TestDaF Writing Assessment Criteria: How Is Your Text Scored?
Last updated: 25 July 2026 · Based on the official assessment description
Digital TestDaF Writing has two task types. Trained raters consider relevance, required writing actions, source use, range of expression and comprehensibility; the assessment is then transferred to a 0–20 section score.
What do the two tasks measure?
| Task | Official scope | What the candidate must do |
|---|---|---|
| Argumentative text | At least 200 words | Address the issue, organise coherently and justify positions and arguments |
| Text + graphic summary | About 100–150 words | Select relevant source information, compare it and summarise accurately in your own words |
Official assessment criteria
- Does the text address the task topic?
- Are all points in the prompt covered sufficiently?
- Is the required writing action carried out successfully?
- Is source information relevant, accurate and summarised in the candidate's own words?
- Is expression appropriate and precise, with varied grammar, vocabulary and useful phrases?
- Does the text remain understandable despite some errors?
Turn the criteria into a revision checklist
| Check | Question before submitting |
|---|---|
| Task | Did I answer the actual question? |
| Coverage | Did I address every required point? |
| Organisation | Do paragraphs and links show a logical progression? |
| Sources | Did I report information accurately and paraphrase it? |
| Language | Did I overuse the same words or sentence frame? |
| Editing | Did I scan verbs, endings, articles, connectors and spelling? |
What is not an official scoring grid?
The public TestDaF participant page does not assign weights such as '25% grammar' or a fixed number of points per paragraph. Such exact ratios should not be presented as official criteria.
The word amounts belong to the format: at least 200 for Task 1 and about 100–150 for Task 2. Reaching a word count alone does not satisfy the content and communication criteria.
Do not memorise a complete text. Produce a response that fits the new topic, prompt and sources each time.
A TDN 4-oriented practice method
- Review task fulfilment and content before correcting language.
- Mark the main claim, relevant figures and comparison in source tasks.
- Build argument chains of claim, reason and example.
- Practise reserving the final 5–8 minutes for systematic editing.
- Compare your own response with the same criteria, not by copying a model answer.
Official sources
Task scope, word amounts and assessment aspects come from current TestDaF format and evaluation pages.
Related guides
Improve through the criteria
Analyse every response separately for content, organisation, source use and language.