onSET-Deutsch (German onSET): format and practice

The onSET-Deutsch is a placement test in C-Test format: you complete the missing halves of words in short German texts. Here is what g.a.s.t. publishes about the format and points, what matters in a German C-Test, and two texts with 20 gaps each to practise.

Last checked:

C-Test Prep is independent and not part of g.a.s.t. Dates and rules can change; onset.de is always authoritative.

Key facts

WhatAn online placement test in C-Test format, in German (onSET-Deutsch) or English (onSET-English) (Source: onSET: Über den onSET)
Run byg.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V.) (Source: onSET: Über den onSET)
Structureseveral short texts on different topics, 20 gaps each, getting harder; every candidate gets their own set (Source: onSET: Über den onSET)
Time40 minutes at most (Source: onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende)
Pointsone point per correctly completed gap, 160 points at most (Source: onSET: Beispieltest)
Levela CEFR level from A2 to C1 (Source: onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende)
Whereat a g.a.s.t. test centre; register in the participant portal, then choose a centre, a date and the language (Source: onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende)
Resultright after the test; the certificate is a PDF in the participant portal (Source: onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende)
Sample testofficial and free, four slightly easier texts, as often as you like (Source: onSET: Beispieltest)

At 20 gaps per text and 160 points at most, that makes eight texts, so with 40 minutes at most about five minutes per text.

What matters in a German C-Test

  • In a C-Test, every second word is missing its second half; with an odd number of letters, the shorter half is given: "und" becomes "u", "Pause" becomes "Pa". g.a.s.t. does not publish the exact onSET gap pattern; the texts below follow this rule.
  • German nouns are capitalised, gaps included. A capitalised start such as "Geri…" already tells you a noun is coming.
  • Many gaps are endings and short words: articles ("das", "den", "der"), prepositions ("mit", "über") and verb forms ("trägt", "lädt"). That is where grammar costs the most points.
  • Umlauts and ß are part of the word: "trägt" is not "tragt".
  • Long compounds are split in the middle, for example "Studieren|denausweis". Read on to the end of the sentence before you fill one in.

How to prepare

Two practice texts with 20 gaps each

Our own texts in C-Test format, free and with no sign-up. Capital letters count, and so do umlauts.

Die Mensa

B1

Fast jede deutsche Universität hat eine Mensa, in der Studierende günstig zu Mittag essen. Ein war Essen kos dort n wenige Eu, weil d Studierendenwerk ei Teil d Kosten tr. Bezahlt wi meistens m dem Studieren, auf d man vor Geld lä. Es gi jeden T mehrere versch Gerichte, daru immer au ein vegeta. Wer neu an der Uni ist, lernt in der Mensa schnell andere Studierende kennen.

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Answers and explanations: Die Mensa
  1. warmes Grammar

    Adjective ending after "ein" with a neuter noun in the nominative: "ein warmes Essen".

  2. kostet Grammar

    Third person singular of "kosten": "das Essen kostet". After -t, an -e- comes before the ending.

  3. nur Vocabulary

    "nur" = only, no more than.

  4. Euro Vocabulary

    "Euro": the currency; after quantities it takes no plural ending ("wenige Euro").

  5. das Grammar

    Definite article for a neuter noun: "das Studierendenwerk" is the subject of the clause.

  6. einen Grammar

    Indefinite article, masculine accusative: "einen Teil" is the object of "trägt".

  7. der Grammar

    Genitive plural: "ein Teil der Kosten" (a part of the costs).

  8. trägt Grammar

    "tragen" takes an umlaut in the third person singular: "er trägt". It stands at the end of the "weil" clause.

  9. wird Grammar

    Passive with "werden": "Bezahlt wird …" = people pay.

  10. mit Grammar

    "mit" takes the dative: "mit dem Studierendenausweis".

  11. Studierendenausweis Vocabulary

    "Studierendenausweis" = student ID card. Long compounds are split in the middle.

  12. den Grammar

    Relative pronoun, masculine accusative after "auf": "der Ausweis, auf den man Geld lädt".

  13. vorher Vocabulary

    "vorher" = beforehand.

