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The question whether shortening secondary school duration impacts gifted education programs is not well documented yet. We explored how junior students attending the eight-year version of the Bavarian Gymnasium (G8) differed from those attending the previous nine-year Gymnasium version (G9). Participants of the G8-cohort (N = 377) were compared to those of the G9-cohort (N = 201) regarding demographic variables as well as criteria from the selection process and from the junior study program. In the G9-cohort, more male students participated, whereas the ratio of males and females in the G9-cohort was almost balanced. As expected, participants' age and grade level at the time of admission were significantly lower in the G8-cohort than in the G9-cohort. Whereas the cohorts did not differ in terms of intellectual ability, the G8-cohort demonstrated better school grades than the G9- cohort. Junior students in the G9 participated significantly longer (number of semesters), more extensively (number of courses), and earned more credits than the G8-cohort. Apparently, the G9-cohort was able to raise more resources for their junior studies than the G8-cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]