TestDaF

The Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF ) is a central, standardized, paid language test. It entitles foreign students to take a course of study in Germany, and is the basis of which the IELTS ( International English Language Testing System ) and TOEFL ( Test of English as a Foreign Language) comparable.

• 4.1 TDN 3
• 4.2 TDN 4
• 4.3 TDN 5

Development

In 1996, the intention to develop a centralized and standardized language examination for university entrance, was first expressed by the Standing Conference ( KMK).

Beginning of 1998, the financial resources of the Foreign Office (AA ) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF) has been provided, and the German Academic Exchange Service ( DAAD) has been commissioned to bidding the project. The contract was awarded in the same year to a consortium ( University of Hagen, Department of Language Teaching Research, Ruhr- University Bochum, Goethe Institute and Carl Duisberg, Cologne).

Work on the project started on 1 August 1998. Until 31 July 2000 three model test kits were developed and tested worldwide. The performance descriptions, criteria and evaluation procedures were developed and developing prototypes for a item bank, a subscriber database and a test database.

On 26 April 2001, the TestDaf was taken for the first time worldwide.

Target group

The TestDaf aimed primarily at the applicants and prospective students who have acquired their university qualification at a foreign school and who want to study in Germany and would like to continue a started studying abroad in Germany. Accordance with the regulations in the State Higher Education Act this they require a proof of German language skills. Some other target groups are:

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in German in their home,
• Students who come to study in the framework of an exchange program to Germany and then receive a proof of their language skills want
• Persons who require proof of their proficiency in German occupations.

The TestDaf is suitable for people who already have language skills at an advanced level and are not at the beginning of their language training.

Construction

The TestDaf checked in four subtests of the competence assessment of reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and oral expression. All four subtests are mandatory and have the same weight. The topics and tasks of the tests relating to the higher education context, but are not held subject-specific but generally understandable.

The entire test, including all work instructions is formulated in German.

The test takes about 3 hours ( without breaks).

Reading comprehension

The subtest " reading comprehension " consists of three reading texts of varying difficulty and 30 items that need to solve the participants. 60 minutes time allocated to this task.

The participants should show here that they are able to understand these texts. With the help of assignment tasks, tasks with three choices ( right / wrong / text says nothing ) and multiple-choice tasks as tracked overall contexts detail as well as disengaged information is required.

Among the reading texts one finds short texts from the daily studies, articles from journals and journalistic texts.

Listening

The subtest " Listening " has three listening texts and 25 items on the content and takes 40 minutes. There is a dialogue from the high school life, a radio interview or a round of talks with three or four speakers, participants, and a short presentation on a scientific topic. This listening texts are arranged according to increasing difficulty.

This test will verify whether the participants can understand different spoken texts sufficiently well. This is important because an exchange with fellow students and teachers in everyday student life constantly taking place and the students need to understand the topics of the lectures sufficient.

The task types are short-answer tasks and right / wrong tasks. Here the understanding of the overall context, detail and not directly expressed information is verified.

Writing

In the examination section " Writing " get the participants a writing task, time is available for the 60 minutes.

The core elements of this test piece are describing and reasoning. The prospective students must be able to extract the data from a graph or a table, and to describe and then to be able to argue for or against a specific issue.

The participants should ( with introduction, transfer, description of data, reconciliation, reasoning and conclusion ) produce a coherent and clearly structured text in which they edit the points of the respective task. It is important that the participants give precise descriptions by recognizing the important aspects, and summarize the information. Then the own position should be discussed and justified.

It is important to properly divide the given time - in the description of the data should be a maximum of 20 minutes and 40 minutes for the arguments used.

The clarity of the text plays in the assessment are more important than the linguistic or grammatical correctness.

Speaking

In the subtest " oral expression " must be resolved in 30 minutes seven tasks. All seven tasks in which different speech situations are simulated from the German high school life are different levels of difficulty. The participants must be able to have a conversation with students, describe a graph, take a position on an issue or give some advice.

This exam is conducted in a computer room or language labs. The participants received a task sheet, so that they read along while listening to the tasks and can make notes for themselves. The responses are then recorded and stored on a CD. It is important to adapt to the fact that several participants can be tested simultaneously in a room.

At the beginning of each task, the participants give to their subscriber number. This is followed by the description of the speech situation and the tasks in which speech acts that must be performed are explained. The next phase is the preparation time in which the participants think about their answers and keywords can make a note in the notebook. The training period varies depending on the task between 30 seconds and three minutes. After the party has addressed the participants, the talk time of the participants, which can last between 30 seconds and two minutes begins.

Two of the tasks include graphics that are to be described. Subsequently, the information derived from the graph are summarized.

