Placement tests are compulsory for all courses in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese with the exception of beginners’ courses. The tests are taken on the computer in the Mediothek; you do not need to register for the test.
The placement test solely measures the general level of language proficiency in order to ensure a uniform level in the courses and effective teaching. It is therefore not possible to issue a certificate of the level achieved.
You cannot prepare specifically for the placement test, but it is helpful to read some authentic texts in the relevant language (e.g. newspapers) for about a week before the placement test or to reactivate your language skills by listening to radio or television programs. It is also important to know how the test works.
Our placement test is the C-test used at many universities. C-tests are based on scientific findings and generally have a high level of measurement accuracy without being time-consuming.
In the C-tests used in Hohenheim, half of every second word in five authentic texts is deleted. If you take a placement test, you have to fill in this missing half of the word. The aim of the test is to understand what the five texts are about and then to fill in the gaps correctly as quickly as possible. One point is awarded for each correctly completed half of a word.
The result is displayed immediately after you have completed the test. The number of points required for the individual courses can be found in the course structure (see Downloads) or on the corresponding notice board in the Language Center.
If you have never taken a C-test before, you should definitely look at examples and take an online sample test, also to practice using the special characters of a language (e.g. é). It is always advisable to read the quick guide in the Mediothek before taking the test. The quick guide is available in German, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.
