from glossary-is also in Langenscheidt under 'Reife'. Keep the German and use an English explanation since there is no exact equivalent.

dictForum
... mittlere Reife, Comment: ... Comment: Wichtig ist, ob es sich um GCE O-Level (ungefähr mittlere Reife) oder GCE A-Level (ungefähr Abitur) handelt. ...
forum.leo.org/archiv/2003_11/20/20031120123951g_en.html - 7k

Class schedule. Weekly class schedules from several students highlight the differences between students in different grades and at different types of school. The first schedule (see figure 1) is from an 8th-grade Gesamtschule student in an academic track which will lead to the Realschule–leaving certificate (Mittlere Reife) after 10th grade. Students graduating from the Gesamtschule with the Mittlere Reife after 10th grade have the option of continuing for the Abitur during grades 11 through 13 by attending upper-level Gymnasium. This student has more periods of instruction (33) per week than does an eighth-grade Gymnasium student (30), reflecting the fact that the Gesamtschule student elected to take Latin. Project work in the afternoon consists of teacher-initiated topics on which students of various grade and ability levels work together. Gesamtschule students not intending to go on for the Abitur could opt for a less demanding schedule by not taking elective subjects such as Latin or French.
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/GermanCaseStudy/chapter4a.html

Mittelschule/Realschule
Lower Secondary
Type of school providing this education: Realschule (in most Länder)
Age level from: 10 to: 16
Certificate/diploma awarded: Mittlerer Schulabschluss (Realschulabschluss)

http://www.euroeducation.net/prof1/germanco.htm

Mittlerer Schulabschluss
Mittleren Schulabschlusses,Realschulabschluss, Realschulabschlusses,Mittlerer Bildungsabschluss,
General education school leaving certificate obtained on completion of grade 10 at -> Realschulen or, under certain circumstances, at other lower secondary level school types. It can also be obtained at a larger stage during vocational training at upper secondary level. In some Länder called Realschulabschluss.

A Realschule leaving certificate qualifies a pupil to transfer to a school that provides vocational or higher education entrance qualification (see also chapter 5.3.1.11. ).

It qualifies a pupil for admission to courses of upper secondary education, e.g. at special Berufsfachschulen and at the Fachoberschule and is also used for entering a course of vocational training within the dual system (duales System).

http://www.eurydice.org/Eurybase/Application/frameset.asp?co...