TestAS exam in Heidelberg

TestAS is a voluntary, standardized test for high school graduates from countries outside the European Union who wish to pursue a university career at a university in Germany. The test is developed by ITB Consulting GmbH and offered by the Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V. (Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development).

The TestAS exam measures academic aptitude, which is why it is largely similar in structure to an intelligence test and tests cognitive and intellectual abilities. This provides information about a student's academic aptitude. The TestAS can be taken on six centrally determined dates. The Academy of Languages Heidelberg is an approved test center for TestAS and has been conducting this exam regularly for years.

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Why you should take the TestAS

With good test results, you can improve your chances of gaining a place at a university in Germany. The exam can be taken in German or English at our examination center.

The test results inform each participant about their individual strengths and weaknesses and indicate their likely success in a field of study. This is valuable information for students as it helps them to find the fields of study that suit their individual abilities.

Therefore, a good test result can increase the applicant's chances of being admitted to the desired university and for the desired course of study. The results also increase the likelihood that a student will complete their chosen degree program and not drop out prematurely due to a lack of skills.

Important questions and answers about TestAS

How do I register for the TestAS exam and how much does it cost?

TestAS is held on a limited number of dates per year.

We offer an uncomplicated registration process at our test center:

You make a binding registration via our online form or in person on site. The fees are due immediately. After paying the examination fees, you will receive a TAN (transaction number) by e-mail, which you must redeem during the registration process at www.testas.de within the registration period in order to be finally registered for the examination.

Please check in good time whether you have received a TAN. Also check your SPAM mailbox or junk mail folder of your mail provider.

Which language is right for me?

You should take the TestAS in the language in which you feel confident. If your knowledge of English exceeds your knowledge of German, then it is advisable to take the TestAS in English. This is because language skills have a direct influence on the result.

Nevertheless, participants with a B1 level are admitted to the exam. This is sufficient to solve some subtasks and interpret diagrams. Many sections of the exam include demanding texts that test reading comprehension and the ability to recognize connections. Therefore, the higher the language level, the better the exam result.

What do I need to bring with me on the day of the exam?

An official, valid photo ID. It must be the same ID that you provided when you registered on the TestAS portal.

Admission to the exam with the participant number. You should download this from the TestAS portal and print it out.
Several pens for the core test and the subject-specific modules.

Students must bring their own pens. All other aids, including calculators, dictionaries, cell phones, or the like are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification from the exam if not observed.

This is how the TestAS works:

The TestAS consists of:

The TestAS begins with the core test, which lasts 110 minutes and assesses the skills necessary for successful study in all university subjects and is divided into four further timed subtests.

Part 1 "Solving quantitative problems" (45 minutes): Solve short text problems involving simple calculations and mathematical reasoning.
Part 2 "Exploring relationships" (10 minutes): Recognize connections between two pairs of words.
Part 3 "Completing patterns" (20 minutes): This part is commonly considered the most challenging of the core test. This subtest is about recognizing patterns in geometric figures and continuing them logically.
Part 4 "Continuing number sequences" (25 minutes): Previous participants find this subtask straightforward. The aim here is to continue number sequences in a meaningful way. This tests the ability to continue number sequences. Students report that this part is straightforward. In the part of our book that explains number sequences, you will find information that will help you with some frequently occurring difficult contexts.

After a break of 30 minutes, the subject-specific modules follow. You have 145-150 minutes for this. You will be given the tasks that correspond to your chosen field of study.

You can choose from the following:

Humanities, cultural and social sciences
Engineering
Mathematics, computer science and natural sciences
Economics

a) Humanities, cultural and social sciences (150 minutes - 3 parts)

Part 1 "Understanding and interpreting texts": In this subtest, good language skills are the be-all and end-all, as it is about text comprehension and meaningful conclusions.
Part 2 "Using representation systems flexibly" measures inductive reasoning skills. This task requires quick comprehension of text and diagrams, as a general conclusion must be drawn from them in relation to the question.
Part 3 "Recognize language structures" measures the ability to recognize language patterns and semantic relationships.

b) Engineering (150 minutes - 3 parts)
This exam measures the ability to reason from abstract concepts and to abstract from scientific and technical facts. It is divided into three parts:

Part 1 "Formalizing technical facts": you are expected to transfer technical or scientific facts described here into a formulaic representation.
Part 2 "Exploring views": This subtest requires your spatial imagination.
Part 3 "Analyze technical relationships": The questions come from physics, astronomy, chemistry and earth sciences and are usually formulated in such a way that the participant can answer the questions with a general understanding of the most important natural concepts.

c) Mathematics, computer science and natural sciences (145 minutes - 2 parts)

Part 1 "Analyzing scientific facts": The questions cover astronomy, geography, botany. It does no harm to study the textbooks from the STEM subjects again in preparation.
Part 2 "Understanding formal representations": This subtest is again dependent on your language level. It is important that you understand the problem in the question correctly. This part is the most demanding in this subject module and accounts for half of your grade in this module.

d) Economics (150 minutes - 2-part)

Part 1 "Analyzing economic relationships": Maps, diagrams and tables come from the subject area of economics and must be analyzed and logically deduced.
Part 2 "Analyze processes": In this subtest, your critical and analytical thinking skills are put to the test. A high level of fluency is helpful here in order to grasp and solve the problem in the question. This section accounts for half of your mark in this subtest.

After the exam: How do I get my certificate?

The results of the TestAS exam are available online via the individual participant portal approximately four weeks after the exam. To view and download your results, you will need your chosen user name and password.

The test results are only accessible to you. They only become visible to a university when you attach your results to your application documents.

The TestAS certificate contains a list of scores for each test section and is valid indefinitely.

Expert tips for examinees

The core test and the subject-specific modules are written multiple-choice tests. During the test, make sure that you record all the answers on the answer sheet. Once a subtask has been completed, it is impossible to come back to it at a later date.
Keyword time management: The questions are designed with increasing levels of difficulty. It is therefore advisable to answer the first questions quickly so that you have enough time left for the final questions.

Please answer all questions. Questions answered incorrectly will not be penalized. Unanswered questions will result in a point deduction.
The TestAS takes over 4 hours in total.

Get enough sleep the night before and bring enough drinks, snacks and glucose to the exam day to maintain your energy level during the exam.

Questions and registration for TestAS

You can only register for the TestAS exam dates at the Academy of Languages via the portal of the exam provider g.a.s.t..

To register for TestAS

TestAS doesn't have to be a fearful opponent! Our exam preparation courses will help you to pass this challenging exam with the desired results. Our qualified teachers will help you to sharpen your skills so that you are best prepared for the TestAS.