The CERMAT entrance exam can absolutely be trained for — just not in a month. This article breaks down what the tests for 4-year schools (grade 9) and 8-year gymnáziums (grade 5) actually examine, how to spread the preparation over the months, and where children most often lose points.
What the exam actually tests
Both levels consist of two tests: Czech language and literature (60 minutes, 50 points) and mathematics (70 minutes, 50 points). Every applicant gets two attempts, and the better score counts.
Grade-9 mathematics covers the lower-secondary curriculum: fractions and percentages, equations, geometry (perimeters, areas, volumes, Pythagoras), word problems, and construction problems drawn with ruler and compass. The grade-5 test is simpler in content — whole numbers, basic geometry, simple word problems — but demands focus and familiarity with the test format, which is often the hardest part for a ten-year-old.
The Czech test examines spelling, grammar, reading comprehension and basic literature. Children recently arrived in the country may be granted accommodations for the Czech test (conditions are specified each year) — but the maths test applies to everyone, which is why maths usually decides.
A month-by-month preparation cycle
Sensible preparation isn't "solve everything you can find". It's a cycle:
- Diagnosis (the start). One practice test with no preparation — not to stress anyone, but to see the real starting point.
- Systematic topic work (most of the time). The tutor follows a checklist, topic by topic, from gaps to confidence. Parents get short notes after every lesson.
- Mock tests (the final months). Regularly, timed, with the official answer sheet — just like the real thing. Our students receive CERMAT-style practice tests at no extra charge.
- Error analysis. The most valuable part: every mistake leads back to its topic until it stops recurring.
On top of that come our A3 overview sheets — every rule and formula for Czech and maths on a single page.
Where children lose points
- Time. Seventy minutes of maths go quickly; skipping a hard problem and returning to it is a skill that has to be trained.
- The answer sheet (záznamový arch): a correct result recorded the wrong way earns nothing — the format needs practice well in advance.
- Word problems: for bilingual children a double load — first decode the Czech, then do the maths. That's exactly why we practise problems together with the Czech terminology.
- Construction problems in grade 9: a lot of points that are easy to lose to careless drawing.
The 8-year gymnázium: a decision of its own
Applying in grade 5 is a big decision for a small child. Competition for 8-year gymnáziums is traditionally strong, so weigh not only ability but also your child's own motivation. We prepare without pressure — and if it becomes clear along the way that staying at primary school and applying in grade 9 suits the child better, that's a good outcome too.
For foreign families
We combine exam preparation with Czech language work: a bilingual start, Czech terminology introduced right while solving problems. See also Czech and maths tutoring for foreign children, and for an overview of the whole admission system, our sister site's guide to the Czech entrance exams.
Frequently asked questions
When should we start preparing?
Ideally a year before the exam, at minimum about six months. A calm, even schedule beats a last-minute sprint.
How many mock tests should a child take?
Enough for the format to become routine — usually several full timed tests in the final months, each followed by error analysis.
Do you prepare children for the 8-year gymnázium?
Yes, including format training for fifth-graders — always with an honest eye on whether the child actually wants it.
What if our child's Czech is still weak?
We combine the preparation with Czech lessons, bilingual at the start. Maths is where the points are best won.
First steps
Write to info@doucse.cz or call +420 494 900 173 (Mon–Fri 9:00–19:00, Sat–Sun 14:00–18:00) — English is fine. Tell us your child's grade and the school in question, and a coordinator will come back within 24 hours with a plan. An overview of our preparation: entrance exam preparation.
