Terms of Service

Effective date: March 8, 2026  ·  Last revised: March 23, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of deutschexam.ai and related services ("Service"). By using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. No Affiliation and No Guarantees

• Deutschexam.ai is an independent educational provider. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to telc gGmbH, the Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, ÖSD, or any other official testing body. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
• The terms "telc," "Goethe," and "TestDaF" are used purely for descriptive purposes to identify the publicly available exam format to which our practice materials are aligned. Their use does not imply any affiliation, content licence, official preparation partnership, or endorsement by those organisations.
• DeutschExam is not an official mock exam provider, test center, or preparation partner of any examination body. Our content is independently authored and is not reproduced from or based on any proprietary materials of those bodies.
• The Service provides practice materials and guidance for educational purposes only. No outcome is guaranteed, including passing any specific exam.
• We strive for high quality, but we do not warrant that any question, solution, or explanation is error-free or aligned with any official exam specification.

2. Use of the Service

• You agree to use the Service lawfully and not to misuse content or attempt to interfere with its operation.
• You will not share copyrighted materials from the Service outside the platform except as permitted by law or by us in writing.
• One account per person. Sharing login credentials with others is prohibited and may result in account termination.
• Automated access, scraping, or systematic downloading of content is prohibited.

3. Accounts and Payments

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Paid plans are processed by our payment provider (Stripe). All payments are subject to their terms.
• Prices are displayed in Euros (€) and include applicable taxes where required.
• Subscription plans auto-renew unless cancelled before the renewal date.
• Online cancellation (§ 312k BGB): You can cancel your subscription at any time via the "Verträge hier kündigen" button in your account settings, without needing to contact support first. The button is accessible without additional login steps. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current paid period; you retain access until then. A cancellation confirmation is sent to your registered email address immediately after submission.

3A. Pass Assurance Plan

3A.1 Nature of the Plan

• The Pass Assurance plan is a time-limited software access license, not a teaching contract or distance learning agreement (Fernunterrichtsvertrag). See Section 7B for full classification under the Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz (FernUSG).
• Verification of your exam status for renewal purposes serves solely as a contract administration measure and does not constitute monitoring of learning success (Lernerfolgskontrolle) under § 1 FernUSG.

3A.2 Rolling Access Periods

• Access is granted in 9-month periods from the date of purchase.
• At the end of each 9-month period, your premium access expires automatically unless you request and qualify for a renewal.
• The maximum total duration under a single Pass Assurance purchase is 5 years from the original purchase date.
• After expiration, your account remains active with free-tier features. No data is deleted upon downgrade (see Privacy Policy Section 4).

3A.3 Renewal Conditions

To renew your Pass Assurance access, you must demonstrate that you have not yet passed the relevant exam at the relevant level. You may do so by providing one of the following:

1. Official exam failure certificate: A "Nicht bestanden" result from a recognised examination body (telc, Goethe-Institut, ÖSD, TestDaF).
2. Registered exam date: An exam registration confirmation showing a future exam date within the next 4 months.
3. Written declaration: A simple written statement (einfache schriftliche Erklärung) that you have not yet passed the relevant exam at the relevant level.

Submit your renewal documentation to support@deutschexam.com.

3A.4 Advance Notification

• DeutschExam will make reasonable efforts to send renewal reminders in advance of expiry of each access period to your registered email address.
• Non-receipt of reminders (e.g., due to spam filters or incorrect email address) does not extend the access period.

3A.5 Verification and Data Handling

• Submitted documents are used solely for renewal verification.
• Original documents are deleted within 30 days of verification. Only the verification result (date, outcome, renewal reason) is retained.
• We recommend redacting any information not relevant to the renewal (e.g., date of birth, address) before submission.
• For full details, see Privacy Policy Section 2.7.

3A.6 Right to Refuse Renewal

• DeutschExam may refuse renewal if there is evidence of abuse, credential sharing, or submission of fraudulent documents.
• This plan does not guarantee passing any exam. See Section 1.

