English language test
The test serves to ascertain whether you have CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) C1-level proficiency in the English language.
The test is as a rule computer based and will be held in the E-Examination Center.
No content preparation is required as it is solely aimed at testing your command of the English language.
Test duration
90 minutes (+ 5-10 min. introduction to the test)
Test parts
- Grammar (30 min.)
- Reading comprehension (30 min.)
- Listening comprehension (30 min.)*
(*) Listening comprehension will only be tested in the computer-based version. The pen-and-paper version of the test has no listening comprehension and hence the duration of both the reading comprehension and grammar parts is 45 minutes.
The test serves to ascertain whether you have CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) B2.2-level proficiency in the English language.
The test is as a rule computer based and will be held in the E-Examination Center.
No content preparation is required as it is solely aimed at testing your command of the English language.
Test duration
90 minutes (+ 5-10 min. introduction to the test)
Test parts
- Grammar (30 min.)
- Reading comprehension (30 min.)
- Listening comprehension (30 min.)*
(*) Listening comprehension will only be tested in the computer-based version. The pen-and-paper version of the test has no listening comprehension and hence the duration of both the reading comprehension and grammar parts is 45 minutes.
Exemption from the language test for the BA programmes English Philology and Primary Education Pedagogy with English as the Elective / North American Studies
You can be exempted from the test if you fulfil one of the following conditions:
| Degree / Certificate | Validity |
Exemption procedure (Please do not submit your certifcates with your admissions applications) |
| IELTS (Academic) overall result 6.0 or higher and at least 6.0 in writing | max. 3 years |
email a scanned copy of your certificate(s) verifying any of the above-listed exemption criteria as an attachment, with your applicant account and date of birth to: befreiungenglisch@sprachenzentrum.fu-berlin.de Applicants for summer semester (only higher semester) need to do this between 03.02.20 - 01.03.20. |
| TOEFL Internet based iB: overall score 90 or higher and at least 20 in writing | ||
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grades A-C | ||
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): grades A-C | ||
| Cambridge First Certificate of English (FCE): grades A-B | ||
| Cambridge English Scale CPE, CAE und FCE (from January 2015): overall score 173 or higher and at least 173 in writing | ||
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level (SL/HL): 4 in English | ||
| 6 months at a university in an English-speaking country, including successful participation on several linguistically demanding courses | ||
| A minimum of 9 points (Leistungskurs/erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau) or 11 points (Grundkurs) in the written part of the Abitur exam for English. For more information on this please see the information in German on exemption from the language test. | unlimited |
Please note that we can only exempt applicants on the grounds listed above.
You can be exempted from the test if you fulfil one of the following conditions:
| Degree / Certificate | Validity |
Exemption procedure (Please do not submit your certifcates with your admissions applications) |
| IELTS (Academic) overall result 7.0 or higher | max. 3 years |
Email a scanned copy of your certificate(s) verifying any of the above-listed exemption criteria as an attachment, with your applicant account and date of birth to: befreiungenglisch@sprachenzentrum.fu-berlin.de Applicants for summer semester (only higher semester) need to do this between 03.02.20 - 01.03.20. |
| TOEFL Internet based iB: overall score 100 or higher and at least 25 in writing | ||
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grades A-C | ||
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): grades A-B | ||
| Cambridge English Scale CPE, CAE und FCE (from January 2015): overall score 180 or higher and at least 180 in writing | ||
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level (SL/HL): 5 in English | ||
| 1 year at a university in an English-speaking country, including successful participation on several linguistically demanding courses | ||
| A minimum of 12 points (Leistungskurs/erhöhtes Anforderungsniveau) in the written part of the Abitur exam for English. For more information on this please see the information in German on exemption from the language test. | unlimited |
Please note that we can only exempt applicants on the grounds listed above.