Self Assessments
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Copyright: © Martin Braun
RWTH Self Assessment: A Tool to Help You Choose the Right Degree Program – How Does It Work?
It’s simple! Just complete the online questions and exercises related to specific subject areas. You’ll need about 90 to 120 minutes. Once you’re done, your results will be evaluated and made available to you online. Participation is free and completely anonymous.
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Why It’s Worth Taking the Self Assessment
Choosing the right degree program isn’t always easy – there are so many different options, interests, and talents to consider. Sometimes it’s also hard to know what a subject really involves. That’s where RWTH’s Self Assessments (or SAMs, for short) can help.
SAMs are designed to support you in making an informed and confident study decision. They are a required part of the enrollment process, and if you take them seriously, the time you invest will truly pay off.
Here’s how SAMs can benefit you:
- Get guidance and discover options: SAMs help you explore suitable degree programs and show you possible alternatives, as well as support services offered by RWTH – like academic advising or preparatory courses.
- Make informed decisions: The personalized feedback you receive from SAMs helps you make better study choices, which can lead to greater satisfaction in the long run.
- Know what to expect: SAMs give you a realistic view of the challenges and expectations at the start of your studies. This can make your transition to university life smoother.
- Understand your strengths: You’ll find out how well your interests and strengths align with the demands of your chosen degree program.
It’s a good idea to complete your SAMs early – ideally as early as Year 11 – so you have plenty of time to reflect on the results. Discuss them with your parents, friends, or a student advisor to get the most out of them.
Prospective students from abroad should contact the International Office to find out about enrollment prerequisites.
What Happens After the Self Assessment
Your Self Assessment results have no impact on admission decisions. After completing the subject-specific Self Assessment, you’ll receive a participation certificate online. You’ll need to present this certificate when enrolling in a bachelor’s or teacher education program at RWTH.
If you’re applying to a program with restricted admission, you don’t need the certificate just yet – but we strongly recommend completing the Self Assessment as early as possible.
We’d be excited to welcome you to RWTH!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Self Assessment?
Simply said, a Self Assessment is an orientation test. If should help you to realistically assess your own abilities. The individual test results offer you a good opportunity to orient yourself on the choice of your course of study. In addition to your aptitude and interests, you will become more familiar with the challenges of certain subject fields through our Self Assessment, since the tests were created through close collaboration from representatives of the individual disciplines.
How do I participate in the Self Assessment?
You do not need to register in advance to take part in the SelfAssessment. You will receive a random TAN at the start of the SelfAssessment. This TAN allows you to pause the SelfAssessment and resume it at the same point. After you have completed the SelfAssessment, you will also receive your certificate of participation via the TAN, which you will need to enrol at RWTH Aachen University. This being so, please do not forget to make a note of this TAN.
Which Self Assessment is right for me?
Are you still unsure what subject you'd like to study? Or you have no idea, if a course of study is right for you? Our Orientation Self Assessment will help you. We recommend starting with the Orientation Self Assessment in the 11th grade as a helpful guide to your course of study.
If you already know exactly what you would like to study, you can become more familiar with the demands of a particular discipline in the Subject Specific Self Assessment. We recommend completing the Subject Specific Self Assessment in the 12th or 13th grade. If you are changing careers or have already completed an apprenticeship and would like to expand your knowledge in this field by studying, we also recommend a study-specific self-assessment.
Note: If you would like to enroll for a Bachelor or Teacher Training degree program at RWTH Aachen University, you must have already participated in a Subject Specific Self Assessment. The single exception to this is the medicine course of study. In this case, you do not have to provide evidence of your participation in a Self Assessment.
What happens to my answers?
While you are participating in the Self Assessment, your answers are anonymously saved. Later this information will be used for your personal feedback. Only you can view the feedback.\ The RWTH Self Assessment Team uses the anonymous data to rework the questions and exercises and to further improve the service.\ The Self Assessment result has no effect on the allocation of university placements.
Is participation in the Self Assessment mandatory?
Generally, yes. If you would like to apply for a Bachelor or Teacher Training degree program, you have to provide proof that you have participated in the appropriate Subject Specific Self Assessment. Submit the participation certificate that you automatically received at the end of the Self Assessment.
The Orientation Self Assessments are not required yet. They should help you figure out, which subjects could suit your interests and abilities.
I didn't perform as successfully in the Self Assessment as I expected. What do I do now?
We recommend an advising session with the Student Advice Centre or the respective departmental advising. Together with an advisor, you will determine how you can fill in your knowledge gaps and prepare for your desired course of study. There you'll also find out, if you should possible rethink your own expectations of the subject or if another discipline would possibly better suit your expectations and abilities.
Who are the Self Assessments aimed at?
The RWTH Aachen Self Assessments are targeted towards anyone, who is interested in a course of study, especially students in upper secondary school.
What is covered in the Self Assessments?
The Orientation Self Assessment helps you to recognize your own strengths and interests. With the Orientation Self Assessment, you'll additionally find out which disciplines best suit you. You will solve problems, in which there is logical reasoning. You will, for example, finish numerical series or solve riddles. Your visual thinking will also be tested. For this, you will have to solve exercises with logical reasoning using numbers, as well linguistic or graphic exercises. Furthermore, typical situations from everyday student life will be depicted. You will be given possible courses of action, from which you will have to pick the best one. At the end, you will find out which solution is best.\ \ The Subject Specific Self Assessments impart information on the content and demands of courses of study.\ The Self Assessments also look into your motivation and willingness to perform. Furthermore, the Self Assessments evaluate your mathematical abilities and text comprehension.
How are the Subject Specific Self Assessments and further advising processes at RWTH Aachen University related?
The subject oriented Self Assessments are a part of the student orientation at RWTH Aachen University. A few RWTH institutes offer their own subject oriented assessments and advising process. For subject specific questions, the departmental advisors will gladly help you. If you have general questions about the course of study offerings, please contact the Student Counseling and Advice Center. You can also contact the Self Assessment Team at any time, if you have any questions about our offerings.
How long does a Self Assessment take?
The Orientation Self Assessment takes about 60 minutes, and the Subject Specific Self Assessment anywhere from 90-120 minutes.
How much does it cost to participate in a Self Assessment?
It doesn't cost anything. This service is free of charge for prospective students. You will also receive your results free of charge, albeit at the end of your Self Assessment.
How can I participate in a Self Assessment?
Start the RWTH Aachen Self Assessment and you will receive an anonymous TAN. With this TAN, you are able to log in later, e.g. if you interrupt the Self Assessment and would like to resume later, or if you want to access your results again at a later time.
The subject oriented advising process and subject-specific assessment of the individual course of study likewise show what challenges and material are in store for you in the respective course of study.
How can I complete the Self Assessment if I have individual support needs?
The Self Assessments are not yet fully accessible – screen readers, Braille displays, and alternative input devices are only partially supported. If you require assistance, please contact us by eMail as early as possible so we can work with you to find a suitable solution. We are continuously working to improve accessibility.
Who develops the Self Assessments?
The team from the Chair for Pesonnel and Organizational Psychology developed the first Self Assessment for RWTH in 2002, under the leadership of Professor Lutz Hornke. Since then, the service has been continually expanded. The researchers have asked teachers and students, how they would assess the aptitudes and interests of the subject fields. The Center for Teaching and Learning Services (CLS) of RWTH Aachen University is responsible for the further development of the SelfAssessments
What does an evaluation of the results look like?
You will receive an online evaluation of your results. Within it, you will find explanations for the individual exercises and question types. For example, here you learn what meaning an exercise area has for the respective course of study.