Information about the Placement Test

It can be frustrating if other course participants are much weaker – or much more advanced – than you. The placement tests are designed to help us recommend exactly the right courses for your level so you are neither over nor under-challenged.

That’s why we offer placement tests in the following languages:

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Italian

If you are planning to take a course in English or French, you must complete a placement test – even if you have little or no prior knowledge and wish to enrol in a beginner course (e.g. French A1 Part 1 or Part 1+2).

For Spanish and Italian, no placement test is required for beginner courses at the A1 level.

Our test is a C-Test:

• A C-Test is an integrative language test used to assess general language proficiency (vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, etc.). You complete words by filling in the missing parts. The short example below gives you an idea of how a C-Test works:

  Illegal Parking
  The parking warden approaches a passer-by: "Is th___ your c___?" – "No, i___’s n___. My c___ is o___ there, i__ the se___ row." – "Oh, then I do apologise."

Here you'll find a sample placement test (Englisch).

1. Should I prepare for the test?

   There is no specific preparation required for the placement test, but it is definitely advisable to refresh your language skills by reading and listening in the target language for a few days before taking the test. This is especially important if there has been a long gap since your last course or experience with the language. A short refresher will help you achieve a more accurate result on the placement test.

2. Registration

   To take the placement test, you need to have a user account with the Language Centre.
   You can find more information on how to create an account here.
   Next, click on your chosen language and select the current semester in the course programme. You will find the placement test listed as the first entry.
   Select the placement test you wish to take and click the button labelled “To the course on the learning platform” in the course description. This will open the Moodle learning platform. Once you log in using your user number and personal password, you will be taken directly to the registration page for the placement test.
    

3. Taking the test

   You can take the test at any time from any computer with internet access.
   There is no need to be on-site during office hours.
   You will receive detailed instructions and have the option to watch an explanatory video about the test (see below).
   Start by taking the practice test, which will show you how the actual test is structured. It is important not to close the browser window during the test. Always submit your answers using the appropriate button. If you want to be on the safe side, wait until the full test time has expired. Your results will then be saved automatically, and you can log out by clicking “Logout” in the top right-hand corner.
   To prepare for the placement test, check out our short  Explainer video on YouTube

When will the results be available?

Placement test results are published according to the following schedule:

• In April and October: daily
• For the rest of the year (excluding April and October): usually on Thursdays

If you do not see a result in your course account within these timeframes, please contact our media didactics team at:
mediendidaktik(at)szsb.uni-saarland.de

How do I access my result?

• Placement test results are not published immediately after taking the test. They are evaluated at set times (see above) and then uploaded to your course account.
• As soon as your result is available, you can view it under My Courses.
• Please also read the explanation that appears in the tooltip when you hover your mouse over the placement abbreviation in the “Grade” column.
• You can use this abbreviation to filter the course list in the course programme for the relevant semester. This means only the courses for which your placement result qualifies you will be shown.
• Important: Placement test results are valid for the semester in which the test was taken (see course number and title), plus the two following semesters.
  If you do not successfully complete a course at your level during this period, you will lose your course eligibility for that level and will need to retake the placement test.
• Please note: A placement test result does not guarantee you a place in your desired course. You still need to register for the course online within the official registration period.

• Validity of a Placement Test

  The result of a placement test is valid for the semester in which the test was taken (see course number and title), as well as for the two subsequent semesters. Please note that the result does not guarantee a spot in a course. If you do not complete a course in the respective language with us within this time, we assume that your language skills may have changed, and you will be required to take a new placement test.

• Validity of Course Grades 

  Courses successfully completed with a minimum grade of 4.0 are valid for 3 semesters as proof of eligibility. They allow you to enrol in advanced courses. However, if you take a break longer than 3 semesters, you must retake a placement test (see above).

  To summarise: A placement test is valid for 3 semesters, including the semester in which it was taken. A completed course with a passing grade (at least 4.0) entitles you to enrol for the following 3 semesters.