How to Know If You Are Ready for an International Exam - and Not Waste Your Money
International language exams are usually not cheap. The price depends on the level (the higher the level, the higher the fee) and also on the country where you take the exam. For example, exams in Poland are often cheaper than in Germany. That is why it is important to be confident in your preparation before you register. But how can you tell if you are really ready?
Two Extremes to Avoid
When preparing for exams, two opposite - yet equally risky - strategies occur most often.
1. Relying on luck instead of systematic preparation
In this case, the learner complains about a lack of time, prepares sporadically, or hardly prepares at all. During the exam, anything can “let you down”:
- you ran out of time,
- you misunderstood the instructions,
- you didn’t orient yourself in the format.
All of this costs valuable points and often leads to a situation where the actual language level is there, but the exam is not passed formally.
2. Overpreparing and doing it without a system
Yes, you can also “overstudy”. The issue here is not only the amount of material, but also the lack of structure. The learner tries to take everything into account, and as a result:
- all answer options start to seem suspicious,
- the correct option looks “too easy”,
- you begin to look for a trap that isn’t there.
In the end, you choose the wrong answer in a place where everything was actually quite clear.
The exam does not test your suspicion - it tests your ability to work with a specific format.
The key rule for effective preparation
The most important advice is to work with authentic tasks from the specific exam. The ideal tool for that is mock tests. It is recommended to complete 5 to 10 full versions before the exam, depending on your results.
How to work with a mock exam correctly
- Start with the official mock test on the website of the institute you have chosen.
- Do it independently, without dictionaries, translators, or any hints.
- Stick strictly to the official exam time.
- Only then check your answers using the official key.
And here is a crucial point: formally, most international exams are considered passed with a result of 60%. But if you consistently score only 60% on mock tests, it is still too early to register for the exam.
If you consistently score 60% at home on mock tests, it is still too early to register for the exam!
Why? Because at home:
- there is no stress,
- the environment is familiar,
- there are no external factors.
At an exam center, it is very easy to lose a few points simply due to nerves.
A benchmark that really works
Real readiness means a stable 75-100% from test to test. This kind of result creates the necessary “buffer” - a safety margin that helps you pass even in less-than-ideal conditions. (Of course, unless you faint on exam day - but that is a different story 😊 )
Example: Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / B2
In the sections Lesen and Hören:
- there are 30 tasks each,
- each task equals 1 point.
60% means 18 correct answers. That is, in the exam you can make up to 12 mistakes in each section and still receive the certificate. But 75% means that during training you should consistently reduce the number of mistakes to a stable “fewer than 7-8” to have that safe margin.
What about TestDaF digital?
With TestDaF, things are more complicated:
- First, the digital version includes quite specific tasks, and you cannot distribute time between tasks at your own discretion.
- Second, the scoring system is less transparent than in Goethe-Zertifikat.
- Third, there is a very limited number of mock tests available for free.
While there are full collections from different publishers for Goethe-Zertifikat, that simply does not exist for TestDaF digital.
What we offer on our website
On our website, you can:
- get access to numerous mock tests,
- complete them in a realistic exam simulation,
- clearly understand the logic of each task,
- receive a score to objectively assess your level of readiness.
In addition, you can also prepare for the writing parts of B1, B2, and TestDaF digital by completing mock exams on our website with subsequent checking. After completion, you will receive a score and detailed teacher feedback.
In conclusion
An exam is not a lottery and not an endurance marathon. It is a check of how well you understand the format and requirements of a specific test. You should prepare neither too much nor too little - but correctly.
We will discuss preparation for the writing and speaking parts in detail in the next article.
