German C-Test: university placement and practice
Not just in English: 16 universities place international students in their German courses with a C-Test, and 8 Studienkollegs and preparatory courses use one in their entrance test. Here is where, in which format, with sources. Below you can practise three German C-Tests for free.
Last checked:
C-Test Prep is not part of any university or Studienkolleg. The linked page is always authoritative.
How the German C-Test works
- Several short texts; the first and the last sentence stay complete.
- In between, every second word loses its second half, nouns included. With an odd number of letters, usually one letter more is missing; Hannover removes one fewer.
- Each correctly completed gap is one point. Endings count: "dem" instead of "den" is wrong.
- Time is short: 25 to 50 minutes for 4 to 8 texts. Blank gaps are normal.
Placement in German courses (16)
| Where | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| University of Münster | 4 short texts, 100 gaps; €2 per test, 25 minutes | Anleitung zur Durchführung des C-Tests am Sprachenzentrum |
| University of Hamburg | 8 gap texts; once per semester, 50 minutes | FAQ: Einstufung/Anmeldung |
| Leibniz University Hannover | E-Test in C-Test format, 5 texts; two attempts, 25 minutes | Einstufungstest |
| Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg | 5 texts × 25 gaps; one attempt, 30 minutes | C-Test |
| University of Duisburg-Essen | 5 texts × 20 gaps, online in JACK3, 25 minutes | Einstufungstests |
| Heidelberg University (ISZ) | 5 texts × 20 gaps; only once, 35 minutes | Online-Einstufungstest |
| University of Bayreuth | 5 texts × 20 gaps, then a short oral part, 35 minutes | Einstufungstest - Sprachenzentrum - Universität Bayreuth |
| University of Hohenheim | 5 texts; German on site in the Mediothek only, 25 minutes | Einstufungstest (C-Test): Universität Hohenheim |
| FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg | C-Test in a language lab; result valid for one year, 40 minutes | Einstufung für die studienbegleitenden Deutschkurse |
| Free University of Berlin | onSET-Deutsch: 8 texts × 20 gaps, 40 minutes | Die Einstufung mit onSET-Deutsch |
| University of Marburg | 5 short gap texts in ILIAS, after a questionnaire | Placement Procedure: Intensive Courses |
| University of Rostock | mostly a C-Test, 4 or 5 texts; valid for one semester for German | Einstufungstests - Sprachenzentrum - Universität Rostock |
| University of Cologne | C-Test by link, levels A2 to C1 | Department German as a Foreign Language (DaF) |
| University of Göttingen | C-Test of the German as a Foreign Language department | Muster-Einstufungstest |
| University of Erfurt | onSET at a PC, twice a year at the start of term | Kurse und Prüfungen |
| University of Siegen | onSET in C-Test format, German or English | onSET Test |
Entrance tests: Studienkolleg and DSH course (8)
| Where | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TU Dresden, DSH preparatory course | 4 to 6 texts; ranked by score, limited places, 30 minutes (page from 2016) | C-Test |
| TU Darmstadt Studienkolleg | C-Test for all applicants, at least B1, 40 minutes | Admissions procedure for T courses and G courses |
| Frankfurt Studienkolleg | electronic C-Test on site; can be repeated twice at most | Aufnahmetest FSP |
| Lower Saxony Studienkolleg, Hannover | German C-Test for everyone, plus subject tests | Aufnahmeverfahren für die Schwerpunktkurse |
| Kassel Studienkolleg | German C-Test and a maths test, 40 minutes (the Studienkolleg is closing) | Information about the admission test |
| KIT Studienkolleg | onSET, 8 texts × 20 gaps, for the TestDaF courses, 40 minutes | Purpose of the entrance test (Aufnahmetest) |
| Anhalt University Studienkolleg | C-Test and a writing task, 30 minutes each, 30 minutes | Acceptance test |
| Nordhausen University Studienkolleg | several C-Tests with grammar, reading and a graph task, 30 minutes | Admission test |
Three German C-Tests to practise
Each text has 25 gaps, as in Magdeburg or Münster. Every answer with its explanation is under each text.
