Placement tests for English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German are conducted via Moodle. Prior registration is required.

For the Winter Semester 2026/27, please register for one of the available placement test dates via the course platform under the menu item “Placement Test” starting on 1 August 2026.

Information on test dates and test procedures for each language can be found in the language-specific instructions:

• German
• English
• Romance Languages
• Modern Languages

For the placement test, you will need a laptop or desktop computer with internet access and the ability to play audio files. The placement tests for English and German also include listening comprehension tasks. In contrast, playing audio files is not required for the placement tests in Spanish, Italian, and French.

1.

Please log in to Moodle at TU Dortmund using your personal university account 10 minutes before the start of the test session for which you have registered.

Please note that you will have a maximum of one hour to complete the test and that you may take only one test attempt per language and per semester.

For German as a Foreign Language:

For the German placement test, you may log in to Moodle and complete the practice test. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the typical question types, the test navigation, and the submission process. Participation in the practice test is optional.

On the day of the placement test, please log in to Moodle at TU Dortmund using your personal university account and join the Zoom meeting 15 minutes before the start of the test session. The corresponding Zoom link can be found on the Moodle page. Please make sure to turn on your camera after joining the meeting.

For the German placement test, you will have a maximum of 1.5 hours to complete the test and may take only one test attempt per semester.

2.

You will be invited to the test room of the corresponding placement test at the beginning of your test shift. You may need to update your browser to be able to see the placement test on your start page in Moodle:

• WiSe 2026-27: English placement test
• WiSe 2026-27: Placement test Spanish
• WiSe 2026-27: French placement test
• WiSe 2026-27: Placement test Italian
• WiSe 2026-27: Placement test German

3.

Open the placement test. Here you will again find some information about the test procedure. The placement test is divided into different test levels, as you can see at the bottom of the page. You start with the test level at the lowest GeR level (English: B1.1, Romance languages: A1, German: A1).

4.

If you select the top test on the Moodle page, you will be redirected to the test. Please select the "Take test now" button to start the test. Start the test quickly after the start of your test shift (within approx. 5 minutes). Each test stage is time-limited. Please note the elapsed time in the box on the right-hand side of the screen.

In this box you can also jump back and forth between the questions as you wish. As soon as you have answered all the questions, you can complete the test stage by clicking on the "End test" button on the right and then on "Submit". If the time has expired, the test is automatically submitted.

5.

English/Spanish/French/Italian

After completing each test level, your results are displayed immediately. You will receive information about your score and which courses you are eligible for based on this result. If you have earned enough points to proceed to the next test level, a password will be shown. Please copy this password carefully (attention: do not include any spaces!). You can access the next test level via the green button at the bottom right or through the test homepage. The next level can only be opened using the corresponding password. If no password is provided, this is your final level, and the test is complete.

In the English placement test, it is possible to skip a test level if you achieve a sufficiently high score. In this case, you will receive the password for the next higher level. Please read your assessment carefully to ensure you start the correct test afterwards.

German as a Foreign Language

After completing each test level, you will immediately receive overall feedback. You will be informed whether you are eligible to proceed to the next test level or whether the placement test ends for you at this point.

It is not possible to skip a level. If you achieve the required score, you will be automatically directed to the next level.

By submitting the online test, you confirm that you have completed the placement test independently and without the help of others. Please note that your language level may be reclassified by the lecturer at the beginning of the course. If your level is downgraded by the lecturer, you are not entitled to a place in a course at a lower level if this course is fully booked.

After you have completed your placement test, your results will be available in your account on the course platform within a few hours. You can register for courses on the course platform within the specified registration deadlines, based on your placement test results.

Please note that you can only take the placement test on Moodle within the time window for which you registered on the course platform.

Overview of the score limits for the placement tests

You can deregister yourself on the course platform from the date for which you are already registered and register for another date.

Yes, if you are unable to attend the regular dates for an understandable reason (e.g. internship, stay abroad), it is possible to arrange a special date for the placement test. Please contact our office by e-mail and provide proof of your absence, such as an internship certificate, dated flight tickets or similar documents.

For organizational reasons, it is necessary that you contact us before or during the regular placement test phase.

Please note: It is your responsibility to inform yourself about the placement and registration procedure in good time. Late notification of deadlines and procedures is not considered a legitimate reason for making a special appointment.

If you have recently enrolled as a first or second-year student at TU Dortmund University and do not yet have a personal TU account or access to the Moodle platform, you can take the placement test via guest access.

Pleasecontact our secretary's office in good time by e-mail and you will then receive a temporary guest access for Moodle with which you can take the test.

The placement test will only be activated in Moodle shortly before your booked date. Please check whether you are looking for the right date and whether the setting "All (except hidden)" is activated in the Moodle course overview. Browse through all pages of your course list, as the test room is sorted alphabetically. If you still cannot find the test room, please contact us by e-mail (einstufung.fs(at)tu-dortmund.de).

Please return to the previous test level and call up your result again. Check carefully that you have copied the password correctly - make sure in particular that you have not copied any spaces or additional characters. Your result will also indicate which test level you can unlock with the password. Read this information carefully and then start the correct test level with the copied password.

Please contact the test supervisor / einstufung-fs.zhb(at)tu-dortmund.de immediately.

The invigilator will check your result and can reset the test if necessary so that you can start it again. Please note that the test progress is recorded exactly and that a new attempt is only possible if there is a genuine technical problem.

No, the placement test can only be taken once per language per semester. If you do not reach the desired level, you can attend a lower course in the current semester and take the test again for the higher level in the next semester.

It may take a few days to transfer the result to the course platform. If the registration deadline is approaching and your result is still missing, please contact our office.