FAQ

Here is some information about frequently asked questions regarding English/Philology.

FAQ about the English Entrance Test:

Abitur Certificate not yet available

If you have not yet received your Abitur certificate, please submit your school certificate and your mid-year report from 12th grade instead of the Abitur certificate when registering for the test.

If you only have a provisional certificate and the grade may still change, it is advisable to participate in the aptitude test as a precaution. If you receive the final result before the test date, you may be able to cancel your registration at short notice.

Abitur Certificate Despite Student Status

Even students participating from UP should bring their Abitur certificate, as the aim is to determine whether an equivalent language certification is already present or not (>12 points in advanced English courses and an Abitur certificate from this year or the previous year).

Cancellation of the Exam

Independent cancellation of the exam appointment is possible within the registration period. For cancellation after the deadline, for example in case of illness, please contact entrance-iaauuni-potsdampde.

For another appointment, you can only register independently within the registration periods. There are no alternative or retake dates.

Registration for the Aptitude Test

The two test dates for the current year and the link to register for the exam are usually published on the website in April.

Consult the video for a detailed guide on the registration process.

Please remember that there are only two test dates per academic year. There is no alternative date beyond these. Applicants who cannot attend either date must prove their language proficiency through exams recognized by the Institute of English and American Studies (see Recognized Alternative Proofs of Language Competence).

Do not forget that the proof of equivalence to the aptitude test must be confirmed within the application deadlines in the relevant portal in case of admission restrictions.

Registration for the Aptitude Test: Pay Attention to Deadlines!

According to §4 Abs 2 of the revised regulations for conducting proficency tests at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam [Ambek 2015, No. 4 from 30.3.2022], "registration is [...] takes place electronically, no later than ten calendar days before the respective test date at the English/Philology language department at the Zessko Institute of the University of Potsdam."

After the registration deadline, rebooking the appointment is not possible.

Applicants who cannot take the aptitude test on the scheduled dates can demonstrate their language proficiency through the following documents and test results.

The dates and information for admission and registration for the current aptitude test are typically available on our website from April.

Application for Equivalence Certificate Based on Abitur Certificate

To assess whether an equivalence certificate can be issued for your Abitur achievements, please upload a scan of your Abitur certificate to the central portal for aptitude tests (Moodle-EFP). You can download the equivalence certificate from the same page and include it with your enrollment documents.

Please note that the platform for equivalence certificates will only open on May 2, 2025. Ensure that your Abitur certificate meets the requirements before uploading it!

Your Abitur certificate must meet the following conditions:

A certificate of attainment of the general university entrance qualification according to § 9 Abs. 2 Satz 1 Nr. 1 BbgHG with at least 12 points in advanced English course or 12 points in English with advanced requirements achieved in the written Abitur examination or one of the last two school semesters.

Proof of passing the aptitude test or proof of an equivalent according to § 6 Abs. 2 is valid for the application period in the year in which the test is taken or or the certificate of equivalencet is issued taken and the following year (i.e., your certificate must be from the year ofapplication or the previous year; older certificates cannot be considered).

Please remember that in case of admission restrictions, proof of the equivalence to the aptitude test must be confirmed in the central portal within the application deadline.

Here is the step-by-step guide.

Application for Equivalence Certificate Based on English Language Proficiency with English as First Language and Study Abroad in a Country with English as Official Language

Decisions about issuing an equivalence certificate, thereby exempting individuals from the aptitude test, for native English language proficiency and for having completed a completed study program in a country in which abroad where English is anthe official language, are made by the examination committee of the Institute of English and American Studies.

If English is your native language or if you have a degree from an English-speaking university in a country where English is anthe official language, please contact entrance-iaauuni-potsdampde.

Please note that applications for an equivalence certificate must be submitted to the examination committee at least 4 weeks before the application deadlines.

Equivalent Alternative Proofs of Language Competence

Recognized alternative proofs of language competence:

Applicants can demonstrate their language proficiency through the following documents and test results:

TOEFL internet-based test with a minimum of 87 points;
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency with at least 180 points;
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English;
IELTS (Academic Version) with: an average score of 6.5;
UNIcert® III or IV;
International Baccalaureate: English A1 with a grade of 5 or higher.

Proof of passing the aptitude test or proof of an equivalent is valid for the application period in the year in which the test or equivalent is taken and in the following year. Please specify during the application process which proof you have and include it with your enrollment documents. If you can present the desired results, no application for equivalence certification is necessary from the examination committee.

Do not forget that the proof of equivalence to the aptitude test must be confirmed within the application deadlines in the study place portal in case of admission restrictions.

