System Development for the Certified German Language Test Provider

Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e. V. (g.a.s.t.) is a non-profit organization with around 100 employees and a network of over 1,000 partner institutions in more than 100 countries. g.a.s.t. offers tests for international students to prove their German skills with TestDaF. Additionally, students can check their readiness to study in Germany with testAS or dMAT and use the DUOaids platform in language learning. g.a.s.t. also engages in research projects focusing on content-related and technical innovations in the national and international education sectors. The g.a.s.t. academy provides further training opportunities for teachers, academics, and test centers. 

Since 2000, the organization has offered paper-based language and aptitude tests. In response to digitalization and changing needs, German universities needed a digital platform. 

The digital system’s implementation required Java developers with experience and fluency in German. To meet this need and ensure satisfactory progress on the long-term project, g.a.s.t. partnered with us. 

Together with the Bochum team, we’re running a system development that g.a.s.t. uses for digital exams and language courses. This system serves various purposes, such as administering language exams or issuing and providing certificates. Similarly, we support the client by initiating and implementing continuous optimizations of their software solutions. 

Focus on customer needs. 

We adhere to the client’s specifications during application development and regularly contact the g.a.s.t. development team, considering both functional and technical requirements.  

Services Offered 

Based on the coordination with the client and their product goals, we’ve provided support in the following areas: 

• Creation of a data model or prototype. 
• UI/UX design of the product. 
• Implementation of functionality. 
• Testing 

We supported the entire SDLC process when implementing the application for creating and processing test tasks (in-house application – guest-ems-authortool). This included ticket creation, planning, implementation, and testing. The product was adapted with UX/UI experts and g.a.s.t. colleagues who tested the application. g.a.s.t. defined the presentation of the application and the associated task design.  

Our work on product mockups for the external application duo-portal-lms allowed users to view and book language courses (DUO webshop). We analyzed individual screens, including customer login and course participation. 

The entire digital system comprises up to 50 interconnected micro-applications, most of which use a standard code library. This library includes modules such as: 

• EMMS (Enterprise Manager Management System) – Internal administration applications for setting up new accounts, creating new organizations, and managing audit appointments. 
• Portals –  External applications used by students containing ready-to-use components. 

The most important applications include: 

• TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language) – digital test item editor. 
• DUO (Deutsch-Uni Online) – learning platform for language courses. 
• TestAS – a digital application that administers the study aptitude test, including core parts and subject modules (e.g., medicine, technology). 
• DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) – portal for administering the test offered by the BMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) for migrants. 
• INLL (Institut National des Langues Luxembourg) – modified online TestDaF for use at Luxembourg universities, testing knowledge of the Luxembourgian language. 
• BIRD Project(Bildungsraum Digital) – prototype development for a portal that helps users find digital learning opportunities in Germany. 

We’ve also performed quality assurance tasks, including unit tests, integration tests, and code reviews.  

Technological improvements: 

• Switching from JavaScript and jQuery to Angular. 
• Migrating from Java 8 to Java 21 and upgrading Spring Boot to 3.2.0. 
• Transferring all repositories from the version control system SVN to Git. 
• Planning to switch to Docker and Kubernetes to introduce a microservices architecture. 

In 2024, one of g.a.s.t digital platforms – TestDaF earned the prestigious ALTE Quality Seal after passing a strict audit that confirmed its compliance with global quality standards. The newly established digital examination system has automated many work steps within g.a.s.t. and improved user-friendliness for g.a.s.t. customers.