3A.7 Pass Assurance Plan — Zusammenfassung (DE)

• Softwarelizenz: Der Pass Assurance Plan ist eine zeitlich begrenzte Softwarezugangslizenz, kein Unterrichtsvertrag.
• Zugangsperioden: Der Zugang wird in 9-Monats-Zeiträumen gewährt (maximal 5 Jahre ab Kaufdatum).
• Verlängerungsbedingungen: Zur Verlängerung müssen Sie nachweisen, dass Sie die betreffende Prüfung noch nicht bestanden haben — durch (1) ein offizielles Prüfungsergebnis mit „Nicht bestanden", (2) einen Nachweis über einen registrierten Prüfungstermin oder (3) eine einfache schriftliche Erklärung.
• Kontoweitergabe verboten: Die Weitergabe von Zugangsdaten ist untersagt und berechtigt DeutschExam zur fristlosen Kündigung ohne Erstattung (§ 314 BGB).
• Keine Prüfungsgarantie: Der Plan garantiert kein Bestehen einer Prüfung.

4. Refund Policy

For complete refund terms, eligibility criteria, and how to request a refund, please see our Refund Policy.

5. Right of Withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht)

5A. Digital Content and Subscriptions

This consent is obtained during the checkout process. Despite this waiver, our 14-day fair-use guarantee (Section 4) provides a goodwill refund option for minimal usage.

5B. Physical Workbooks — Direct Purchases from deutschexam.ai

If you purchase a physical workbook (print-on-demand edition) directly from deutschexam.ai, you have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal under BGB §§ 312b, 312g without giving any reason, provided the book is returned in its original, unused condition.

• Withdrawal period: 14 days from the day you (or a named third party other than the carrier) physically receive the goods.
• How to withdraw: Contact us at support@deutschexam.com within 14 days of receipt with a clear statement of your intention to withdraw (e.g., using the model form below). You may also use any other unambiguous statement.
• Return: Send the book back in original, undamaged condition within 14 days of notifying us of your withdrawal. Return shipping costs are borne by you.
• Refund: We will refund the purchase price (excluding outbound shipping costs) within 14 days of receiving the returned goods or proof of dispatch, whichever is earlier. Refunds are made via the original payment method.
• Condition: Books that show signs of use, damage, or missing packaging may be subject to a deduction in value.

6. Service Availability and Maintenance

We aim for high platform availability but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service.

• Target uptime: We strive for 99% availability per calendar month.
• Scheduled maintenance: Performed during low-traffic hours (typically 2:00–5:00 CET). We provide advance notice when possible.
• Emergency maintenance: Unplanned updates may be necessary to address security issues or critical bugs.
• Refund eligibility: System downtime of less than 12 hours in a calendar month does not entitle users to refunds, credits, or price reductions.
• Extended outages: For outages exceeding 24 consecutive hours, we may offer service extensions or credits at our discretion.

We are not liable for unavailability caused by factors beyond our reasonable control, including internet outages, third-party service failures, or force majeure events.

7. AI-Generated Content and Quality

Our platform utilizes artificial intelligence to generate exam explanations, assess writing, and provide personalized feedback.

• AI-generated content is provided "as-is" for practice purposes only, subject to the mandatory statutory rights above.
• Minor linguistic variations, occasional inaccuracies, or subjective feedback differences that are inherent to generative AI technology do not constitute a "defect" within the meaning of § 327e BGB, as they fall within the expected behaviour of an AI-powered practice tool as described at the point of purchase.
• AI assessments are for learning purposes and do not reflect official exam scoring.
• Refunds based solely on perceived AI quality issues (beyond the statutory rights above) are granted at our discretion as a gesture of goodwill.
• We welcome feedback on AI content quality at support@deutschexam.com to help us improve.

