What TestDaF Score Do You Actually Need for University?

The scale is TDN, not a percentage

Every TestDaF certificate reports four numbers, one for each subtest: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Each is independently graded as TDN 5, TDN 4, TDN 3, or, below that, "unter TDN 3" (under TDN 3), which means the level wasn't reached in that skill.

Roughly mapped to the CEFR scale you may already know from school or a language course:

• TDN 3 sits around CEFR B2.
• TDN 4 spans the upper half of B2 into C1.
• TDN 5 sits around C1.

The number that actually matters: TDN 4 in all four

For admission to a standard degree course in Germany, the general requirement is TDN 4 in all four subtests. This is stated plainly in official guidance: most universities accept this as proof of sufficient German to study in German, provided the rest of your application meets their other conditions.

1. ReadingTDN 4 or higher
2. ListeningTDN 4 or higher
3. WritingTDN 4 or higher
4. SpeakingTDN 4 or higher

That's the general rule, not a universal one. Two things can change it:

• Some competitive programs, especially at the Master's level or in high-demand subjects, ask for TDN 5 in some or all subtests.
• Some universities accept a mix - for example TDN 4 overall with one subtest at TDN 3 - at their own discretion.

Why your weakest subtest matters more than your average

Because each skill is graded and reported on its own, a university reviewing your application sees exactly where you're strongest and weakest. This is different from exams that report a single overall band - there's nowhere for a weak Speaking score to hide behind a strong Reading score.

In practice, this means your preparation time is best spent finding your actual weakest subtest and working on that specifically, rather than general study across all four skills equally. A candidate at TDN 5, TDN 5, TDN 5, TDN 3 is further from admission than one at TDN 4 across the board, even though the first candidate's average is higher.

If you already know your CEFR level

If you've taken a CEFR-based course or exam before, you already have a rough starting point:

• B1 or below - TDN 4 across all four is a real stretch goal, not a near-term target. Expect a longer preparation period, particularly for Writing and Speaking.
• Solid B2 - TDN 4 is realistic with focused preparation, especially if your B2 is uneven across skills.
• C1 - TDN 4 should already be within reach, and TDN 5 may be too, depending on which specific skill is weakest.

None of this replaces an actual practice test. CEFR self-assessment and TestDaF's own task types don't always feel the same, especially in Writing and Speaking, where the test's specific task formats reward preparation that general CEFR study doesn't cover.

What to actually do with this

If you're planning your TestDaF timeline, the useful sequence is: find your target program's real requirement first, take a diagnostic practice test to see your current subtest-by-subtest level, then prepare specifically for whichever subtest sits furthest from your target - not the one that feels hardest, the one that's numerically furthest away.

Message us on WhatsApp to book a free trial lesson, and we'll help you identify your actual weakest TestDaF subtest and build a plan around it, rather than studying all four skills evenly.

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This article is based on official TestDaF-Institut guidance on the TDN scoring scale and university admission requirements, corroborated by German university admissions pages. Exact score requirements are set individually by each university and program - always confirm with your specific target institution before finalising your preparation plan.

Further reading:

• TestDaF-Institut - official site
• TestDaF-Institut - test evaluation and TDN scoring
• TU Dresden - TestDaF admission requirements