TestDaF · Exam practice: mock tests online, feedback on writing and speaking TestDaF: German test for university
We are building a course for the digital TestDaF. It will check your texts and spoken answers against the exam's own criteria and explain what to fix in your language. Join the waitlist to hear the day it opens.
Choose a part and try it yourself.
A writing task in the TestDaF format
Our own task in the format of Schreiben, Aufgabe 1: a sample answer with typical errors, then an example of the feedback by the exam's own criteria.
Free to try here
In einem Hochschulmagazin wird die Frage diskutiert, ob das Studium für alle gebührenfrei sein sollte.
Eine Studentin meint: „Bildung ist ein Recht. Wer Gebühren verlangt, hält Kinder aus ärmeren Familien von der Uni fern.“
Ein Student meint: „Wer studiert, verdient später meist mehr. Ein kleiner Beitrag ist deshalb fair und verbessert die Lehre.“
- Geben Sie die beiden Positionen kurz wieder.
- Nehmen Sie Stellung und begründen Sie Ihre Meinung.
- Gehen Sie auf die Situation in Ihrem Heimatland ein.
Schreiben Sie einen zusammenhängenden Text (mindestens 200 Wörter).
Sample answer with typical errors, underlined
In der Diskussion über Studiengebühren stehen sich zwei Positionen gegenüber. Die eine Seite sieht Bildung als Grundrecht und befürchtet, dass Gebühren Kinder aus ärmeren Familien vom Studium abhalten. Die andere Seite argumentiert, dass Akademiker später mehr verdienen und deshalb Error: ein kleiner Beitrag zahlen sollten.
Meiner Meinung nach sollte das Studium gebührenfrei bleiben. Erstens sollte die Entscheidung für ein Studium nicht davon abhängen, Error: wie viel verdienen die Eltern. Zweitens profitiert die ganze Gesellschaft von gut ausgebildeten Menschen, denn sie zahlen später auch mehr Steuern. Deshalb ist es gerechter, das Studium über Steuern Error: finanzieren. Allerdings verstehe ich auch das zweite Argument: Hochschulen brauchen Geld für gute Lehre. Dieses Geld sollte aber vom Staat kommen und nicht von den Studierenden.
In meinem Heimatland Georgien müssen viele Studierende Gebühren bezahlen. Viele meiner Freunde arbeiten deshalb neben dem Studium und haben wenig Zeit zum Lernen. Einige haben das Studium sogar Error: wegen dem Geld abgebrochen. Diese Erfahrung zeigt mir, dass Gebühren die Chancen ungleich verteilen.
Zusammenfassend bin ich überzeugt, dass ein gebührenfreies Studium die fairere Lösung ist, auch wenn die Hochschulen dafür mehr Geld vom Staat brauchen. Der Staat sollte deshalb prüfen, wie er die Lehre besser finanzieren kann, zum Beispiel durch zusätzliche Mittel für Tutorien und Bibliotheken.
How it is marked
The TestDaF Institute lists these aspects for its writing tasks, judged by trained raters. One more, summarising sources correctly and in your own words, applies to Aufgabe 2.
- Bezug zum ThemaDoes the text stay on the topic of the task?
- Alle Punkte der AufgabeAre all points of the task covered sufficiently?
- Geforderte SchreibhandlungenAre the writing actions asked for carried out, here reporting positions and arguing?
- Angemessener, präziser AusdruckVaried grammar and vocabulary, and phrases that fit.
- Verständlich trotz FehlernIs the text still clear despite some errors?
Feedback on the sample answer Example
Works: Every paragraph is about fees for university study.
Costs points: nothing: no paragraph drifts off the topic.
Works: Both positions, your view and your home country are all there.
Costs points: The home-country part is personal; one fact about how fees work there would make it stronger.
Works: The positions are reported neutrally, then argued with «Erstens», «Zweitens», «Allerdings».
Costs points: The counter-argument is granted in one sentence and rejected in the next without a reason.
Works: Fitting phrases: «stehen sich gegenüber», «Chancen ungleich verteilen», «Zusammenfassend».
Costs points: «Studium» and «Gebühren» repeat often; «Hochschulbildung» or «Beitrag» would vary the text.
Works: Every sentence is clear on first reading.
Costs points: Four grammar errors (a case ending, word order, a missing «zu», «wegen» with the dative) cost precision, not understanding.
Corrected sentences
Error: deshalb ein kleiner Beitrag zahlen solltenCorrected: deshalb einen kleinen Beitrag zahlen sollten«Beitrag» is the object of «zahlen»: accusative.
Error: nicht davon abhängen, wie viel verdienen die ElternCorrected: nicht davon abhängen, wie viel die Eltern verdienenAn indirect question puts the verb last.
