TestDaF Registration: Important Things You Should Know in Advance

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If you are planning to study at a university in Germany or Austria, you probably already know that a TestDaF certificate with the scores TDN 4 or TDN 5 gives you access to almost any university. TestDaF is an internationally recognized semi-academic language examination that certifies German language proficiency at levels B2 to C1 (you can learn more about the TestDaF scoring system in this article).

Registering for an international language exam may seem like nothing more than a formality. However, there are many important details that should be taken into account before you register. Careful planning will help you avoid unnecessary stress and unpleasant surprises.

The Official TestDaF Website

You can register for any TestDaF exam date in any country exclusively through the official TestDaF website.

There you will find the current examination schedule. Worldwide, with the exception of China, TestDaF is held on the same day.

When registering for TestDaF, pay close attention to the difference between the paper-based and the digital exam formats. The paper-based TestDaF is not available in every country, so we recommend preparing for the digital version from the very beginning (you can learn more about the differences between the two formats in this article). In the list of available exam dates, the digital TestDaF is marked with a computer icon.

Registration Periods

For each exam date, the website specifies the registration period (Anmeldefrist). In many cases, registration opens almost one year before the exam takes place. However, registration periods may vary depending on the country and the individual test center. Some regional test centers only open registration for the nearest upcoming exam session. Therefore, we recommend planning your TestDaF registration well in advance. Choose your exam date so that you are guaranteed to receive your results before your university application deadlines.

Result Publication

The results of the TestDaF digital are usually published three weeks after the exam. If you choose the paper-based TestDaF, you will have to wait approximately six weeks for your results.

When choosing your exam date, keep in mind that not everyone passes TestDaF on their first attempt. This is especially true for candidates who are taking an international language examination for the first time or who have not familiarized themselves with the exam format by completing practice tests. That is why targeted preparation for the TestDaF format is just as important as having a high level of German.

Ideally, you should choose an exam date that leaves enough time to register for the next session and retake the exam if necessary before the university application deadlines expire. You can find out how to do this in this article.

Helpful Registration Tips

One important detail is that the TestDaF examination fee varies considerably from country to country.

For example, in 2026, taking TestDaF costs €210 in Germany, €160 in Poland, and €105 in India.

You should also keep in mind that not every test center offers every exam date listed on the official website. Some centers only administer the digital TestDaF, which means that paper-based exam dates may not be available. In addition, certain exam sessions may be cancelled due to local holidays, vacation periods, or organizational circumstances at the test center.

For this reason, we recommend checking the available exam dates and test centers as early as possible, especially if you are planning to take TestDaF abroad.

Conclusion

Registering for TestDaF may seem like a simple technical step, but this is exactly where many candidates make mistakes. They choose an unsuitable exam date, fail to take the result publication period into account, or discover too late that the selected test center does not offer the desired exam session.

If you plan your TestDaF registration well in advance, you can avoid unnecessary stress and focus on what really matters - thorough preparation for the exam. After all, your preparation is the factor that has the greatest impact on your final result.