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German proficiency exam

TestDaF: the German that gets you admitted.

The standardised proof of academic German that every German university accepts. Reach TDN 4 across all four sections and the language barrier to admission is gone.

Plan my TestDaF See the sections
Format
Digital, on-screen
Sections
Read · Listen · Write · Speak
The bar
TDN 4 (≈ C1)
Validity
No expiry date
Your target
TDN 4
the bar
Where you are
your German today, placed honestly
TDN 4
in all four sections, the usual admission bar
TDN 5
only the most competitive courses ask for it
What it is

One certificate, accepted everywhere.

TestDaF proves you can follow lectures, read academic texts, write structured argument and hold an academic conversation in German. Every university recognises it, it never expires, and for most German-taught degrees it is the cleanest route past the language requirement, often instead of the university's own DSH exam.

The exam

Four sections, one sitting.

You take all four in a single on-screen exam. Each is scored on its own, so universities see the full profile. Tap a section to see what it asks and how we train it.

Reading

Academic texts, fast

Dense academic and general texts. You answer for gist, detail and structure, all against the clock.

We drill: skim-and-scan, mapping questions to the paragraph that answers them, and pacing so you never run out of time.
Listening

Lectures and dialogue

Interviews, seminar discussion and lecture-style talks. You capture the points that matter as you listen, once.

We drill: note-taking shorthand, holding structure in your head, and catching the answer when it is paraphrased, not quoted.
Writing

Describe, then argue

Describe data from a chart, then build a structured argument on an academic question, in clear, connected German.

We drill: the describe-then-argue template, linking words that raise your band, and finishing inside the time.
Speaking

Respond on the clock

A run of spoken tasks at rising difficulty, from everyday situations to taking and defending a position, recorded to time.

We drill: fast planning in the prep seconds, set phrases for each task type, and speaking in full sentences under pressure.
Scoring

Read in TDN levels, not marks.

Each section returns a TestDaF level (TDN). Pick a level to see where it sits and who asks for it.

Roughly B2.1. Accepted for a few courses and as a partial result, but below the bar for most degrees on its own.

Roughly B2.2 to C1. TDN 4 in all four sections is what most German-taught bachelor's and master's programmes require. This is the level we plan around.

Roughly C1.2. The top band, asked for by the most competitive and language-heavy courses, such as some humanities and law.

How we help

From your German now to TDN 4.

  1. Place your real level

    We assess where your German sits against the four sections, so the plan starts from facts, not a guess.

  2. Close the weakest section first

    Speaking and writing sink most candidates. We target the section holding back your overall result, not the one you already enjoy.

  3. Train on the real format

    Practice on genuine TestDaF task types and timing through our language courses, so the exam feels familiar.

  4. Register for the right date

    We book the test to land before your deadlines, with a margin for a resit if a single section falls short.

Questions

TestDaF, answered.

TestDaF or DSH?

Both prove academic German and most universities accept either. TestDaF is standardised, sat at test centres worldwide and portable across universities, which usually makes it the more practical choice for Gulf-based applicants. We confirm what your shortlist accepts.

What level do I actually need?

For most German-taught degrees, TDN 4 in all four sections. A few competitive courses want TDN 5, and a handful accept TDN 3 in places. We map the exact requirement for each programme on your list.

Do I need it for an English-taught degree?

Usually not for admission, though basic German still helps with the visa and daily life. If you are aiming at German-taught programmes, TestDaF is normally required.

How long does preparation take?

It depends on your starting level. Moving up one CEFR step to reach TDN 4 is realistic over a focused course; we set the timeline against your real placement, not an average.

Next step

Let's get your German to the level your offer needs.

Start with a placement and a plan: your current level, the gap to TDN 4 and the route there, mapped to your deadlines.

Book a consultation
Sitting dates

Every TestDaF date, kept current.

Pulled straight from the official GaST exam calendar, so this table updates itself when a new sitting is published. Register through the official portal; we help you pick the date that fits your admission deadline.

Exam dateFormatRegistration closesResults
24 Aug 2026Digital14 Aug 2026 Closed14 Sep 2026
21 Sep 2026Digital11 Sep 2026 Open12 Oct 2026
14 Oct 2026Paper11 Sep 2026 Open25 Nov 2026
11 Nov 2026Digital30 Oct 2026 Open2 Dec 2026
9 Dec 2026Digital27 Nov 2026 Open5 Jan 2027
19 Jan 2027Digital10 Jan 2027 Open10 Feb 2027
1 Feb 2027Paper13 Dec 2026 Open15 Mar 2027
2 Mar 2027Digital19 Feb 2027 Open23 Mar 2027
13 Apr 2027Digital2 Apr 2027 Open4 May 2027
12 May 2027Paper12 Apr 2027 Open23 Jun 2027
7 Jun 2027Digital25 May 2027 Open28 Jun 2027
18 Aug 2027Digital5 Aug 2027 Open8 Sep 2027
18 Aug 2027Paper19 Jul 2027 Open29 Sep 2027
14 Sep 2027Digital3 Sep 2027 Open5 Oct 2027
14 Sep 2027Paper9 Aug 2027 Open26 Oct 2027
6 Oct 2027Digital26 Sep 2027 Open27 Oct 2027
6 Oct 2027Paper9 Sep 2027 Open17 Nov 2027
10 Nov 2027Digital29 Oct 2027 Open1 Dec 2027
10 Nov 2027Paper11 Oct 2027 Open22 Dec 2027

Updated automatically from gast.de Checked 15 Aug 2026

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