The TestDaf is a standardised test that allows learners of German to have their knowledge of the language assessed.

The assessment is given as a numerical value called the TDN - Test DaF Niveau. The TDN scale goes from 1 to 5.

Some organisations may require applicants to show proof of having taken a TestDaf test as opposed to other levels that we have talked about during this month.

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ZDj stands for Zertifikat Deutsch für Jugendliche. It is set at the B1 level on the European scale of language learning and is aimed at young people between 12 and 15 years of age who are learning German as a foreign language.

Participants should be able to talk about things that interest them, eg. a television programme, and also be able to go into a shop and buy something without any great difficulty.

The certificate may be useful for teenagers moving permanently to Germany with their parents to be able to gain entry to a German school.

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Fit 1/2, or to give it its full title: Fit in Deutsch 1/2 are two courses and exams set at the A1 and A2 levels respectively.

They are aimed at younger people than the previous DaF courses, and as such they concentrate on situations and subsequently the vocabulary that younger people would need when in Germany.

One problem with such target groups is the time it takes for new textbooks to appear that take account of modern trends.  Modern topics may therefore be covered using handouts rather than textbooks.

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PWD stands for Prüfung Wirtschaftsdeutsch.  It is set at the top end of level C1 on the European scale for language learning.

The exam is targeted towards situations in German working life, such as taking part in a meeting or a sales conference.

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ZDfB stands for Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf.  It is set at the B2 level on the European scale of language learning and is intended for adult learners.

The vocabulary that is taught is aimed more towards words that would be used in an office or in industry, although at a moderate level.  As such someone with ZDfB could make telephone calls or write correspondence, but it is not the highest level that may be required for more qualified jobs.

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GDS stands for Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, set at C2+ on the European Scale of language learning.

Students taking the GDS exam should be over 18 and have 1000-1500 hours of tuition behind them.  They will typically have a knowledge of specific vocabulary for particular topics, eg. technical or medical.

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KDS stands for Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom which is set at the C2 level on the European scale.

The KDS is standardised and is offered world-wide twice every year and students need about 1000 hours of tuition to prepare for it.

The KDS is recognised internationally as having achieved a certain level of German and can therefore be useful for foreigners coming to work or study in Germany.

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ZOP stands for Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung and is set at level C2 - the highest level on the European scale.

Students who pass the exam will have a knowledge of the language similar to that of a native speaker.  They will normally have had between 1000 and 1500 hours of tuition.

Passing this exam opens up more opportunities, one example being the ability to study at a German University.

The Goethe Institute has self-study materials for ZOP on their website.

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ZMP stands for Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung and is another stage when learning German as a foreign language.  It is set at B2/C1 levels.

It is the level for which the most teaching resources exist, as it is the first certificate that can realistically be used to apply for a job or a study place in Germany.  Starting a business may also require the owner to prove this level of German.

Students do not necessarily have to take the ZMP course in order to take the exam.  There are self-study materials from the Goethe Institute that allow them to practise for the exam.

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ZD is the second stage of DAF - Deutsch als Fremdsprache (German as a foreign language).

ZD stands for Zertifikat Deutsch and is set at B1 level.  To take the course students should be at least 16 years old.

To gain the certificate students need to be able to talk about recent events, such as a journey or holiday, or even make a simple phone call.

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