C-Test at the University of Potsdam: English placement
The Center for Languages and Key Competences (Zessko) at the University of Potsdam assigns its English courses through an online placement test in Moodle. Zessko’s test page calls it a C-Test; the university does not describe the format in more detail. The facts here are from Zessko’s pages.
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 | online test in Moodle; the university gives no number of texts or gaps. Zessko’s test page calls it a C-Test. |
|---|---|
| Time | 40 minutes, after which the test closes and is submitted automatically |
| Who | students of all subjects who want English as a Key Competence courses; not this test for law (own test) or IAA students (English teacher training, BA Angl/Am, APS) |
| Next date | 1 to 7 April 2027 |
| Result | your score in PULS from 9 a.m. the next working day under "Meine Einstufungstests"; only then can you register for a course |
| Validity | three years |
| Retake | only with proof of a successfully completed language course of at least 4 semester hours (60 × 45 minutes) or at least one semester of study abroad |
Source: Universität Potsdam, Zessko: Einstufungstest Englisch
Rules
- The result is binding for course registration; each course has a set score range.
- Work without dictionaries, without help from others and without any other digital or analogue resources.
- You cannot save the test, continue later or start again.
- Use a desktop, laptop or tablet with a keyboard; phones, small iPads and tablets without an external keyboard are not suitable.
- According to Zessko’s FAQ, everyone with TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge results takes the test too.
- Zessko does not issue confirmations of a language level on the basis of the test.
Source: Universität Potsdam, Zessko: Einstufungstest Englisch
Points per course level (according to Zessko’s FAQ)
- UNIcert II/1: 50 to 59 points
- UNIcert II/2: 60 to 69 points
- UNIcert III/1: 70 to 79 points
- UNIcert III/2: 80 to 89 points in English for academic purposes, 80 to 100 points in the subject strands such as natural sciences, social sciences and business
- UNIcert IV/1: 90 to 100 points (English for academic purposes)
- The FAQ gives no course level below 50 points; after 60 teaching units of English, for example at an adult education centre, or study in an English-speaking country, you may test again.
Source: Universität Potsdam, Zessko: Einstufungstest Englisch
What this means for your preparation
- Zessko considers special preparation unnecessary but strongly recommends the practice test in the same Moodle. According to the FAQ you can repeat it once.
- Because Potsdam does not describe the format in detail, the C-Test Prep texts train your gap reading, not the Potsdam procedure. Only the practice test shows you that.
- One attempt, a binding result and three years of validity: a weak run in Potsdam can only be corrected with proof of a course or a semester abroad.
- Forty minutes in one go with no saving: book a slot where nobody will disturb you, and use a computer with a keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the test if I already have an IELTS or TOEFL result?
Yes, because according to Zessko’s FAQ those tests do not match the entry requirements of the Potsdam courses one to one.
How many points do I need for UNIcert III in Potsdam?
70 to 79 points for UNIcert III/1. For III/2 it is 80 to 89 points in English for academic purposes and 80 to 100 points in the subject strands.
When will I see my Potsdam result in PULS?
From 9 a.m. the next working day under "Meine Einstufungstests". Only then can you register for an English course.
How often can I take the test in Potsdam?
Once. You may only test again with proof of a language course of at least 4 semester hours or a semester abroad.