Prohairesis wrote:On this particular subject of the "usefulness" of the G-Z, do you think the TestDaf is a better alternative for university/job applications ? I hear a lot of people saying that many places don't accept the G-Z C1, and I am somewhat dumfounded as I perceive the G-Z C1 to be more demanding compared to TestDaf.
One last question about test centers for the Goethe-Zertifikat ? Is it true, as some people have said, that passing the G-Z exam at a Goethe-Institut intra-muros (a convoluted way of saying "in Germany") is more difficult than say, the test center here in Bangkok ? People around me say that the examiners are more severe in Germany, but isn't their system supposed to be standardized ?
For job applications I doubt there's much if any difference. Goethe C1 may well be more useful but I don't actually know. For university applications it's going to be very dependent on the university. What I do know is that all universities in Germany (and likely Austria) will accept a TestDaF score of all 5s and most will accept a score in which someone has scored all 4s. It appears that a lot of schools will also accept the TELC C1 Hochschule test. The main differences with these is these two tests are testing people on academic discourse which, from what I can tell, the C1 test doesn't focus on. They also all accept Goethe C2 (Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom).
I just looked at the German proficiency requirements for 11 universities in Germany. Of those 11 only two allow for students to use Goethe Institut C1 certificates in order to prove their proficiency. There are other tests that you can take that many universities will accept. There's a lot more information on this on DAAD's website. It's not about the test being more demanding or not it's about what you're being tested on.
I'm not sure about your question about how easy or hard it is to take Goethe Institut tests in Germany vs in other countries but I'm almost positive it's supposed to be standardized. I have professors take GI courses for examiners on a regular basis which makes me think that the GI does want there to be a standard.
Thank you so much for your support throughout my journey, and I'll definitely allot some time in the day for a Saint-Honoré or an Éclair.
And now I'm hungry