7A. AI Data Processing Consent

7A.1 AI Features and Data Types

Our platform uses artificial intelligence (powered by Google Gemini) to provide the following features:

• Write with AI / Writing Assessment: Your typed German letters, essays, and exercise responses are sent to Google Gemini for grammar, vocabulary, coherence, and exam criteria assessment.
• Speak with AI: Your voice is recorded through your device's microphone. The audio is transcribed to text locally in your browser using the Web Speech API, and the transcribed text is sent to our servers and forwarded to Google Gemini for conversational AI response and assessment.
• Speaking Assessment: Similar to "Speak with AI," your voice recording is transcribed locally, and the transcribed text is sent to Google Gemini for evaluation against CEFR-aligned speaking criteria.
• Handwriting OCR: If you upload a photo or scan of a handwritten letter, the image file is sent to Google Gemini for optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text, which is then assessed like typed submissions.
• AI Trainer (Translation Practice): Your German translation attempts are sent to Google Gemini for detailed feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and idiomatic usage.

7A.2 Third-Party AI Processing

• Processor: Google Gemini (Google Cloud AI), a service of Google LLC
• Location: Data is processed on Google Cloud infrastructure, which may include servers in the USA
• Data sent: Your exercise submissions (text, transcribed speech, images) without personal identifiers (your email, name, or account ID are NOT included in AI requests)
• Data retention by Google: Google retains API request data for up to 30 days for abuse monitoring, then deletes it. Google does not use API submissions for training its AI models.
• Safeguards: Data transfers are protected by Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and Google's Data Processing Agreement

7A.3 Your Acknowledgments and Consent

By using our AI-powered features, you acknowledge and agree that:

• You understand that your voice may be recorded when using speaking features, and the transcribed text will be processed by AI
• You understand that images you upload (e.g., photos of handwritten letters) will be sent to and processed by Google Gemini
• You understand that your written submissions (typed text) will be sent to and processed by Google Gemini
• You consent to the transmission of your submissions to third-party AI services (Google Gemini) for the purpose of providing AI-powered learning feedback
• You accept that AI assessments are for practice purposes only and do not guarantee similar results on official exams
• You accept that AI feedback may contain errors, subjective interpretations, or inaccuracies
• You will not hold DeutschExam liable for any AI-generated feedback or its consequences
• You will not submit content that is illegal, harmful, offensive, or violates third-party rights through AI features

7A.4 Voice Recording Specifics

7A.5 Handwriting Image Upload Specifics

• Supported formats: JPEG, PNG (maximum 5MB)
• Images are sent to Google Gemini for OCR processing
• Images are processed in real-time and are not stored after processing
• Inappropriate or non-German-text images will be rejected

7A.6 Withdrawing AI Consent

You may withdraw your consent to AI processing at any time by contacting us at support@deutschexam.com. However, please note:

• Withdrawing consent will limit your access to AI-powered features
• You will still be able to use non-AI features (practice questions, listening exercises, reading materials)
• Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal

7A.7 We Do NOT Store Your Submissions

For complete details on how we handle your data, including retention periods and your rights, please see our Privacy Policy - AI Processing Section.

7B. Selbstlernwerkzeug – Kein Fernunterricht / Self-Study Tool – Not Distance Learning

7B.1 Einordnung des Dienstes (DE)

