The prepdaf blog
Guides to the German exams, how the levels work, and what happens behind the scoring — written to make your prep less of a guess.
CEFR levels explained: what A1–C1 really mean (and how to find yours)
What the CEFR levels really mean, why self-rating is so often wrong, and how the prepdaf placement test gives you a more objective starting point.
What a practice set gives you
A compact preview of Goethe-Zertifikat A2 Lesen: the format, a sample task and the feedback you receive after completing a set.
How we score the placement test — a level, not just a percentage
Getting 40% can mean A1 or A2 — it depends on which answers were right, not how many. Here's the exact logic behind your placement result: a per-skill CEFR ladder, a safety net for careless slips, and how speaking fits in.
TestDaF, telc, Goethe or DSH: which German exam do you actually need?
Four German certificates open the door to a German university — but they aren't interchangeable. Here's how TestDaF, telc C1 Hochschule, DSH and the Goethe-Zertifikat differ on recognition, format, cost and retakes, and a simple rule for choosing the right one.