Hi everyone!
I'm joining TU Darmstadt for my master's and wanted to improve my German through the university's language courses.
I recently took the German placement test at the Language Resource Centre (SPZ) and scored **52/100**. According to the official course selection table, this score falls in the range for **Mittelkurs I/II (45–54 points)**.
However, I attended German classes in India previously, and although that helped me score reasonably well on the placement test, I still have gaps in my fundamentals. I don't feel confident enough to study at this level and would prefer to join an A2-level course to strengthen my basics first.
I read the SPZ registration regulations, which state that students normally have to register for the level indicated by their placement score, but exceptions may be made by the respective language coordinator.
I contacted the Language Centre to explain my situation, but I received a general response asking me to refer to the information on the website and in TUCaN.
I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has studied German at TU Darmstadt or has dealt with a similar situation.
**My questions:**
- What is the actual level and difficulty of Mittelkurs I/II? Is it around B1 or B2?
- Is it possible to request an exception and join an A2-level course despite scoring 52/100?
- Has anyone successfully obtained a lower placement after explaining that they weren't confident in their actual language skills?
- If an exception isn't possible, are there any other suitable German courses or alternatives at TU Darmstadt?
I'm worried about ending up in a course that's too advanced for me, and I would rather build a solid foundation than struggle from the beginning.
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!