  14. lädt Grammar

    "laden" takes an umlaut in the third person singular: "man lädt". The ä counts.

  15. gibt Grammar

    "es gibt" = there is/are; third person singular of "geben" with the vowel change e → i.

  16. Tag Vocabulary

    "jeden Tag" = every day. Nouns are capitalised, gaps included.

  17. verschiedene Grammar

    Adjective without an article, plural accusative: "mehrere verschiedene Gerichte".

  18. darunter Vocabulary

    "darunter" = among them.

  19. auch Vocabulary

    "auch" = also.

  20. vegetarisches Grammar

    Adjective after "ein", neuter: "ein vegetarisches (Gericht)"; the noun is left out.

Lernen mit Pausen

B2

Wer vor einer Prüfung stundenlang ohne Unterbrechung lernt, behält davon oft weniger, als er hofft. Studien zei, dass ku Pausen d Gedächtnis deut entlasten. Wäh einer Pa verarbeitet d Gehirn ne Informationen u verknüpft s mit vorha Wissen. Beso wirksam i es, d Stoff üb mehrere Ta zu vert, statt al am let Abend z wiederholen. Ein guter Lernplan beginnt deshalb nicht erst in der Woche vor der Prüfung.

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Answers and explanations: Lernen mit Pausen
  1. zeigen Grammar

    Third person plural present: "Studien zeigen", because the subject is plural.

  2. kurze Grammar

    Adjective without an article, plural nominative: "kurze Pausen".

  3. das Grammar

    Definite article for a neuter noun: "das Gedächtnis" (accusative) and "das Gehirn" (nominative). In the neuter both forms are the same.

  4. deutlich Vocabulary

    "deutlich" = clearly, noticeably.

  5. Während Grammar

    "während" takes the genitive: "während einer Pause".

  6. Pause Vocabulary

    "die Pause" (break); nouns are capitalised, gaps included.

  7. das Grammar

    Definite article for a neuter noun: "das Gedächtnis" (accusative) and "das Gehirn" (nominative). In the neuter both forms are the same.

  8. neue Grammar

    Adjective without an article, plural accusative: "neue Informationen".

  9. und Grammar

    "und" joins two verbs with the same subject: "verarbeitet … und verknüpft".

  10. sie Grammar

    Personal pronoun, accusative plural; it stands for "die Informationen".

  11. vorhandenem Grammar

    "mit" takes the dative; adjective without an article, neuter: "mit vorhandenem Wissen".

  12. Besonders Vocabulary

    "besonders" = especially.

  13. ist Grammar

    "Besonders wirksam ist es, …": "sein" in the third person singular, the verb in second position.

  14. den Grammar

    Definite article, masculine accusative: "den Stoff verteilen".

  15. über Grammar

    "über" with the accusative for a period of time: "über mehrere Tage".

  16. Tage Grammar

    Plural of "der Tag": "mehrere Tage".

  17. verteilen Grammar

    Infinitive with "zu": "den Stoff zu verteilen".

  18. alles Vocabulary

    "alles" = everything.

  19. letzten Grammar

    Adjective ending after "am" (an dem), masculine dative: "am letzten Abend".

  20. zu Grammar

    "statt … zu" + infinitive: "instead of revising everything on the last evening".

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official onSET?

No. C-Test Prep is independent and not part of g.a.s.t. The practice texts are our own texts in C-Test format. Registration, dates and results are only on onset.de.

How many points do I need?

The university or programme that asks for the onSET decides. g.a.s.t. maps your result to a CEFR level from A2 to C1; which level is enough is in your institution’s requirements.

Can I take the onSET from home?

According to onset.de, the onSET takes place at a g.a.s.t. test centre. You register in the participant portal and choose a centre, a date and the language there.

When do I get my result?

Right after the test. You can download the certificate as a PDF from the participant portal at any time afterwards.

Is the C-Test Prep Pass available for German?

No. The Pass contains English C-Test texts. For the onSET-Deutsch, the two texts here and the official sample tests are free.

The German C-Test at universities and Studienkollegs, with three more texts →

The English C-Test at universities →