Equivalent Alternative Proofs of Language Competence: Additional Information

Upon application to the examination committee, the following proofs can be recognized as further equivalents:

Certificate of general university entrance qualification with at least 12 points in advanced English courses or 12 points in English with advanced requirements achieved in the Abitur examination or in one of the last two school semesters (see: FAQ - Application for Equivalence Certificate Based on Abitur Certificate);
Completion of an English-language university degree in a country where English is anthe official language;
Native English speaker.

No equivalence certificates will be issued for other cases, including:

Work-and-Travel;
Attendance of an English school;
Au Pair stays.

Exemption from the Aptitude Test

If you are planning to change your study program, and have aAlready been Assigned to a Higher Semester for a...:

Teaching Degree in English or BA in English/American Studies – Participation in the test is not required. Reason: When placed into a higher semester in the subject of English or English and American Studies, it can be assumed that the required English language skills are present.

Teaching Degree in Special Education with English as a Subject – Participation in the test is required. Reason: If the previous focus of study was not on English, but on special education or educational sciences, placement in a higher semester is still possible.

However, the required general language competence is verified if the following equivalent language skills can be demonstrated:

12-Point Rule: If you have 12 points in the advanced English course in your Abitur (in the written Abitur exam or one of the last two school semesters), you do not need to take the test. If your Abitur certificate meets all relevantother criteria, you can apply for an equivalence certificate on the central platform for aptitude tests Moodle-EFP. Please specify during the application process which proof you have and include a simple, non-certified copy of the certificate with your enrollment documents.

Aptitude Test (Philology Studies) Instead of Placement Test (Key Competencies)

The English aptitude test should only be taken by those applying for the BA in a study place in English/American Studies or a Teaching Degree in English.

If you are studying at UP and wish to enroll in an English course within the English/Key Competencies language department, you should not take the aptitude test, but rather participate in a placement test.

Find information on placement tests for English courses in the English/Key Competencies language department here.

Aptitude Test: Required Documents on Exam Day

Please bring the following documents with you to the exam:

i) Your passport/ID card (You must present a photo ID for identification)

ii) Your Abitur certificate or school certificate (These can be presented in original or as a copy. We do not retain your documents.)

Aptitude Test: Results and Validity

In the week following the aptitude test, you can download the proof of the aptitude test from the central platform for aptitude tests Moodle-EFP. If you pass the exam, you must include the proof with your enrollment documents. The proof of passing the aptitude test is valid for the application period in the year it is taken and in the following year.

According to § 6 Abs. 1 of the revised regulations for conducting aptitude tests at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam, "the general language competence necessary for admission to a study program at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam is established if at least 60% of the achievable points are demonstrated." If this is not the case, the test can be retaken no sooner than the following year or an equivalent recognized proof can be included with the enrollment documents. For queries regarding admission to a study program at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam, the institute is responsible.

Aptitude Test: Subject Matter of the Exam

The exam is a written test. Please watch the video available on our website. According to the revised regulations for conducting aptitude tests for all Bachelor's degree programs or subjects at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam dated January 25, 2015:

(2) The subject of the aptitude test includes language competencies in the areas of

- Orthography,

- Vocabulary and text comprehension,

- Grammar.

(3) The aptitude test lasts 90 minutes. The specific format of the test is published on the homepages of the English /Philology language department at Zessko and of the examination committee of the Department Institute of English and American Studies.

Aptitude Test: No Alternative Date

Each year, two test dates are offered. There is no alternative date for the aptitude test. Applicants who cannot attend either of these dates must demonstrate their language proficiency through alternative proofs of language competence recognized by the examination committee.

Aptitude Test: No Additional Preparation Materials

The aptitude test is intended to assess the general language competence required for admission to a study program at the DepartmentInstitute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam.

Sample questions are available, but no further preparation materials are provided. There are numerous grammar and vocabulary practice tests available online (which can be found through a Google search).

Aptitude Test: Compensation for Disadvantages

In accordance with § 4 of the regulations for conducting aptitude tests for all Bachelor's degree programs or subjects at the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam dated January 21, 2015, as amended by the Second Statute for the Amendment of Regulations for Conducting aptitude Tests dated February 25, 2022, applicants are explicitly granted the possibility to apply for compensation for disadvantages:

"If an applicant demonstrates that they are unable to complete the aptitude test in whole or in part in the prescribed form due to prolonged or permanent physical impairment, the examination committee will, in consultation with the examinee, establish appropriate measures through which equivalent examination performances can be provided within extended processing time or in another form. The application for compensation for disadvantages must be submitted in a timely manner, no later than with the registration for the aptitude test."

Please register for the aptitude test via Moodle-EFP and simultaneously apply informally to the examination committee for compensation for disadvantages for the English aptitude test at entrance-iaa@uni-potsdam.de. Please specify the required measures and attach a medical certificate.

Aptitude Test: Changing the Date is Not Possible

Unfortunately, changing the date is not possible because participant lists, the examination protocol, and group and personal passwords for the respective dates are prepared promptly.