C-Test in Bremen: English placement at the SZHB
The Language Centre of the Universities in the Land of Bremen (SZHB) places students in English courses with a C-Test. Its page explains the gap rule more precisely than most, with examples. Here are the facts, each with its source.
Last checked:
C-Test Prep is not part of any university. Dates and rules can change; the university’s own page is always authoritative.
Key facts
| Format | 4 texts of about 25 gaps each |
|---|---|
| Time | 25 minutes at most |
| When | before you register for an English course |
| Result | It should match the entry level of the course you want to take. |
| Practice | a sample test without a valid result and an explanatory video in German, on the language centre’s online platform |
Source: Language Centre of the Universities in the Land of Bremen: Placement test English
How the gaps work
- The first and the last sentence of each text are complete.
- In between, roughly every second word is missing half of its letters: exactly half with an even number of letters, one more than half with an odd number.
- Apostrophes and hyphens each count as one letter.
- With 2 letters before the gap, 2 or 3 are missing: "goal" and "goals" both fit.
- With 3 letters before the gap, 3 or 4 are missing: "teacher" fits, "teachers" would be wrong.
Source: Language Centre of the Universities in the Land of Bremen: Placement test English
What this means for your preparation
- The length of the gap gives the word form away. Count the given letters: with "teacher" and "teachers" only one form fits; with "goal" and "goals" the sentence decides.
- Hyphens and apostrophes count. The C-Test Prep texts leave out contractions like "can’t", so watch for them in the real test.
- Four texts of about 25 gaps in 25 minutes is almost exactly the format of the C-Test Prep simulation (4 texts, 100 gaps, 25 minutes).
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are missing in a gap?
Half with an even number of letters, one more with an odd number. Apostrophes and hyphens each count as one letter.
Does the Bremen sample test count?
No. The sample test gives no valid result; it only shows the format.
How long does the test take?
25 minutes at most for 4 texts of about 25 gaps each.