| For candidates | DEUTSCH / ENGLISH |
General
Preparation
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Do I need to have good IT knowledge in order to take the onDaF? |
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How many tasks are in the onDaF? How long does the test take? |
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How can I prepare for onDaF? |
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What should I bring to the test? |
Registration and booking
Participation
Results and certification
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Can I see my answers after the test? |
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How will my answers be marked? |
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For how long is my certificate available to me in the onDaF portal? |
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Is it possible to check the authenticity of onDaF certificates? |
General
What is onDaF?
onDaF is the online placement test of German as a foreign language. This test has been developed by the TestDaF Institute. It is a specially constructed gap-filling test which operates exclusively via the Internet. You register online for the test, book a test date online, take the test at a licensed test centre under the supervision of the examination staff, and directly receive your result at the end of the test.
What do I need onDaF for?
onDaF measures your general knowledge of the German language. If you have already learned a little German and simply would like to know how well you speak German, onDaF will give you a rapid result. If you would like to know which is the best language course for you or if you want to apply to the DAAD to study in Germany, onDaF will give you the reliable information that you need. In every case, you receive a certificate directly after the language test, which shows your result.
How do I gain access to my login details for the portal for candidates?
Go to www.ondaf.de and click on "candidate login" ("Teilnehmer-Login"). Click on "registration" ("Registrierung") and insert the required details. If you have any queries, click on the menu option "Hilfe/Help" and read the instructions for registration (German, English). If all details have been entered correctly you will receive an e-mail (to the address which you entered). In this e-mail you will find your login details, i.e. your username and your password. With your login details you may enter the portal for candidates and may book a test, change your personal details and read the instructions for onDaF candidates (German, English).
Where can I take the onDaF test?
The onDaF test is operated at test centres which are licensed by the TestDaF Institute. You can find out which test centres are available in the portal for candidates, at www.ondaf.de, by clicking on "candidate login" ("Teilnehmer-Login") in the menu option "TAS list" ("TAS-Liste"). You can also click directly on "Teilnahme" on the onDaF homepage. All test centres worldwide and in Germany are then displayed. You can also see which test centres are running the test in the near future and how many places are still available.
How much does onDaF cost?
You will be informed of the price by your chosen test centre. There you will pay the fee and receive a transaction number (TAN).
What is a TAN?
A TAN is a transaction number, i.e. a five-digit number which you need in order to book your test. With this TAN you may book a test date of your choice online at home or from any PC with an Internet connection (click on "book a test" in the portal for candidates; "Prüfung buchen").
Where can I obtain a TAN?
You will receive a TAN from the test centre where you will take the onDaF. Contact the test centre to obtain more details. Normally you can receive your TAN by post, e-mail or fax. Of course, you may also personally collect your TAN from the test centre.
For how long is a TAN valid?
A TAN is valid until the booked onDaF test or the test date is over.
How many times can I take the onDaF?
You may take the onDaF test at the same test centre, or another test centre, as many times as you wish. For each onDaF test you will need a new TAN.
Am I free to choose the test centre in my portal?
Yes. With your login details (username and password) you have access to your portal at all times. In this portal you may freely choose a test centre. However, if you have already received a TAN, this TAN is bound to the test centre from which you received it, i.e. you cannot use this TAN to take the onDaF at any other test centre.
Can the onDaF certificate replace the TestDaF certificate?
No. The onDaF certificate can neither replace the TestDaF certificate, nor any other language certificate for university admission. onDaF is not a language test for entry to a university in Germany. This test is exclusively intended to give you a rapid, global rating of your language ability. With an onDaF rating you can, for example, find a language course which best suits your current language level.
Preparation
Do I need to have good IT knowledge in order to take the onDaF?
No. You just need to know how to use a keyboard and mouse. Everything else runs automatically.
How many tasks are in the onDaF? How long does the test take?
The onDaF contains eight tasks. Each task is a gap-filling text with exactly 20 gaps. You have a maximum of five minutes for each text, therefore the test lasts a maximum of 40 minutes.
