C-Test at the University of Bayreuth: English placement
The University of Bayreuth Language Centre places students with a C-Test, but in English only for its C1 courses (UNIcert III and EAP II). The test runs on fixed dates in a computer pool, with compulsory registration in CMlife. Here are the facts from the Language Centre’s placement test page.
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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 | 5 texts of about 100 words with 20 gaps each, in order of increasing difficulty |
|---|---|
| Time | 35 minutes after a short introduction by a teacher |
| Who (English) | only those who want a UNIcert III or EAP II course (SE112, SE120, SE130, SE272) and have not yet taken a course or test at UBT |
| Registration | compulsory, in CMlife under SPT01, for autumn 2026 from 1 to 13 October; one language per registration |
| Dates | 8, 12, 13 and 14 October 2026; your time and room are shown in your CMlife registration |
| What to bring | student card or other ID, your BT login and e-learning password; be at the computer pool 10 minutes early |
| Result | a first estimate straight after the test; in English there is an oral interview only in special cases |
| Course registration | one working day later in CMlife, if places are still free |
| Validity | for your whole degree; after two semesters without a course the Language Centre recommends a new test |
Source: Sprachenzentrum Universität Bayreuth: Einstufungstest
Rules and limits
- Language certificates, the Abitur included, exempt you from the test if they are no more than two years old; in the Abitur you need at least 10 points in English.
- Other accepted proof: UNIcert II, Cambridge Proficiency (Pass), Cambridge Advanced (Grade C, 180 to 192), Cambridge First (Grade B), IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80 and TOEFL IPT 543.
- You upload the proof through a form by the end of the first week of term; checking it can take up to two working days.
- The result cannot be changed afterwards, even if the course feels too easy or too hard.
- The test earns no ECTS credits, and the result counts neither for applications abroad nor as proof for your degree’s admission requirements.
Source: Sprachenzentrum Universität Bayreuth: Einstufungstest
What this means for your preparation
- 35 minutes for 5 texts of 20 gaps is 7 minutes per text. That is more time per gap than in the C-Test Prep simulation, with 100 gaps in 25 minutes.
- The Bayreuth texts have 20 gaps, the C-Test Prep texts 25. The rule is the same: from the second sentence, usually half of every second word is missing.
- The Language Centre offers a sample test per language on its e-learning platform, which you can take as often as you like. It has one text; the real test has five.
- In English the test only decides entry to C1. If you have an Abitur no more than two years old with at least 10 points in English, submit that instead.
- Nobody can adjust a Bayreuth result afterwards. So practise before the October test date, not after it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a placement test for every English course in Bayreuth?
No. Only for the C1 courses (UNIcert III and EAP II), if you have not yet taken a course or test at UBT. EAP I or Refresh Your English need no test.
Is there an oral interview in the Bayreuth English test?
No, only in special cases. In the other major languages an interview of at most 10 minutes follows the C-Test.
When can I register for a course after the test?
One working day later through CMlife, if places are still free. Before that, the office exempts you from the courses below your level.
Does my Bayreuth placement result count for a semester abroad?
No. It is only a first estimate, not a standardised exam; for that you need to complete a course at the Language Centre.