as École Vinet, classes are limited to 10–18 students maximum. This is not a minor detail: it allows teachers to truly know each student, quickly identify difficulties, and adapt the course accordingly.In concrete terms, following the pre-gymnasium track in a private school in Lausanne means benefiting from:
This is often the question parents hesitate to ask, because they do not want to “aim too high” or “limit” their child. Here are some concrete indicators.
Positive signs:
Points of vigilance:
The VP track is not reserved for “top-performing students.” It is designed for students who have both the ability and the motivation to commit to it seriously, with the right environment to succeed.
Would you like to enroll your child in the VP track at École Vinet?
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