How can I prepare for onDaF?
You should familiarise yourself with the onDaF test format. For this you will find a similar gap-filling test with two texts on the TestDaF Institute website (www.testdaf.de) at the link "Fit for TestDaF?" ("Fit für den TestDaF?"). Please be aware that these two texts are relatively difficult in comparison to the onDaF texts.
What should I bring to the test?
You must bring valid identification with a photo (passport, ID card, driving licence). You are to submit this identification for identity control before the test.
Registration and booking
How do I find out when onDaF is being offered at a test centre in my area?
You will find the list of all test centres (TAS) worldwide and in Germany by
clicking on "candidate login" ("Teilnehmer-Login"). You can also click on "Teilnahme" directly on
the onDaF homepage. All test centres worldwide and in Germany will be displayed. Test centres that are running the
test in the near future are marked with the following symbol:
. Click on the link of the respective test centre.
A new window will pop up showing details on when the test centre is running the test and how many seats are still
available.
How do I book a test date?
Once you have found a suitable test centre, go to the candidate portal and select the menu option "Book a test" ("Prüfung buchen"). Then, mark the standard version of the onDaF ("Standardversion"), except if your test centre has explicitly informed you to select the limited version ("eingeschränkte Version"). Choose the country, place and the test centre. In the online calendar, click on an available date (marked blue), select the appropriate time and finally enter the TAN, which you have received from the test centre. You will receive an e-mail confirming your booked test date.
Can I book a test well in advance?
This depends upon the test centre. You may book a test if the test centre has entered a test date in the calendar of the onDaF portal and there are still places available. Dates are marked blue if there are places available.
When should I register at the latest?
The registration deadlines are stipulated by the relevant test centre.
Can I change my test date?
Yes. Go to the menu option "Test date" ("Prüfungstermin") in the candidate portal (this appears after you have booked a test date). Click on "Change test data" ("Prüfungsdaten ändern"). Choose a new test date in the calendar and enter your TAN, which is still valid. It is not necessary to obtain a new TAN in order to change your test date. Please be aware, however, that a change in test date is only possible until the day before the test at the latest.
Participation
Are resources allowed during the test?
No. Resources are not allowed. Please be aware that the window cannot be minimised or placed in the background once the test has begun.
How are the gaps to be filled?
All gaps are to be correctly completed. Only write one solution in every gap. If you write two or more solutions in one gap, it will be marked as incorrect (e.g., two solutions, which are separated by a slash or a space).
How can I enter German characters ("ä", "ö", "ü" or "ß") when I need to use them?
You are not allowed to use German umlauts as combinations such as "ae", "oe", or "ue". If your keyboard does not contain the relevant characters, there is a character list underneath each gap-filling text. Left-click to select the character and it will appear in the required place.
How will accidental errors, such as the repetition or inversion of letters, be marked?
Accidental errors (typing errors) are marked as incorrect. Normally you will have enough time to correct typing errors which may have slipped in during the test. Please be aware that you may not return to texts which you have already completed.
Results and certification
Can I see my answers after the test?
No. You cannot see your answers after the test has been completed. Even during the test, you will only be able to see the text which you are working on at the time.
How will my answers be marked?
For every correct answer, i.e. for every correct completion of a gap, you will receive one point. The total points received are your onDaF score. The onDaF score can be between 0 (minimum) and 160 (maximum) points. Your performance will be rated using the score obtained, and this rating is analogous to the levels of the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages". These levels are A2, B1, B2 or C1 (or above).
For how long is my certificate available to me in the onDaF portal?
Your test result will be permanently saved. You can, therefore, access your onDaF certificate at all times in the candidate portal and even print it, if desired. You do not require a TAN for this. If you have taken the onDaF test several times, the certificate with the best result will be issued.
Is it possible to check the authenticity of onDaF certificates?
Yes. The authenticity of your certificate can be checked and verified by any institution to which you submit the certificate with the help of a verification module, which was designed especially for onDaF. The Internet address at which this verification can take place is given on the certificate.