Introduction of the University-Entrance Examination [Abitur] in Prussia: Edict signed by King Frederick William III, State Chancellor Hardenberg, and Minister Friedrich von Schuckmann (October 12, 1812)

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c) In the natural sciences:

I. in physics, the grade of unconditional competence requires clear understanding of the laws pertaining to those major phenomena of the corporeal sphere, without which it is impossible to understand the teachings of mathematical and physical geography;

II. in the description of nature, it demands knowledge of the general classification of natural products and insight into the principles according to which this classification needs to be arranged.

Thus, anyone having made the progress in these subjects indicated above receives the certificate of unconditional competence; in this context, one needs to note that a lower mark in French or in the natural sciences does not mean exclusion from that classification if ancient languages, historical knowledge, and mathematics are forthcoming to the appropriate extent.

2. What is suitable for the grade of conditional competence is the attainment of the preset goal only in one or the other of those three essential pieces of advanced school classes, with simultaneous lagging behind in the other, equally important ones.

3. Those not having achieved anything adequate to the requirements in any of these three subjects will be designated as incompetent; only exceedingly first-rate progress in the natural sciences can generate a limiting provision to this grade.

§ 7. Now the exam is held in order to explore possession or lack of the education necessary for productive attendance of university; in its framework, it is partly necessary for the examinee to present knowledge himself and partly to organize exercises, which allows drawing conclusions regarding the skills acquired.

§ 8. The organization of these examinations is the responsibility of the examination committee found in each grammar school. [ . . . ]

§ 9. The examination is divided into two parts:

1. a written examination,

2. and an oral one.

Since the former is intended to serve as a corrective and complement of the other, the papers to be prepared, whose topics are determined jointly by the examination commissioner and principal or headmaster, by the latter after consultation with the teachers, must be completed, submitted to and checked by all members of the examination committee several days before the oral examination. However, all of the examinees are to be given the same assignments for these papers.