Assessment

The services provided will not be " passed" or " failed", but is assigned to one of three TestDaf levels:

• TestDaF level 3 (TDN 3)
• TestDaF level 4 (TDN 4)
• TestDaF level 5 (TDN 5)

Each subtest is scored separately according to a standard level, ie in different test parts of different levels can be achieved. If one is not satisfied with the result or not enough levels to study at a university, so you can repeat the test as often.

The TestDaf is checked centrally. This trained by this judge gutters and appraisers.

The TestDaf levels, located at the level descriptions of the Association of Language Testers in Europe ( ALTE) and the Common European Framework of Reference ( CEFR) oriented, were developed during the period of test development. The TestDaf levels correspond to the levels B2 to C1 of the CEFR and the stages 3 and 4 of the OLD.

Very detailed information about the allocation of the TestDaf to GER can be found in " validation of language tests " by Gabriele Kecker (2011) the book.

TDN 3

If the services provided meet the TDN 3, the participant or the participant is capable of texts that deal with the study everyday to extract the most important thing. Scientific texts are still too great a challenge to them a familiar topic, participants can write a text, which, however, still contains errors that may hinder comprehension of the text. Mistakes are made even when speaking, which can lead to misunderstandings.

TDN 4

Participants who reach the level of TDN 4 in the exam, understand challenging texts, both concrete and abstract topics to. They are also able to write a structured text, without making such errors that impede comprehension of the text. A normal conversation with native speakers, ie spontaneously and on various topics, can take place due to the sufficient language skills of the participants.

TDN 5

Long and complex texts on many different topics can be understood by the participants who reach the level of TDN 5, both globally and in detail. Implicit information, such as the attitude of the author or irony can be understood. In the text on complex subjects Constitution only a few mistakes are made, but which do not interfere with comprehension of the text. The flow of speech can be described as fluently and spontaneously, ie the participants do not have to search for words.

Testimony

Within six weeks after the exam will receive the exam participants from the test center, the TestDaf testimony. The certificate contains a classification of each test part in the TestDaf levels 3, 4 or 5 A more detailed description of the achieved levels can be found on the back of the certificate. If the lowest level is not reached, is on the certificate " under TDN 3". The validity of the document is not limited.

University admissions

In general, one must obtain authorization in each part of the examination at least TDN 4 in order to obtain a university admissions in Germany. However, since each university has about their own entry requirements, even lower results than TDN 4 for individual courses are accepted in some universities. For this reason, prospective students and applicants are advised to check in time.

Test centers

Worldwide, there are approximately 450 test centers in 95 countries, offering the TestDaf up to six times a year. The officially -approved test centers, which are managed by the TestDaF Institute, located in domestic and foreign universities and colleges, at Goethe-Instituts in Germany and also at community colleges and other schools. The tasks of the test centers are:

• Consultation and notification of interested parties,
• Organizational preparation and conduct of the study
• Offer of preparatory courses,
• Issue of certificates,
• Advertising for the TestDaf.

Costs

TestDaf is a fee-based language test. The award, which may be different in different countries, those interested can learn at the test center or at the online registration.

Preparation options

Not only the sufficient language skills are important for good results, but also familiarity with the test format plays a major role.

On the TestDaf website under the heading "Preparation " you will find helpful tips as well as two sets of models of the TestDaf ( sample set 2 and set 3 model ). Both model sets are used as test pattern for the participants; there is the option to print the files and download the sound files.

Another way to prepare yourself for the test, the book offers " TestDaF " by Gabriele Kniffka and Bärbel Gutzat. The book was published in 2006 in the publishing house Langenscheidt and includes training exercises for all four test parts or subtests. This book gives participants the opportunity to control their tests, as well as the solutions are provided.

Material for exam preparation with information about the exam and tips for loading solution can also order online at www.godaf.de. These are chargeable. On the internet, however, for examples can be viewed free of charge before making an order.

Examination candidates and candidates who do not feel safe with a self- preparation, can visit a TestDaf preparation course. These courses are offered by the test centers or other institutions in the vicinity of the test centers. The information on preparation courses can be found in the TestDaf website.

In test centers new TestDaf tasks are being tested. There is the opportunity to participate in the testing of these tasks and so know the TestDaf.

Furthermore, is Internet - preparatory course of the German - Uni Online (DUO). Accompanied by experienced tutors here a TestDaf sample test is performed.

Before preparing for the TestDaF there is the possibility to check his language skills with the help of online placement test. The link to the online placement test ( onDaF ) can be found on the website of the TestDaf.

Statistics

The TestDaf is offered worldwide since 2001 with an increasing number of participants. 2003 7,498 people completed the test, in 2012 there were 24,261 participants.

The number of test sites is increased. In 2003, there were 211 test centers worldwide in 2012 there were 440