Language tests in Heidelberg – telc, TestDaF, TOEFL® & TestAS

For a German-language degree course, universities generally require a recognised proof of German language proficiency. Commonly accepted examinations include, for example, TestDaF or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. Which examination is required depends on the specific university and degree program.

telc offers language exams at various levels (A1 to C2) for everyday life, work, study, and visa purposes. The TestDaF was developed specifically for international study applicants and serves to prove German language proficiency for university admission in Germany.

The TestDaF is recognised by all universities in Germany as proof of German language proficiency. telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule is also accepted by many universities. The exact admission requirements should always be checked with the desired university.

Yes. For naturalisation, proof of German language skills at level B1 is usually required. For this, telc is often®-Examinations used as officially recognised proof of language proficiency.

The TOEFL® The iBT is used to demonstrate academic English language proficiency and is recognised worldwide by colleges, universities and other educational institutions. It is particularly used for applications to higher education institutions in English-speaking countries.

TOEFL®The results are valid for two years from the test date. After that, the results can no longer be officially sent to institutions.

The TestDaF certificate is valid indefinitely and is recognised by all universities in Germany. However, individual universities may have their own regulations regarding the recency of language proficiency proof.

Yes, at telc.® Examinations can, in principle, be repeated as often as desired. Whether the entire examination or only individual examination parts can be repeated depends on the respective examination format.

The appropriate test depends on the objective.

• Studying in Germany TestDaF or telc® German C1 University
• Job and career: telc or TOEIC®
• Studying abroad in an English-speaking country TOEFL®
• Citizenship or visa: frequently telc exams at the required language levels

The requirements may vary depending on the university, employer, or authority.

TestAS is held on a limited number of dates per year. We will gladly inform you about upcoming dates.

• An official, valid photo ID. It must be the same ID that you provided when registering in the TestAS portal.
• Any aids, including calculators, dictionaries, mobile phones, or similar, are strictly forbidden and may result in exclusion from the examination if not complied with.

The TestAS begins with the core test. This section lasts 110 minutes and assesses the skills required for successful study in all university subjects and is divided into four further time-limited subtests.

• Part 1 „Solving quantitative problems“ (45 minutes): Solve short text problems using simple calculations and mathematical reasoning.
• Part 2 „Recognising relationships“ (10 minutes): Recognising connections between two pairs of words.
• Part 3 „Completing patterns“ (20 minutes): This part is generally considered to be the most challenging of the core test. This subtest is about recognising patterns in geometric figures and continuing them logically.
• Part 4 „Continuing number sequences“ (25 minutes): Previous participants find this subtask straightforward. The aim here is to continue number sequences in a meaningful way. In the part of our book that explains number sequences, you will find information that will help you with some frequently occurring difficult contexts.

After a 20-minute break, the subject-specific modules will follow. You will have 145-150 minutes for this. You will receive the tasks that correspond to your chosen field of study.

There is a choice:

• Humanities, cultural and social sciences
• Engineering
• Mathematics, computer science and natural sciences
• Economy

a) Humanities, Cultural and Social Sciences (150 minutes - 3 parts)

• Part 1 „Understanding and interpreting texts“: In this subtest, good language skills are the be-all and end-all, as it is all about text comprehension and drawing meaningful conclusions.
• Part 2 „Using representation systems flexibly“ measures inductive reasoning skills. This task requires quick comprehension of the text and diagram, as a general conclusion must be drawn from them in relation to the question.
• Part 3 „Recognising language structures“ measures the ability to recognise language patterns and semantic relationships.

b) Engineering (150 minutes - 3 parts)
This exam measures the ability to reason from abstract concepts and to abstract from scientific and technical facts. It is divided into three parts:

• Part 1 „Formalising technical facts“: Here you should transfer the technical or scientific facts described into a formulaic representation.
• Part 2 „Exploring views“: This subtest requires your spatial imagination.
• Part 3 „Analysing technical relationships“: The questions are drawn from physics, astronomy, chemistry and earth sciences and are usually formulated in such a way that the participant can answer the questions with a general understanding of the most important natural concepts.

c) Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences (145 minutes - 2 parts)

• Part 1 „Analysing scientific facts“: The questions cover the areas of astronomy, geography and botany. It doesn't hurt to take another look at the textbooks from the STEM subjects to prepare.
• Part 2 „Understanding formal representations“: This subtest again depends on your language level. This is because it is important that you understand the problem in the question correctly. This part is the most demanding in this subject module and accounts for half of your grade in this module.

d) Economics (150 minutes - 2-part)

• Part 1 „Analysing economic relationships“: Maps, diagrams and tables come from the subject area of economics and must be analysed and logically deduced.
• Part 2 „Analyse processes“: In this subtest, your critical and analytical thinking skills are put to the test. A high level of fluency is helpful here in order to grasp and solve the problem in the question. This section accounts for half of your mark in this subtest.

The results of the TestAS exam are available online via the individual participant portal approximately four weeks after the exam. To view and download your results, you will need your chosen user name and password.

The test results are only accessible to you. They only become visible to a university when you attach your results to your application documents.

The TestAS certificate contains a list of marks for each test section and is valid indefinitely.

The TestAS can only be taken at licensed test centres. In Heidelberg, Academy of Languages regularly offers TestAS exams for international applicants. As an official test centre, Academy of Languages provides support with registration, administration and preparation for the TestAS. Applicants worldwide can also search for authorised test centres.