• Kein Fernunterricht: DeutschExam bietet keinen Fernunterricht im Sinne des Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetzes (FernUSG) an. Der Dienst ist ein rein softwarebasiertes Selbstlernwerkzeug (vergleichbar mit einer Rechtschreibprüfung oder einem Vokabeltrainer), das Nutzern Übungsmaterialien und automatisierte Textanalysen zur Verfügung stellt.
• Keine pädagogische Betreuung: Es gibt keine Lehrkraft, keinen Tutor und kein pädagogisches Personal, das den Lernfortschritt der Nutzer überwacht, bewertet oder individuell begleitet. Sämtliche Rückmeldungen werden ausschließlich durch automatisierte KI-Sprachmodelle erzeugt.
• Keine Lernerfolgskontrolle: Die Plattform führt keine systematische, individuelle Lernerfolgskontrolle im Sinne des § 1 Abs. 1 FernUSG durch. Die KI-gestützten Auswertungen sind statistische Textanalysen (Muster­erkennung, Grammatikprüfung, Wortschatzabgleich) und keine pädagogische Bewertung durch Fachpersonal. Es besteht kein Vertragsverhältnis über die Überwachung des Lernerfolgs.
• Kein Vertragsverhältnis zum Lehren: Zwischen DeutschExam und dem Nutzer besteht ein Softwarelizenzvertrag, kein Unterrichtsvertrag. Der Vertrag umfasst den Zugang zu einer Software, nicht die Vermittlung von Wissen durch eine Lehrkraft oder die Begleitung eines Lernprozesses.
• Selbstbestimmtes Lernen: Die Nutzer entscheiden eigenständig, welche Inhalte sie wann und in welcher Reihenfolge bearbeiten. Es gibt keinen vorgeschriebenen Lehrplan, keine Pflichtmodule und keinen vorgegebenen Lernpfad.
• Keine formalen Abschlüsse: DeutschExam vergibt keine Zertifikate, Zeugnisse, Diplome oder sonstige formale Qualifikationen. Die Nutzung der Plattform ersetzt keinen anerkannten Sprachkurs und berechtigt nicht zur Teilnahme an oder zum Bestehen einer offiziellen Prüfung.
• Empfehlung: Für eine individuelle pädagogische Betreuung und gezielte Prüfungsvorbereitung empfehlen wir den Besuch einer akkreditierten Sprachschule oder eines anerkannten Integrationskurses.

7B.2 Classification of the Service (EN)

• Not distance learning: DeutschExam does not provide distance learning (Fernunterricht) within the meaning of the German Distance Learning Protection Act (Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz – FernUSG). The Service is a purely software-based self-study tool (comparable to a spell-checker or vocabulary trainer) that provides users with practice materials and automated text analysis.
• No pedagogical supervision: There is no teacher, tutor, or pedagogical staff who monitors, evaluates, or individually guides a user's learning progress. All feedback is generated exclusively by automated AI language models.
• No monitoring of learning success: The platform does not carry out systematic, individual monitoring of learning success (Lernerfolgskontrolle) within the meaning of § 1(1) FernUSG. AI-powered evaluations are statistical text analyses (pattern recognition, grammar checking, vocabulary matching) and not pedagogical assessments by qualified staff. There is no contractual obligation to monitor learning progress.
• No teaching contract: The contractual relationship between DeutschExam and the user is a software license agreement, not a teaching contract. The contract covers access to software, not the provision of knowledge by an instructor or the accompaniment of a learning process.
• Self-directed learning: Users decide independently what content they work on, when, and in what order. There is no prescribed curriculum, no mandatory modules, and no predetermined learning path.
• No formal qualifications: DeutschExam does not issue certificates, diplomas, or any formal qualifications. Using the platform does not replace an accredited language course and does not entitle users to participate in or pass any official examination.
• Recommendation: For individual pedagogical support and targeted exam preparation, we recommend attending an accredited language school or a recognized integration course.

7B.3 Abgrenzung zur Lernerfolgskontrolle / Distinction from Learning Success Monitoring

Warum DeutschExam keine Lernerfolgskontrolle durchführt:

• Keine messbaren Lernziele durch Personal: DeutschExam setzt keine individuellen Lernziele und definiert keinen Lernplan. Der Nutzer entscheidet selbst, was er übt.
• Keine Tests durch Fachpersonal: Alle Auswertungen sind automatisierte KI-Textanalysen (Google Gemini). Kein Lehrer, Prüfer oder pädagogisches Fachpersonal erstellt, bewertet oder überprüft individuelle Testergebnisse.
• Keine Wissensüberprüfung: Die Plattform überprüft nicht, ob ein Nutzer bestimmtes Wissen erworben hat. Punktzahlen und Fortschrittsanzeigen sind statistische Selbstauskunft, keine pädagogische Bewertung.
• Kein Berichtswesen: Es gibt keine Berichte an Dritte (Arbeitgeber, Behörden, Schulen) über den Lernfortschritt eines Nutzers.

