Purpose/Activities

 

The TestDaF Institute was founded in January 2001 as an affiliated institution to the University of Hagen and the Ruhr-University Bochum. Its main function is to develop and administer the TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache – Test of German as a Foreign Language).

The TestDaF Institute was founded by the Association for Study Preparation and Academic Test Development (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e.V., g.a.s.t.). The members of the Board are the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Goethe Institute, the University of Hagen, the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, the Ruhr-University Bochum, the University of Leipzig and the Association German as a Foreign Language (Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache, FaDaF).

The complete test is being developed and assessed by the TestDaF Institute in Hagen. All test materials go through an extensive and thorough pre-testing phase including psychometric and statistical analysis and are subjected to a permanent quality control. The TestDaF is currently offered in more than 400 licensed test centres in almost 90 countries including Germany.

All test takers receive a certificate that discloses the candidates’ proficiency in the German language separated in four skills (the subtests reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written production and oral production) at three levels (TestDaF-Niveau TDN 3 – 5).

The TestDaF is approved as a language proficiency test for the access to universities in Germany.

The TestDaF level TDN 4 in all four subtests is sufficient for being accepted at a German university.

On TDN 3 distinct universities may decide whether the candidate is being accepted due to his / her course of studies and the future degree.

On TDN 5 test takers demonstrate high proficiency in German that lies above the requested proficiency level for a university entry.

The TestDaF Institute researches and advises in all areas of test development, test methodology and applied computer science concerning language testing. The TestDaF Institute is "observing" ("observing") member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and institutional member of the European Association for Language Testing and Assesment (EALTA).

Under the umbrella of g.a.s.t. the TestDAF institute offers these further products:

'Test for Academic Studies' (TestAS), aptitude test for foreign students:http//:www.testas.de

'Deutsch-Uni Online' (DUO), online German courses for preparation for studies in Germany and for the TestDaF: http//:www.deutsch-uni.com