Abizeitung: ideas, timeline, costs and printing

An Abizeitung (Abitur yearbook magazine) is the magazine a year group puts together for the Abitur, the German school-leaving exam after the twelfth or thirteenth year. It needs ideas, a team, money and a printer, all alongside the exams. This page explains what belongs in an Abizeitung, when to start and how adverts pay for the printing. A Flashbook can take over the profiles as a printed book of profiles, one double-page spread per person, for a course or class of 8 to 42 people, €24.90 per book, arriving 5 to 7 working days after the last answers and payments. For the whole year group, the enquiry settles the features, price and delivery time of a special book.

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The book, the questionnaire and our WhatsApp support are in German. Other languages and shipping to other countries on request.

Left half of a sample double-page spread in the style of an Abizeitung, in German: a drawn portrait in a navy hoodie printed with ABI, answers such as a headline for the Abitur year and the teacher quote of the year, plus the nominations for the four awards — Sample page. The names and answers are made up; the background and the icons are design examples.

Right half of the sample spread, in German: a drawn portrait in a jacket and mortarboard, answers such as an Abitur horoscope and a headline about the year group, a signature, name and the details chemistry and music, editorial team, maths Abitur and birthday — Sample page. The names and answers are made up; the background and the icons are design examples.

What goes into an Abizeitung? Section ideas, from profiles to yearbook superlatives

You don't have to do every section, but each one needs someone to take care of it.

Profiles. One page per person with a photo, nickname, courses and a few questions.
Rankings. The year group votes on who is most likely to become famous. Only ask what everyone can take with a sense of humour.
Course reports. Each course writes a page about its year.
Quotes from lessons. Collect sayings all year in a shared note.
Photo spreads. Childhood photos to guess, the year group trip, the themed week, the leavers' prank.
Greetings. A few lines from the head teacher and tutors.
Adverts and thanks. Pages for businesses that support you.

Profiles for the Abizeitung: questions with a newspaper feel

Profiles get better when the questions sound like a newspaper. As a short heading above the answer, for example:

My headline for the Abitur year
My section in the magazine
Teacher quote of the year
My horoscope for the Abitur
Themed week: my best costume
What the Abizeitung must say about me

You will find more questions in our yearbook questions for leavers' books.

When should you start the Abizeitung?

Earlier than you think, because nobody has time just before the exams. Count back from the day you want to hand out the magazine, such as the leavers' ball or the certificate ceremony:

At the start of the final school year. Form a team, decide on the size, share out the sections, approach advertisers.
By the half-year. Collect profiles, rankings, quotes and photos.
Before the exams. Finish the texts, proofread, build the layout.
After the exams. Have it printed, with time to spare before the leavers' ball.

Funding the Abizeitung: adverts, sales and the year group fund

An Abizeitung can be paid for from three pots:

Adverts. Driving schools, cafés and local businesses buy a half or full page. Set prices and a deadline.
Sales. A price per copy for the year group, parents and teachers.
Year group fund. The year group's kitty covers the rest.

How to approach businesses is explained in our guide to sports club sponsorship, written for clubs.

Having the Abizeitung printed: what does it cost?

What an Abizeitung costs depends on the number of pages, print run, colour, paper and binding. Get several quotes based on the same details and ask about a proof copy and delivery time. Often the most work is not the printing but getting lots of profiles into one consistent layout.

What the Flashbook takes over for your Abizeitung, and what it doesn't

A Flashbook is a book with a double-page spread for each person, not a freely designed magazine. For a course or class of 8 to 42 people, it takes the profiles off your hands:

the profiles as double-page spreads with two photos, answers, name, signature and four details with icons, collected by phone
design and printing as a landscape A5 hardcover on 170 g/m² paper
the cover image made from your cut-out photos, with your Abitur motto as the title
four awards per book, such as “Most likely to become famous”: In the questionnaire, everyone nominates someone from the group; the nominations appear on their own spread and the results on the awards page
up to 4 sponsor pages included in the price, plus logos on the back cover
a group photo, a double-page spread for special moments, two spreads for signatures and messages, and at least 4 blank spreads

Freely designed article pages are not included, such as course reports, collections of quotes and greetings. For a special book for the whole year group, the enquiry settles the features, price and delivery time.

Collecting profiles while the editorial team writes

The profiles run alongside the articles and rankings, and nobody has to type anything up.

Someone from the editorial team sends an enquiry in 2 minutes, and the link arrives via WhatsApp.
The link goes into the course's group chat. Everyone fills in their profile on their phone in about 5 minutes, uploads two photos and makes nominations for the four awards. A list of who is still missing arrives via WhatsApp on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Once everyone has answered and paid, the book is designed and printed; the books arrive 5 to 7 working days later. Start early enough for the magazine and the book to be ready for the same date.

How much does the profile section cost as a Flashbook?

Per book for a course or class, including design, printing and shipping:

1 to 2 classes: €24.90
from 3 classes: €22.90
from 5 classes: €19.90

The minimum order is 10 books; payment is by payment link, or by invoice for everyone, for example from the year group fund. There is more about the book on the Abibuch (Abitur yearbook) page.

Frequently asked questions about the Abizeitung

How many pages should an Abizeitung have?

As many as you can fill and pay for. Decide on the size early, because it determines the printing price and the editorial team's workload.

How far can rankings and quotes go?

As far as the people involved can laugh along. Leave out categories that make fun of someone, and ask teachers before printing whether their quote may appear with their name. This is not legal advice; if in doubt, ask the head teacher.

Can we combine an Abizeitung and a Flashbook?

Yes. You make course reports, quotes and greetings into a separate booklet, and the profiles with photos go into the Flashbook.

How many rankings fit into the Flashbook?

Four awards per book. In the questionnaire, everyone nominates someone from the group for each award, and the results appear on the awards page. Any further rankings go in your own part of the magazine.

Abibuch (Abitur yearbook)
When only the profiles matter: the book for a course or class.
Maturazeitung (Austrian Matura yearbook)
Ideas and printing for Matura classes in Austria.
Leavers' newspaper or book
The comparison for the fourth and tenth years.
Class reunion ideas
For the first year group reunion after the Abitur.