Why DeutschExam does not perform learning success monitoring (Lernerfolgskontrolle):

• No measurable learning objectives set by staff: DeutschExam does not set individual learning goals or define a study plan. Users decide for themselves what to practise.
• No tests designed or graded by qualified personnel: All evaluations are automated AI text analyses (Google Gemini). No teacher, examiner, or pedagogical professional creates, reviews, or grades individual test results.
• No knowledge verification: The platform does not verify whether a user has acquired specific knowledge. Scores and progress indicators are self-service statistical metrics, not pedagogical assessments.
• No reporting: There are no reports to third parties (employers, authorities, schools) regarding a user's learning progress.

7C. AI Disclosure & Human Oversight (EU AI Act Compliance)

DeutschExam uses artificial intelligence in the creation and delivery of its services. We disclose the following in the interest of full transparency and in compliance with current and upcoming EU AI Act obligations.

• Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) verification: Content generated by AI tools — including practice questions, model answers, scoring rubrics, and audio scripts — is subject to a Human-in-the-Loop verification process carried out by qualified language experts before publication. This process is designed to ensure pedagogical accuracy and alignment with official exam format structures. Our editorial team reviews and, where necessary, corrects or rejects AI-generated drafts prior to inclusion in the platform.
• Educational tool only — no legal weight: These systems are intended solely as educational practice tools. Their output does not constitute a formal or legally recognised evaluation of language proficiency. AI-generated scores and feedback have no bearing on any immigration application, residency status determination, citizenship procedure, employment requirement, or other legal proceeding.
• AI-assisted content creation: Practice questions, model answers, and explanations may be generated or enhanced with the help of AI tools. All AI-generated content passes through HITL review before publication as described above.
• AI-powered user features: Writing assessment, speaking practice, translation feedback, and handwriting recognition are powered by Google Gemini AI models. Responses to individual user submissions are generated in real time and are not individually reviewed by humans — see Section 7B for the regulatory classification of these automated assessments.
• No high-risk AI use: DeutschExam does not use AI for decisions that produce legal effects or similarly significant effects on users (GDPR Article 22; EU AI Act Annex III). AI assessments are for practice purposes only and do not determine access to services, employment, education, or any legal entitlements. Human oversight remains available: users may contact support@deutschexam.com to request human review of any AI-generated score or feedback.
• EU AI Act phasing — current status (March 2026):
  • Prohibited AI practices rules: in force since February 2, 2025.
  • General-Purpose AI (GPAI) model transparency rules (Chapter V): in force since August 2, 2025. Google Gemini, as the underlying GPAI model provider, bears primary compliance obligations under this chapter.
  • Article 50 obligations (user-facing disclosure when interacting with AI; machine-readable marking of AI-generated content): take effect August 2, 2026. DeutschExam is preparing the necessary technical and UX measures to comply by that date.
• Ongoing compliance: DeutschExam is committed to complying with all applicable EU AI Act obligations as they take effect. This section will be updated as further regulatory guidance and implementing acts are published.

8. Intellectual Property

All platform content — including practice questions, explanations, audio recordings, letter samples, physical workbooks, and software — is independently created by DeutschExam and owned by DeutschExam or its licensors. Our content is not reproduced, copied, or derived from official examination materials of telc gGmbH, Goethe-Institut, or any other examination body.

Where AI tools assist in the initial drafting of practice content, the final published versions undergo human expert review and refinement ("Human-Verified" content). The resulting curated collection — including question sets, model answers, audio scripts, scoring rubrics, and physical workbook content — constitutes an original proprietary compilation protected by copyright under §§ 2, 4 UrhG (German Copyright Act) and as a database under the EU Database Directive (96/9/EC) and its German implementation (§§ 87a–87e UrhG). The intellectual and creative contribution of our human editorial team in selecting, structuring, verifying, and refining AI-generated drafts gives rise to independent copyright protection regardless of the AI involvement in initial drafting. Systematic scraping, bulk downloading, reproduction, or republication of this human-refined content — including via automated means — constitutes copyright infringement and may be pursued under civil law (§§ 97 ff. UrhG) and criminal law (§ 106 UrhG).

