Become a Goethe-Institut examination center

• German language courses and certified examinations are the perfect match: Examinations clearly define the proficiency level your students want to achieve and give direction to curricula while providing additional incentive for language learning.
• Knowing the next steps and how to prepare (e.g. customized exam preparation courses) helps students navigate the learning process and boosts student satisfaction.
• Examiners tend to be the better teachers: they know from experience which subjects give students the most trouble, what mistakes to avoid, and which strategies lead to success on the test.
• Examiners also benefit from the rigorous training programs offered by the Goethe-Institut and their impact on overall teaching performance.
• The close cooperation between the Goethe-Institut and its examination centers includes regular feedback on the examination center’s performance, which improves overall language program results.
• Examination centers join an extensive network of peer German language institutions in the US, where cooperation and communication extends far beyond just the examinations.
• Examination centers benefit from the Goethe-Institut’s established image as the worldwide leader in German language teaching and testing, a marketing advantage epitomized by the Goethe-Institut examination center logo designed to visualize this close and exclusive partnership.
• College/university language departments boost their international profile by integrating a globally recognized certification program

In order to maintain its leading position in German examinations worldwide and to secure the value of its internationally recognized certificates, it is crucial for the Goethe-Institut to make sure that the testing process is conducted in a proper and standardized manner by all examination centers. Thorough qualification programs for examiners and the regular monitoring of examination center standards form the foundation of the Goethe-Institutes examination center system.

Accordingly, Goethe-Institut examination centers offer Goethe-Institut examinations 

• on a regular basis, at least twice a year, for most or all proficiency levels (CEFR levels A1 — C2), both in their adult or teenager formats — the Fit A1/A2 youth examinations, if possible, in cooperation with local school partners;
• not only (in the case of college/university language departments) to enrolled students, but explicitly to external customers as well;
• for a fee (optional discounts for enrolled students), a portion of which is to be paid as commission to the responsible Goethe-Institut branch office; the prices listed below are explicitly to be understood as non-binding price recommendations: examination centers set their own prices.
• according to an annual examination schedule accessible online on your and our website (and sent to the responsible Goethe-Institut branch office in advance to ensure testing materials are supplied in a timely manner);
• with proof of correct conduct by sending examination reports and an annual report to the responsible Goethe-Institut branch office;
• conducted exclusively by Goethe-Institut authorized examiners whose qualifications consist of both continuing professional training courses (webinars) and an online certification process for language examiners, all of which are offered free of charge by the Goethe-Institut.

Wenn Sie Interesse an dieser Form der Prüfungspartnerschaft mit dem Goethe-Institut haben, bitte kontaktieren Sie uns: exams-usa@goethe.de

Bei gemeinsamem Interesse an dieser Prüfungspartnerschaft wird eine Prüfungskooperationvereinbarung über die gegenseitigen Leistungen abgeschlossen, das neue Prüfungszentrum erhält das Partnerlogo und wird auf der Webseite des Goethe-Institut als Netzwerkpartner gelistet.

Auf Grundlage seiner Jahresterminplanung erhält das Prüfungszentrum rechtzeitig die erforderlichen Prüfungsunterlagen, führt die Prüfungen durch (mit jeweils zwei autorisierten Prüfer/innen), schickt die Prüfungsdokumente incl. Protokoll unmittelbar nach der Prüfung an das betreuende Goethe-Institut und erhält die Goethe-Zertifikate zur Weitergabe an seine (erfolgreichen) Prüfungsteilnehmer/innen nach Entrichtung der anfallenden Abgaben gemäß der aktuellen Gebührenliste des Goethe-Instituts.

Das betreuende Goethe-Institut erhält zum Jahresende den Jahresbericht für das laufende und die Jahresterminplanung für das folgende Jahr. Es sichert die Qualifikation der Prüfer/innen des Prüfungszentrums durch deren Einladung zu den entsprechenden Prüferschulungen und Anmeldung zu Prüferzertifizierungen.