TestDaF - Certificate for German as a foreign language

Learn German in Regensburg

Choose your Language

TestDaF - Certificate


	Language School

	Regensburg

	German Courses

	Accommodation

	Activities

	Dates & Prices

	Enrolment

	FAQ

	Community


	TestDaF
	about the test
	preparation course


	Sitemap

	Search Site

	Home

		about TestDaF
		about the TestDaF-Test
		Horizonte TestDaF preparation courses
		Enrolmentform for the preparation course
		Enrolmentform TestDaf test

The Four Subtests of the TestDaF

The TestDaF assesses the four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking – in four separate subtests:

1. Reading Comprehension

This part of the test is designed to assess the candidate‘s ability to adequately handle written texts relevant to academic life. The candidates have to prove their capability to understand the overall structure, to extract detailed as well as implicit information. This subtest contains three assignments varying in their level of difficulty, type of text and question type.
The first task presents several short topical texts, the candidates are asked to relate these texts to statements. The second task contains a journalistic report on an academic event, the question type conforms to the format of a triple multiple choice. The third task presents an article from an academic journal or book. Following the format of the triple multiple choice, candidates have to decide if the answer is “yes”, “no” or “not relevant to text”.
The subtest “reading comprehension” takes 60 minutes.

2. Listening Comprehension

This subtest is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to adequately handle oral texts relevant to academic life. The candidates have to prove that they understand the overall structure as well as detailed and implicit information. Again, this is tested in three tasks at different levels with different types of texts and different question types.
The first task presents a dialogue typical of everyday life at university. Candidates are requested to follow the dialogue and to answer some questions on the text by keywords. The second task contains an interview or a group discussion on a wide-ranging academic topic. Here, the ‘right or wrong’ format is used. In the third task candidates have to listen to a comparatively complex monologue or to an interview with longer and more complex monological parts. Candidates are asked to note keywords or short answers to questions on the text.
The subtest “listening comprehension” takes 40 minutes.

3. Writing

This subtest is designed to assess the candidate‘s ability to write a coherent and well structured text on a given topic taken from the academic context. On the basis of a graph, a table or a diagram, the candidates are asked to write a text which has to cover two types of prose: description and argument. The goal is to verbalise the most important information given and possibly draw comparisons. The examination paper indicates specific points to be addressed. Then, the candidates are asked to discuss various points of view on a given aspect of the topic and to give reasons for their own opinions. Short text passages, statements or quotations are provided.
The subtest “writing” takes 60 minutes.

4. Speaking

This subtest is designed to assess the candidate’s ability to communicate appropriately in typical situations of university life. This subtest comprises four parts which contain items on different levels of difficulty:
In the first part, the candidates are asked to make a simple request, the second part features situations which require specific communicative skills, such as giving or asking for information, making an urgent but polite request, convincing someone etc. The third part focuses on skills of description, while the fourth part requires skills of argument.
This subtest follows the “SOPI”- format (Semi-direct/Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview): it is done either in a language laboratory or with a set of two cassette recorders. All instructions, questions and stimuli come from a master tape, candidates can read the questions simultaneously in their examination booklets. A second tape records the answers given by the candidate.
The subtest “speaking” takes 30 minutes.

Information

For a complete sample set of questions of the TestDaF please visit the TestDaF website: http://www.testdaf.de

TELL A FRIEND

WHY LEARN GERMAN?

ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Rote-Hahnen-Gasse 12
D - 93047 Regensburg.

Tel.: +49 941 57207
Fax: +49 941 562862

E-Mail: info@horizonte.com
http://www.horizonte.com