Information on German government tests in the field of general education

• 25.000 certificates worldwide in 2006
• 600 certificates in the USA, first issued in 2003
• The test are issued to schools in the field of general education worldwide
• They are released by the Kultusminsterkonferez, the chamber of educational ministers of the German states
• The tests are administrated trough Zentralstelle fuer Auslandsschulen in Koeln, an agency of German Federal Office of Administration www.bundesverwaltungsamt.de 
• In the United States these tests can be offered to qualifying programs
• For more information or application please contact ZfA Fachberater:
• zfa-losangeles@dasan.de, zfa-washington@dasan.de

The new generation of tests

• The German tests are developed under supervision of university testing experts following the latest research
• These tests stand out from many tests of German
• They don't test grammar any more in specific test items
• Teachers can focus on active oral and written communication
• Students achieve communicative competences much quicker
• Help to have even more fun teaching and learning German

Best practice

• There has been tremendous success with ZDP-A in HS in California.
• The tests come at different levels and are interesting for teachers having classes where they can emphasize on oral and written communication rather than grammar.

Perspectives

• From 2008 there will be new tests issued by German government agencies.
• The tests coming with certificates are different from most tests, as they don't have specific test items on grammar.
• It is deemed feasible to have any of these tests issued by selected American schools of general education, well tailored to their specific needs.

Test levels compared to distinctive and successful US-tests of German

• Deutsches Sprachdiplom    A-2     (probably between AATG 2/-3)
• Deutsches Sprachdiplom    B-1     (probably between AATG 4 and AP)
• Deutsches Sprachdiplom    C-1     (probably at or sover the AP level)
• Zentrale Deutschpruefung ZDP 8 (informal test for the US probably below AATG 3 and below A-2 for children under 12)