Student coming from a Realschule without a former second foreign language are free to choose between the beginners' class in French or Spanish (Französisch / Spanisch - Niveau B).
All pupils are required to take the subject Economics and Business Accounting (Betriebs- und Volkswirtschaftslehre mit wirtschaftlichem Rechnungswesen, VBRW for short).
In Baden-Württemberg, students are required to attend six lessons (of 45 minutes) a week in this subject.
All marks now count toward Abitur, the final exam, passing which permits students to attend universities in Germany.
Students who took a beginners' course in a second foreign language are only allowed to take an oral exam in this subject.