Grundbaustein Deutsch (GBS DaF)

This examination tests language performance at an elementary level (A2 on the scale of the Council of Europe). It concentrates on the ability to communicate in German in real-life situations which can occur in Germany or in situations with speakers of German. The ability to write in German is not tested. The examination is usually taken after approximately 200 hours of teaching.

The examination consists of two sections: a written component and an oral component.

The written component consists of the following parts:

Communicative Tasks

Candidates are tested by assessing their reaction to fairly simple everyday situations given to them on audio recording. The candidates hear each item only once. Typical situations might be welcoming someone, asking the way or congratulating someone. The audio prompts are very short and usually consist of one line. This component consists of fifteen items. The item type is three-option multiple-choice.

Listening Comprehension

Candidates listen to a brief conversation (in a shop, in an office, or at home) or a piece of general information (on an answering machine, in a department store, or at the railway station). The listening text is divided into three or four separate parts. Candidates hear each text twice. Candidates are given ten statements (three or four for each listening text) which may be true or false.

Reading Comprehension

This component consists of fifteen true/false items. Short written texts, mostly personal letters or advertising texts of various kinds, must be read. The reading texts are based on authentic material. People who want to travel in Germany find these kinds of texts extremely useful since they are samples of text which can be seen everywhere in Germany (in the streets, on trains, in offices, etc).

The oral component consists of the following parts:

Everyday Situations

After some introductory words between examiners and candidate four situations are read out in a natural way by the examiner, so that the candidate can react appropriately. The situations are again taken from everyday life.

Guided Conversation

The examiner asks six questions which the candidate answers. If the answers are very short the examiner tries to assists by giving prompts such as Why?, Why not?, or Really?

Marking

The examination is marked centrally in the Examinations Office. The marks given in the oral part of the examination are added to those given for the other components.

Marks

No certificate is issued in this examination, but the candidate is given the results gained in the written and in the oral part. For example: the candidate is told that she or he scored ten out of fifteen possible points in a particular section of the examination. When a candidate has gained 60% of the total possible score the examination is passed and an evaluation sheet is issued.