Placement tests
The aim of placement tests is to achieve a standard proficiency level in the courses which allows for more effective teaching. If you wish to attend a course at the Foreign Language Center and already have previous knowledge of the language in question, you must take a placement test. Based on the result, we can determine which course level is most suitable for you. After receiving your result, you can register for the appropriate course at the Foreign Language Center. If the course is completed successfully, you will be enrolled automatically in follow-up courses without a new placement test.
If you believe that your language level has improved significantly (e.g. due to a stay abroad), you can take a placement test again and potentially skip the planned follow-up course and take a more advanced course.
Information on the FSZ placement tests for the following languages:
English, French, Italian and Spanish (C-Test)
C-Test
Placement tests (C-tests) are authentic language tests to measure general language skills in a foreign or native language. They are highly accurate and the results generally correspond to examination results. The method of testing allows language skills to be assessed quickly and efficiently.
Registration
Current information: If you would like to take a placement test (C-test), please contact our information desk by email.
Please allow at least 30 minutes for the test to take place. If you take the test in-house, please note the current opening hours. Participants must provide their correct student ID number or, in the case of employees, date of birth, followed by the initials of the first and last name (DDMMYYYFL). Please take the placement test as early as possible before registration.
Please note:
- The test can only be taken once per testing period.
- Tests are valid for one calendar year once taken. After this, another test must be taken. It is possible to take another test in each new test period if you would like to be reassessed.
- Placement test results from other institutions cannot be recognized.
Please refer to the bottom of this page for more details about the placement test (C-test).
Arabic, Japanese, Russian and Swedish
IMPORTANT: For the moment, we do no longer offer placement tests in written form. Please make sure to check the course description to find more information concerning course requirements.
Online assessment tests for employees (ILIAS)
Self-assessment tests for language courses for employees can be taken online at any time via ILIAS: Online self-assessement test.
An additional C-test (as required for student courses) is not generally required.
Please note that FSZ language courses for students have different course requirements. To participate in these courses you will need to take a placement test (C-test or paper format) during our opening hours to determine the appropriate course level. The online self-assessment test on ILIAS is intended only as a guide for employee courses, but not for courses from our program for students.
Additional information on C-tests
Testing periods for C-tests
Information on testing periods for C-tests can be found on the Dates and deadlines page.
Validity of results and repetition of C-tests
The test can only be taken once per testing period. The testing periods are usually from mid-January to the end of April and from mid-June to the end of October.
Tests are valid for one calendar year once taken. After this, another test must be taken. It is possible to take another test in each new test period if you would like to be reassessed.
Placement test results from other institutions cannot be recognized.
If you have any further information or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us during our opening hours.
Information on the test format and procedure
Test format and procedure
A C-test consists of six short testlets each with 25 gaps in varying degrees of difficulty according to the C-test principle: from the second sentence onward, about half of every second word is missing (Example of a C-test (pdf)). The participant has 30 minutes to complete the missing parts of the words. Five of the texts are included in the assessment, one of the texts is for calibration purposes and is not included in the result.
Upon completion of the test, the system will automatically notify you of the C-test result on the screen. The test result is automatically stored in our database and transferred to ALMA. However, please remember to write down the result for your own information. It is unfortunately not possible for the Foreign Language Center to provide written confirmation of the results.
Online C-Tests for practice
Online C- tests for practice
With the kind permission of the University of Münster we can provide C-Tests for practice purposes. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Münster once again.
C-test result and course placement
- The following applies to English, French, Spanish and Italian: The score of the C-test taken at the FSZ must correspond to the score stated in the course description (note the minimum and maximum scores).
- Swedish, Russian and Japanese courses and language courses for employees have their own course placement procedures.
UNIcert® I | |
0-34 points | Language course I |
35-49 points | Language Course II Essential English |
50-64 points | Language course III General Refresher (English) |
UNIcert® II | |
65-74 points | Language IV (French, Italian and Spanish) Grammar and Communication (English) |
70-79 points | Table ronde (French) |
75-84 points | Language V (French, Italian and Spanish) Round Table, Global Health, Introduction to Academic English, Introduction to Business English (English) |
UNIcert® III | |
Above 85 points | All UNIcert® III courses |
UNIcert® IV | |
Above 100 points or UNIcert® III certificate or examination registration for UNIcert® III or by successful oral and written assessment by language teaching staff. | All UNIcert® IV courses |
Other language courses (not UNIcert®) | |
54-64 points | Refresh Your English (B1.1) Communicating with International Students & Staff (B1.1) Current University Issues (B1.1) Professional Correspondence (B1.1) |
Course placement is determined according to the result of the online self-assessement test | Courses for university employees |
Above 75 points | Les Français à travers le cinéma |