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Thought I’d post this for anyone who may not be familiar with the test.
Format of Assessment
Section I: Multiple Choice | 65 Questions | ~ 95 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
Part A: 30 questions; ~40 minutes
-Interpretive Communication: Print Texts
Part B: 35 Questions; ~55 minutes
-Interpretive Communication: Print and Audio Texts (combined)
-Interpretive Communication: Audio Texts
Section II: Free Response | 4 Tasks | ~ 80 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score
Interpersonal Writing: Email Reply (1 prompt; 15 minutes)
Presentational Writing: Persuasive Essay (1 prompt; ~55 minutes total: 15 minutes to reivew materials plus 40 minutes to write)
Interpersonal Speaking: Conversation (5 prompts; 20 seconds for each response)
Presentational Speaking: Cultural Comparison (1 prompt; 2 minutes to respond)
Additionally, here is the score distribution from 2015:
German Language (Total Group out of 5,103)
5- 1,261 (24.7%)
4- 1,226 (24.0%)
3- 1,441 (28.2%)
2- 848 (16.6%)
1- 327 (6.4%)
German Language (Standard Group out of 3,336)
5- 326 (9.8%)
4- 815 (24.4%)
3- 1,180 (35.4%)
2- 721 (21.6%)
1- 294 (8.8%)
German Language (Non-standard Group out of 1,767)
5- 935 (52.9%)
4- 411 (23.3%)
3- 261 (14.8%)
2- 127 (7.2%)
1- 33 (1.9%)
To clarify, the “Standard Group” represents the test takers who did not indicate on their answer sheet that they regularly speak or hear the foreign language of the exam, or that they have lived for one month or more in a country where the language is spoken. The “Non-standard Group” represents the test takers who indicated that they regularly speak or hear the foreign language on the exam, or that they have lived for one month or more in a country where the language is spoken. The accuracy of these groups may not be all that reliable, however. I myself often lie on language exams when asked whether the language is spoken at home.