Error: das Studium über Steuern finanzierenCorrected: das Studium über Steuern zu finanzierenAfter «es ist gerechter» the infinitive takes «zu».
An example of the feedback the course will give, written by us. It is not an official result and does not predict one.
The four parts of the digital TestDaF
The course will be organised by these parts of the exam.
- Lesen, about 55 minutes: 7 tasks with 34 items, from a gap text to errors in a summary
- Hören, about 40 minutes: 7 tasks with 30 items on audio and video, such as completing the outline of a lecture
- Schreiben, about 60 minutes, typed on the computer: an argumentative text of at least 200 words and a summary of a reading text and a graph of about 100 to 150 words
- Sprechen, about 35 minutes: 7 tasks recorded on the computer, from giving advice to presenting a topic, each with a fixed speaking time
What the course will have
Feedback on your writing and speaking by the TestDaF's own criteria, mock exams in the digital format and a plan to your test date, explained in English, German or Russian.
| In the course |
|---|
| Feedback on writing and speaking, without a limitWrite the argumentative text and the summary of a text and a graph, record your answers to the speaking tasks, and get feedback by the TestDaF criteria as often as you like, explained in your language. |
| Mock exams in the digital formatAll four parts with their task types and times, scored on the TDN scale, so you see where you stand before the real date. |
| A plan to your test dateEnter your TestDaF date, and the course spreads the practice over the weeks you have. |
The TestDaF course is on its way
It is not open yet. Join the waitlist and we will write to you once, on the day it opens.
€109 · 6 months of access
The course is in preparation. Reserving costs nothing now; you pay only if you decide to buy when it opens.
You sign in with your Google account, come back to this page and confirm with one click.
Four parts, a result for each: TDN 3 to 5
Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen are scored separately on the TDN scale but taken only together. For every degree programme at German universities you need TDN 4 in all parts.
- Result
- TDN 3, 4 or 5 for each part; for any degree programme in Germany TDN 4 in all 4 parts
- Time
- 3 hours 15 minutes of pure exam time: Lesen about 55, Hören 40, Schreiben 60, Sprechen 35 minutes
- Fee
- In Germany €210 digital, €215 on paper; often less in other countries, by price group
Frequently asked questions
The exam, the course to come and the price reservation. Still unsure? Write to support@vwupass.com.
Guides
When will the course open?
We are not naming a date yet. On the day the course opens, everyone on the waitlist gets one email.
What will the course include?
Feedback on your writing and speaking by the TestDaF's own criteria, mock exams in the digital format and a plan to your test date, explained in English, German or Russian.
How much will the course cost?
€109 for 6 months of access. You can reserve this price now in the form on this page: reserving costs nothing, asks for no payment details and commits you to nothing. When the course opens, you decide whether to buy.
What do you store when I join the waitlist?
Your email, the course, the language and the page you signed up on, and the country your IP address belongs to (never the address itself). If you reserve the price, also the reserved price, the months of access and the time of the reservation. We use this to write to you when the course opens. To unsubscribe and have your entry removed with all of it, write to support@vwupass.com.
Where can I find a TestDaF model test with answers?
testdaf.de has free sample tasks for all four parts, with audio, video, transcripts and answers, as a PDF and as an online demo. 2 full digital model tests are free in the participant portal, but only after you register for a date; the old Modellsätze 02 and 03 still show the paper format.
Which TDN do I need, and how is the TestDaF scored?
Each part is converted to a scale of 0 to 20: 5 to 9 points are TDN 3, 10 to 15 TDN 4, 16 to 20 TDN 5, and anything lower is below TDN 3; there is no overall result. TDN 4 in all 4 parts is proof of German for every degree programme at all German universities. Some universities ask for less in particular subjects, but that admission holds only for that subject.
How much does the TestDaF cost?
It depends on the country: g.a.s.t. sorts countries into 3 price groups, and you see the amount at the test centre or when you register online. In Germany the digital TestDaF costs €210, on paper €215. Elsewhere it is often cheaper: pages of single centres gave about €160 in Egypt (paper, 2026) and €105 in India (2024); check the current amount with your centre.
When are the TestDaF dates?
The TestDaF has central dates, the same worldwide; for 2027, 8 digital and 6 paper dates are announced. You register online only, at testdaf.de, for the digital test usually until about 2 weeks before the date, for paper earlier. Results come after about 3 weeks for the digital test and about 6 for paper.
What is the difference between onSET and TestDaF?
Both come from g.a.s.t. in Bochum. onSET is a 40-minute placement test with 8 gap texts that places you between A2 and C1; many scholarship programmes use it. The TestDaF is a 3 hours 15 minutes exam in 4 parts, and with TDN 4 in all parts it proves your German for university admission.