German Proficiency Exam for Reading / Translation Exam for Graduate Students
Fall 2024
Date: Thursday, December 5th, 2-4pm
Place: HQ (Humanities Quadrangle) 359
Please notify Marion Gehlker by Monday, December 2, midnight if you plan to take the exam.
Description: Students have 2 hours to translate, with the help of a hardcopy dictionary, one or two texts of moderate length and difficulty (appr. 500 words total) into idiomatic English. Texts are taken from various disciplines, such as history, literature, or politics.
Sample Text 1 and Sample Text 2.
- A hardcopy dictionary may be used.
- You are expected to translate the complete text(s). Incomplete translations of 50 words or more will not be considered for grading.
- You will receive a grade of “pass” or “fail.”
Dates: The reading/translation exam will be administered twice a year, usually the last Thursday of the fall and spring semesters respectively. Exact dates are announced on this website.
How do I prepare
Students are expected to be familiar with the following upper-level grammatical structures: passive, subjunctive I+II, and, in particular, extended adjective constructions
Students should be able to pass the proficiency exam after taking our German for Reading class, GMAN 100.
NB: As of Spring 2016, GMAN 101, the continuation of GMAN 100, will no longer be offered.
GMAN 100 can also be taken in the summer. It is offered through GSAS and open to Yale PhD students only.
Alternatives to taking the reading/translation exam
Some departments accept a grade of B or better in GMAN 100 as an alternative to passing the reading/translation exam. Some departments offer their own translation exam.
Please inquire with your department about the requirements that apply to you.
NB: This is NOT the same test as the final exam that students take at the end of the German for Reading courses nor is it the same as the placement test (The latter is used to place students into the appropriate level before they start taking classes at Yale).
Questions concerning the exam should be directed Marion Gehlker, PhD, Senior Lector II, Coordinator for German for Reading.
