--- title: "onSET-Deutsch (German onSET): format and practice · C-Test Prep" description: "The onSET-Deutsch is a g.a.s.t. C-Test: texts with 20 gaps each, up to 160 points, 40 minutes at most, A2 to C1. With two German practice texts and answers." canonical: https://ctestprep.de/en/onset-german last_updated: 2026-10-29 --- # 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: 29 October 2026 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 | What | An online placement test in C-Test format, in German (onSET-Deutsch) or English (onSET-English) (Source: [onSET: Über den onSET](https://www.onset.de/de/home/ueber-onset/)) | | --- | --- | | Run by | g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V.) (Source: [onSET: Über den onSET](https://www.onset.de/de/home/ueber-onset/)) | | Structure | several short texts on different topics, 20 gaps each, getting harder; every candidate gets their own set (Source: [onSET: Über den onSET](https://www.onset.de/de/home/ueber-onset/)) | | Time | 40 minutes at most (Source: [onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende](https://www.onset.de/home/teilnehmende/)) | | Points | one point per correctly completed gap, 160 points at most (Source: [onSET: Beispieltest](https://www.onset.de/home/beispieltest-onset-online-spracheinstufungstest/)) | | Level | a CEFR level from A2 to C1 (Source: [onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende](https://www.onset.de/home/teilnehmende/)) | | Where | at 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](https://www.onset.de/home/teilnehmende/)) | | Result | right after the test; the certificate is a PDF in the participant portal (Source: [onSET: Informationen für Teilnehmende](https://www.onset.de/home/teilnehmende/)) | | Sample test | official and free, four slightly easier texts, as often as you like (Source: [onSET: Beispieltest](https://www.onset.de/home/beispieltest-onset-online-spracheinstufungstest/)) | 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 - Take the official sample tests on onset.de first so you know the interface and the flow. They are slightly easier than the real test. - Practise against the clock: about five minutes per text, then move on. - Sort every mistake: ending, article, verb form or vocabulary. Grammar mistakes repeat, so that is where practice pays most. - Read short factual German texts every day, such as news or your university’s pages. The onSET tests general language skills, not subject knowledge. ## 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. ### 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. ### 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 →](https://ctestprep.de/en/german-c-test) [The English C-Test at universities →](https://ctestprep.de/en/c-test-english)