DaF - German as a Foreign Language - Exams - TestDaF
What is TestDaF?
TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language) is an international, centralized, and standardized language test for German as a foreign language within a university context. It is aimed particularly at
- students wishing to study in Germany who need proof of German proficiency,
- students who need to submit proof of German proficiency in their home country,
- scholars planning their stay at a university in Germany wishing to assess their German skills,
- all those who need proof of German proficiency for jobs in higher education
TestDaF assesses the candidate’s language skills in order to verify their ability to study at a university in Germany. The tasks revolve around the general topic of higher education.
For more detailed information about TestDaF, please check out the Institute website.
Please note that our test center only offers the digital TestDaf.
When Are the Next Available Exam Dates?
The following exam dates are scheduled at the Universität Regensburg test center in 2023:
| Exam | Date | Registration Period |
| TestDaF-2023/1 | 14.02.2023 | 22.11.2022-06.02.2023 |
| TestDaF-2023/2 | 11.04.2023 | 22.11.2022-03.04.2023 |
| TestDaF-2023/3 | 13.06.2023 | 22.11.2022-05.06.2023 |
How Do I Register for TestDaF?
You can register for the exam via the registration page on the TestDaF website. It is not possible to register directly at the test center in Regensburg.
Candidates of the digital TestDaF will not be provided with a letter of admission in their participants portal. You will receive all the necessary information about the location and start of exam about 5-6 days before the test date in your portal.
FAQ Registration will give you more information on the registration procedure.
How Much Does the TestDaF Cost?
The TestDaF exam costs €210. The fee is paid directly to the TestDaF Institute. Payment at the Universität Regensburg test center is not possible.
Payment has to be made in the partipant portal. You can choose either credit card, credit debit, PayPal, Alipay or immediate transfer. For payment via credit debit you have to be an account holder with a German bank or Sparkasse.
What Does the TestDaF Look Like?
At the test center of Universität Regensburg, only the digital TestDaF is offered. The digital TestDaF is conducted online on the computer and consists of four parts.
- Reading (7 tasks with 34 items, duration: approx. 55 minutes)
- Listening (7 tasks with 30 items, duration: approx. 40 minutes)
- Writing (2 tasks, duration: approx. 60 minutes)
- Speaking (7 tasks, duration: approx. 35 minutes)
This is because in addition to the test items, all participants work on further tasks that are put to the test. However, all participants receive a test of the same length and these so-called scatter tasks are not taken into account when determining the test results.
All topics and tasks of the TestDaF are related to the university context. They are based on important communicative tasks in lectures, in discussions or working groups as well as on other study-related activities at the university.
Further information on the structure and types of tasks of the TestDaF can be found on the website of the TestDaF Institute.
TestDaF Score Assessment
TestDaF is a centrally assessed exam. Test scores from all four parts of the test are divided into one of three levels:
- TestDaF Level 3 (TDN3)
- TestDaF Level 4 (TDN4)
- TestDaF Level 5 (TDN5)
There is no one final grade, instead, the certificate shows one TestDaF level per skill.
The highest score you can achieve is TDN5, the lowest TDN3. Results that fall below level 3 are not graded. In this case, the certificate only states “below level 3.” In the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the TestDaF levels 3, 4, and 5 correspond to levels B2 and C1.
Detailed information on the score assessment of the digital is provided on the website of the TestDaf institute.
How Can I Prepare for the TestDaF?
Even if you already have a good command of German, you should try to get to know the structure of the exam. On the TestDaF website original test material is provided.
The Department of German as a Foreign Language currently does not offer TestDaF Preparation courses.
However, “Horizonte,” a language school in Regensburg, does offer TestDaF Prep courses.
Deutsch-Uni Online DUO also offers preparation courses.
How Do I Obtain My TestDaF Certificate?
In your participant portal you will see the results of your TestDaF online about 4 weeks after the date of the exam and be able to print the your TestDaf certificate yourself.
Britt Morawetz - 23.11.2022 11:53 