onSET at your institution
Assess language proficiency quickly and reliably
Whether for course placement, admissions procedures or exam preparation, onSET is a reliable instrument to ascertain your learners' language skills in German and English quickly, fairly, and objectively .
onSET is a standardised, computer-based placement test in C-test format for German and English as a foreign language. The test takes a maximum of 40 minutes to complete.CEFR-compliant results (A2–C1) are available immediately afterwards.
The benefits of onSET at a glance
onSET offers a sound basis to establish your learners' language level quickly and objectively.
Plan courses with precision
Assign learners to the appropriate course level, form homogeneous learning groups, and track learning progress on a regular basis.
Assess exam readiness realistically
Establish whether learners meet the language requirements for exams such as TestDaF or other language qualifications.
Put application and selection procedures on an objective basis
Use onSET to assess language skills transparently as part of admissions, application or scholarship procedures.
Verify language proficiency
The onSET certificate documents the CEFR level achieved and is well suited to reviewing learning progress.
Discover onSET
Our sample test gives you a feel for how the onSET online placement test works. Take it as often as you like to explore the test structure and format.
Try onSET for free
Is onSET right for your institution? Request free trial access and see for yourself. We’ll also be happy to advise you on how onSET can best be used at your institution.
Scientifically developed
onSET was developed by g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung) in co-operation with Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Grotjahn (Ruhr-Universität Bochum).
A multi-stage quality process — from task development through piloting with partner institutions to ongoing validation — ensures a high level of measurement accuracy, fairness and commensurability of results. Placement is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and is internationally recognised.
As a leading institution for academic language testing in Germany, g.a.s.t. brings together academic research, test development and test administration under one roof.
onSET design
Every onSET task is reviewed by testing experts, linguists and native speakers, and then trialled with large numbers of learners. The result is individual task sets of comparable difficulty, for reliable and fair results.
Backed by research
onSET is grounded in research and proven in practice. Reviewed texts, trials with learners and psychometric analyses ensure fair, comparable results and reliable placement at CEFR levels.
g.a.s.t. Academy
The g.a.s.t. Academy offers practical workshops, webinars and tailored training for teachers of German as a foreign language and for those responsible for exams. Key topics include test development, assessment, e-learning and exam preparation.
onSET is an online placement test for German and English based on the C-test format. In just 40 minutes, it provides a reliable assessment of language proficiency from A2 to C1 on the CEFR scale. Universities and language institutes use onSET for course placement, exam readiness, scholarship applications, and proof of language skills for professional purposes.