Answers and explanations: Wohnungssuche in einer Uni-Stadt
- vielen Grammar
"in" takes the dative for a location; plural: "in vielen Uni-Städten", ending -en.
- das Grammar
Demonstrative pronoun: "das" points back to the sentence before (finding a place to live). "dies" is also possible.
Also correct: dies
- leicht Vocabulary
"leicht" = easy.
- es Grammar
"es gibt" = there is/are; "es" is a formal subject here.
- Studierende Vocabulary
"Studierende" = students; plural with no article after "mehr".
- freie Grammar
Adjective without an article in the plural: "freie Zimmer", ending -e.
- gibt Grammar
"es gibt": third person singular of "geben" with e → i; in the "weil" clause the verb goes to the end.
- wohnen Grammar
Third person plural present: "Viele wohnen", because "viele" is plural.
- in Grammar
"in" takes the dative for a location: "in einer Wohngemeinschaft".
- Wohngemeinschaft Vocabulary
"Wohngemeinschaft" (WG) = a shared flat.
- hat Grammar
Third person singular of "haben": "jeder hat".
- ein Grammar
Indefinite article: "ein eigenes Zimmer" (neuter accusative) and "Ein Platz" (masculine nominative); both forms are "ein".
- Zimmer Vocabulary
"Zimmer" = room. Nouns are capitalised, gaps included.
- Küche Vocabulary
"Küche" = kitchen.
- Bad Vocabulary
"Bad" = bathroom.
- man Grammar
"man" = one, people in general; the verb takes the third person singular: "teilt man".
- den Grammar
"mit" takes the dative; plural: "mit den anderen".
- Ein Grammar
Indefinite article: "ein eigenes Zimmer" (neuter accusative) and "Ein Platz" (masculine nominative); both forms are "ein".
- im Grammar
"im" = "in dem", dative for a location: "im Wohnheim".
- des Grammar
Genitive neuter: "des Studierendenwerks"; the noun takes -s.
- ist Grammar
Third person singular of "sein": "Ein Platz … ist".
- günstiger Grammar
Comparative of "günstig" (cheap) with -er. "günstig" is also possible.
Also correct: günstig
- die Grammar
Definite article, plural nominative: "die Wartelisten".
- sind Grammar
Third person plural of "sein": "die Wartelisten sind".
- lang Vocabulary
"lang" = long; after "sein" it takes no ending.
Answers and explanations: Das Semesterticket
- Semesterticket Vocabulary
"Semesterticket" = a public transport ticket for one semester. Long compounds are split in the middle.
- deutlich Vocabulary
"deutlich billiger" = much cheaper.
- als Grammar
After a comparative German uses "als": "billiger als" (cheaper than).
- normale Grammar
Adjective ending after "eine", feminine nominative: "eine normale Monatskarte".
- weil Grammar
"weil" (because) introduces a reason; the verb goes to the end: "… finanzieren".
- Studierenden Grammar
After "alle", the nominalised participle ends in -en: "alle Studierenden".
- Hochschule Grammar
Genitive feminine: "der Hochschule"; feminine nouns take no ending.
- gemeinsam Vocabulary
"gemeinsam" = together.
- Man Grammar
"man" = one, people in general: "Man muss", "braucht man"; the verb takes the third person singular.
- es Grammar
Pronoun for "das Semesterticket" (neuter): accusative in "muss es bezahlen", nominative in "gilt es".
- dann Grammar
"auch dann …, wenn" = even if.
- wenn Grammar
"wenn" (if, when) introduces a condition; the verb goes to the end: "wenn man selten fährt".
- selten Vocabulary
"selten" = rarely.
- An Grammar
"an" + dative is the preposition for universities: "an vielen Hochschulen".
- Hochschulen Grammar
Plural of "die Hochschule" with -n: "an vielen Hochschulen".
- es Grammar
Pronoun for "das Semesterticket" (neuter): accusative in "muss es bezahlen", nominative in "gilt es".
