Placement Tests

To make sure you take an English class at the right level, we need to assess your skills. You have three options:

The placement test can be taken online via StudOn.

The test result is only used to decide which level of course you can attend. You can therefore not “pass” or “fail” it. No grades or points are allocated for the placement test, instead, you are given a ‘level’: E, 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 (you will see your result immediately after completing the test):

  • Level E > take “Level E – Elementary English“
  • Level 0 > take courses at “Level 0“
  • Level 1 > take courses at “Level 1“
  • Level 2 > take courses at “Level 2“
  • Level 3 > take courses at “Level 3“
  • Level 4 > take courses at “Level 3” and/or “Level 4“

The placement test is a C-Test.

  • Test results are valid for two semesters and expire after this time if you do not take a course.
  • The placement test may be repeated once in the following semester, but only if you have not already taken a course.
  • As soon as one course has been taken (even if you do not complete it), all other courses have to be attended in the prescribed order.

Please take a placement test as soon as possible and in any case before registering for a course.

Mit Einstufungstests können keine GER-Niveaus nachgewiesen werden und es werden keine Bescheinigungen ausgestellt.

Please check here whether your test can be recognised. If your certificate is not listed, please take a placement test. You will find information on the how to have your test recognised here.

Recognition of international language certificates

Please note that your certificate can only be recognised instead of a placement test, if it was issued within the last two years. This applies even if the certificate does not have an expiry date, or if it does then the expiry date is not relevant for recognition.

If you have at least 10 points in English in your Abitur and you took the Abitur in 2024 or 2025, you are eligible to take courses at level 2 or level 3 as follows:

Recognition as a placement test result at Level 2:

  • Average grade of the Abitur exam in English and the four half-year English grades from the final two school years (Halbjahresnoten) = 10, 11, 12 points

Recognition as a placement test result at Level 3:

  • Average grade of the Abitur exam in English and the four half-year English grades from the final two school years (Halbjahresnoten) = 13, 14, 15 points

You will find information on the how to have your test recognised here.

Participation in our courses is not possible without a valid placement test result.

Exception: For English as part of a teaching degree or in the BA degree programme “English and American Studies”, no placement test or equivalent is necessary.

The test result is binding. Please only register for courses at the level which corresponds to your test result. If you register for courses above or below the level achieved, your application will be rejected.