The TestDaF Examination

The DAF test (test Deutsch als Fremdsprache), is a standardised German test for those who are learning German as a foreign language and want official proof of their German skills in order to study at a German university or work for a German institution. The official certificate is valid in any Germany speaking region or country and it is recognised as official proof of the candidate’s language abilities

The tests cover listening comprehensions, reading comprehensions, writing and speaking. The test has three levels each which correspond to that of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The DAF Test awards the following grades:
• TestDaF-level 5 (TDN 5) – pass, the highest level which you can achieve
• TestDaF-level 4 (TDN 4) – pass and therefore, you are linguistically qualified to study at a German speaking university.
• TestDaF-level 3 (TDN 3) - a pass however only for some technical colleges and not universities

There are many advantages of the DAF exam such as:
- it takes place on 6 different dates throughout the year, thus, being more flexible for you
- the exam lasts for one day only
- it is a standardised exam thus being standard and fair for all candidates
- the exam content is orientated around every day student situations thus being highly beneficial to the candidate
- if you do not get your desired result, you can do the test more than once.

The exam lasts for a total of 190 minutes and there is also a break between each section.

There are three levels (TDN 3–5) which correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages levels B2–C2.

• Reading comprehension

In the reading comprehension, you are given three different sections, each which get increasingly difficult as you progress. Firstly, you are given a short text from an everyday situation which occurs in a university and you have to match ten statements to short paragraphs. The second text involves answering ten multiple choice questions on a journalistic text on an academic subject. The third text is an academic specialised text, where again 10 questions must be answered however, it is also multiple choice.

• Listening Comprehension

In this section, you are given 3 different listening texts, which get increasingly difficult each time. Text one consists of an everyday conversation which occurs in university life from which you must answer eight questions. The second text is a radio interview or discussion which is based on a general academic subject from which you have to determine if the ten statements given are true or false. The third text is the same format as the second text however it is longer.

• Writing Comprehension

In this section, you must write a text which is presented in a diagrammatic or tabular form, that is to say, an introduction, a linking paragraph, a description of a diagram or table, another linking paragraph, a main argument then a conclusion.

• Oral Test

With the oral test, you must complete 7 oral tasks from which you are required to give infomration, advice, make requests and give a persuasive opinion or point of view. Furthermore, you must thoroughly descirbe a diagram or table and express and justify your opions on a delegated topic.

StudyTravel offers you the fantastic opportunity to preapre youself for the Test DAF in the following destinations:

• Berlin
• Münster