The Department of German Studies serves as testing center for two German language exams which are available through the Goethe Institute. The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 for learners of German with an intermediate-high/advanced level of proficiency in German is recommended to students with a minimum of three to four years of German study and solid language skills in everyday situations. The Goethe-Zertifikat C1 is recommended for learners at an advanced-high/superior level of proficiency (e.g., students at the end of their BA program, graduate students, and students who have studied abroad for at least one semester and who have reached high communicative fluency and accuracy).
Passing grades on the B2 and the C1 are usually accepted as indicators of adequate language proficiency by German institutions for employment and naturalization; passing the C1 usually satisfies language requirements for entrance to German universities. The tests are general, comprehensive proficiency exams, testing all four language skills, as well as grammar. More information about the tests can be found at: http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/pba/bes/deindex.htm.
The dates: We have scheduled the written part of the exams on Thursday, February 16 from 1:00 - 5:00 (in the German department’s conference room LSB 346 (1512 E 1st St.), to be confirmed) and the oral part for Friday, February 17, in individually scheduled sessions of about 30 minutes each in LSB 346.
The fees for the exams are as follows: Goethe-Zertifikat B2: $90, Goethe-Zertifikat C1: $120 (to be confirmed and subject to change). Note that exams taken at U.S. Goethe Institutes usually cost $30 more.
Sample copies of the exams can be found at http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/pba/bes/deindex.htm. Interested students are encouraged to check out the sample exams if they are not certain which one would be most appropriate for their level and take the exam(s) to get familiarized with the procedure. Taking the Goethe Institute examinations is an excellent investment. Certificate awardees will receive internationally recognized, valuable documentation (in the form of a certificate) of their German language proficiency.
Application and payment deadline: If you would like to take one of the two Goethe Institute Exams, please submit the attached form with payment no later than January 15, 2012. Payment should be made by check, payable to “Goethe-Institut”. Please indicate on the check whether you pay for the B2 or C1 exam. Send or submit the sign-up form below including payment to:
Brook Hundtoft,
102 Learning Services Building,
PO Box 210105,
The University of Arizona,
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Peter Ecke
Department of German Studies
301 Learning Services Building
Tel: (520) 621 3202
Fax: (520) 626 8268
