TestAS is a voluntary, standardised test for high school graduates from countries outside the European Union who wish to pursue a university career at a university in Germany. The test is developed by ITB Consulting GmbH and offered by the Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V. (Society for Academic Preparation and Test Development).

The TestAS is primarily aimed at prospective international students who wish to apply for a Bachelor's or undergraduate degree in Germany. In some countries and procedures, the test is compulsory, while at many universities it is voluntary and serves as additional proof of suitability for study.

Many German universities use TestAS in the admissions process for international applicants. Some universities require the test to be taken, while others award bonus points or take good results into account positively during the application. Since the requirements vary depending on the university and course of study, applicants should check the admission requirements of their chosen university.

No, the TestAS is not fundamentally compulsory for all international students. Some universities require a test result as an admission requirement, while others voluntarily accept the test or recommend it for improving an application. Whether the TestAS is required depends on the respective university and the degree programme.

The TestAS does not test prior school knowledge, but rather analytical thinking, logical reasoning, mathematical skills, and study-relevant competencies. Many participants find the test challenging as it combines time pressure with complex thinking tasks. However, with targeted preparation and practice materials, the chances of success can be significantly improved.

The TestAS certificate is valid indefinitely and does not expire. Applicants can therefore also use their results for later study applications.

The best preparation consists of a combination of:

• Official TestAS Sample Questions
• Practice tests for the core module and specialist module
• Timed training under exam conditions
• Revision of fundamental mathematical and logical skills
• Participation in a TestAS preparation course

The TestAS can be taken in both German and English. Applicants choose the language when registering. The language version should match their own language proficiency and the requirements of the desired degree programme.

You should take the TestAS in the language in which you feel confident. If your knowledge of English is better than your knowledge of German, it is advisable to take the TestAS in English. This is because language skills have a direct influence on the result.

Nevertheless, participants with a B1 level will be admitted to the exam. This is sufficient to solve some subtasks and interpret diagrams. Many sections of the exam include demanding texts that test reading comprehension and the ability to recognise connections. Therefore, the higher the language level, the better the exam result.

The TestAS is conducted on a limited number of dates per year. Registration is possible here: TestAS appointments and registration.

• 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.