- im Grammar
"im" = "in dem", dative: "im Nahverkehr".
- und Grammar
"und" joins two parallel phrases: "im Nahverkehr und im Regionalverkehr".
- Regionalverkehr Vocabulary
"Regionalverkehr" = regional trains and buses.
- ganz Vocabulary
"in ganz Deutschland" = all over Germany; before a country name "ganz" takes no article and no ending.
- sind Grammar
Third person plural of "sein": "Fernzüge sind … eingeschlossen" (state passive).
- nicht Grammar
"nicht" negates the participle: "not included".
- dafür Vocabulary
"dafür" = for them (the long-distance trains).
- man Grammar
"man" = one, people in general: "Man muss", "braucht man"; the verb takes the third person singular.
- eigene Grammar
Adjective ending after "eine", feminine accusative: "eine eigene Fahrkarte".
Answers and explanations: Die Hausarbeit
- zeigen Grammar
Third person plural present: the subject "sie" is the students.
- dass Grammar
The conjunction "dass" (that), spelt with ss; the verb goes to the end ("… können").
- eine Grammar
Indefinite article, feminine accusative: "eine eingegrenzte Fragestellung".
- Fragestellung Vocabulary
"Fragestellung" = research question.
- bearbeiten Vocabulary
"bearbeiten" = work on, address; infinitive before the modal "können".
- ihre Grammar
Possessive "ihr" (their), accusative plural: "ihre Thesen".
- mit Grammar
"mit" takes the dative: "mit Literatur belegen" (support with sources).
- belegen Vocabulary
"belegen" = support with evidence.
- Wer Grammar
Generalising relative pronoun: "Wer …, muss …" = whoever …
- Gedanken Grammar
Plural of "der Gedanke" (thought): "fremde Gedanken".
- muss Grammar
Modal verb "müssen", third person singular: "muss", no umlaut.
- Quelle Vocabulary
"Quelle" = source.
- kenntlich Vocabulary
"kenntlich machen" = mark, indicate clearly.
- andernfalls Vocabulary
"andernfalls" = otherwise.
- die Grammar
Definite article, feminine nominative: "die Arbeit" is the subject.
- als Grammar
"gelten als" = count as: "gilt als Plagiat".
- und Grammar
"und" joins two verbs with the same subject: "gilt … und wird …".
- in Grammar
Fixed phrase "in der Regel" = as a rule.
- Regel Vocabulary
"in der Regel" = usually, as a rule.
- bestanden Grammar
Past participle of "bestehen" (pass) in the passive with "werden": "wird nicht bestanden".
- wichtig Vocabulary
"ebenso wichtig wie" = just as important as.
- der Grammar
Definite article, masculine nominative: "der Inhalt"; after "wie" the case matches "eine … Gliederung".
- ist Grammar
"sein" in the third person singular, in second position; the subject is "eine … Gliederung".
- klare Grammar
Adjective ending after "eine", feminine nominative: "eine klare … Gliederung".
- schlüssige Grammar
"schlüssig" = logical, coherent; ending -e as with "klare".
How to practise for the German C-Test
- Watch articles and endings: in German, the case often decides whether a gap is right.
- Read the sentence to the verb at the end before you fill a gap; the verb bracket tells you the tense and the meaning.
- Give yourself 5 minutes per text, as at FU Berlin or in Hannover.
onSET-Deutsch: format and two more practice texts →
Frequently asked questions
Is the German C-Test the same as onSET-Deutsch?
onSET-Deutsch is one specific C-Test by g.a.s.t., with 20 gaps per text. Many universities use their own C-Tests, such as Münster with 4 texts and 100 gaps or Magdeburg with 5 texts of 25 gaps.
Do I need the C-Test for a Studienkolleg?
At several Studienkollegs, yes: Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Hannover, Kassel and KIT name a C-Test in their entrance test. Check your Studienkolleg’s page; the rules differ.
Are nouns cut in the German C-Test too?
Yes. The rule applies to every second word, nouns included. The start of the word with its capital letter is given; you complete the rest.