• You receive a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Service for your own learning and practice.
• You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from our content without written permission.
• Screenshots or limited excerpts for personal study notes are permitted; systematic reproduction is not.
• Physical workbooks purchased from deutschexam.ai or Amazon KDP are for personal use only. Photocopying, scanning, or distributing workbook content in whole or in part is prohibited.

9. User Content and Submissions

• Content you submit (writing exercises, feedback, support inquiries) remains yours, but you grant us a license to use it for service improvement and AI training (anonymized).
• You must not submit content that is illegal, harmful, or violates third-party rights.

10. Account Termination

• By you: You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. Access continues until the end of your paid period.
• By us: We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraud, or abuse the Service. No refund is provided for terminations due to violations.
• Data after termination: Your data is retained for 30 days after account deletion to allow for recovery, then permanently deleted (except as required by law).

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, subject to your mandatory statutory rights (including BGB §§ 327–327u for digital content and applicable consumer protection law).

• Simulation disclaimer: Mock exam results and AI assessments provided by this platform are simulations only. They do not guarantee success in any official examination, nor do they constitute evidence of language proficiency for any legal, immigration, employment, or academic purpose. Official results from accredited examination bodies (telc gGmbH, Goethe-Institut, etc.) are the sole legally valid measure of language proficiency.
• We do not warrant that the Service will be error-free, uninterrupted, or meet your specific requirements.
• We are not responsible for your exam results or any consequences of relying on our practice materials.
• Liability cap: To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total aggregate liability for any claim arising under or in connection with the Service is limited to the higher of (a) the purchase price of the specific product or service giving rise to the claim, (b) the most recent subscription fee paid by you in the 30 days preceding the claim, or (c) €50. This cap does not apply to claims arising from personal injury, death, or any liability that cannot be limited under applicable mandatory law.
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including lost profits, data loss, or business interruption, to the extent permitted by applicable mandatory law.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit), willful misconduct (Vorsatz), fraudulent misrepresentation, personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law (including German consumer protection law and BGB §§ 307–309).

12. Dispute Resolution

• Informal resolution: We encourage you to contact us at support@deutschexam.com to resolve any issues before initiating formal proceedings.
• EU Consumer Dispute Resolution: Information about consumer dispute resolution entities across EU Member States is available at consumer-redress.ec.europa.eu. We are not obligated to and do not currently participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration body (§ 36 VSBG).
• Governing law: These Terms are governed by German law. The courts of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have jurisdiction for disputes, subject to mandatory consumer protection provisions.

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect changes in the Service or legal requirements.

• Material changes will be communicated via email to registered users at least 30 days before taking effect.
• Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
• If you disagree with changes, you may cancel your subscription before they take effect.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.

15. Contact

16. Content Accuracy and Exam Format Disclaimer

Our practice materials are independently created for educational purposes to help you prepare for German language examinations. They are not reproductions of official exam content. However, you understand and accept that:

• Practice questions, answers, and explanations may contain errors, typos, or inaccuracies despite our quality assurance efforts.
• Official exam formats from telc gGmbH, Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, and other examination bodies change periodically without notice. Our materials may not always reflect the most current exam format or structure.
• Human error may occur during content curation, translation, and question bank compilation.
• Audio recordings, sample letters, and model answers may contain minor imperfections.
• Grammar explanations or vocabulary usage may occasionally differ from certain regional or academic standards.
• When we describe materials as "telc-format," "B1-level," or similar, this refers to the publicly available CEFR exam format and structure, not to official content from any examination body. Our questions, texts, and audio are independently authored.

We encourage users to report any errors or inaccuracies to support@deutschexam.com so we can continuously improve our content. We also recommend supplementing your preparation with official sample exams from your chosen examination body.