Terms of Service

Effective date: March 8, 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 is not affiliated with or endorsed by telc gGmbH, Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, ÖSD, or any examination body. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
DeutschExam is not an official mock exam provider, test center, or preparation partner of any examination body. References to "telc," "Goethe," or similar names throughout this Service describe the publicly available exam format our practice materials are aligned with, not any endorsement, content license, or official affiliation.
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.

3A. Pass Assurance Plan

      Important: The following terms apply specifically to the Pass Assurance plan. By purchasing this plan, you agree to these additional conditions.
    

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.

Why "Pass Assurance" instead of "Lifetime Access"?

We previously offered a "Lifetime" label. We replaced it with the renewable Pass Assurance model for legal and practical reasons:

GDPR data minimisation (Art. 5(1)(c) GDPR): Storing personal data indefinitely without purpose is not permitted. Renewable periods let us retain your data only as long as you actively use the service.
Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR): Open-ended access creates ambiguity about when data must be deleted. Fixed periods with clear renewal points ensure we meet deletion obligations.
Consumer protection (§§ 305–310 BGB, UWG): "Lifetime" suggests permanent, unconditional access — a promise that is practically unsustainable and legally misleading under German fair-trading law.
Service sustainability: A renewable model ensures we can continue improving the platform, keeping content up-to-date with changing exam formats, and maintaining infrastructure.

Existing users who purchased under the previous "Lifetime" label retain their original terms (see Section 3A.1 above). The renewable model applies only to new purchases from the effective date of these Terms.

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:

Official exam failure certificate: A "Nicht bestanden" result from a recognised examination body (telc, Goethe-Institut, ÖSD, TestDaF).
Registered exam date: An exam registration confirmation showing a future exam date within the next 4 months.
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.

Account Sharing Prohibited: Your Pass Assurance account is strictly personal. Sharing login credentials with third parties — including after passing the exam — is prohibited and constitutes a material breach of contract. DeutschExam is entitled to terminate the account without refund (§ 314 BGB, Kündigung aus wichtigem Grund).

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

      14-Day Fair Use Guarantee: We want you to be satisfied with the Service. If you're not happy within 14 days of purchase and have used the platform minimally (fewer than 2 exams completed including free mock exams, less than 45 minutes total platform usage, and fewer than 20 AI feature requests), you may request a full refund.
    

48-Hour Pass & Quick Prep (2-Week Pass) — Non-Refundable: The 48-Hour Pass and Quick Prep (2-Week Pass) are short-term digital access products. By purchasing these passes, you expressly consent to immediate access and acknowledge that no refunds are available once you begin using the platform, in accordance with § 356 Abs. 5 BGB. This is clearly disclosed at checkout.

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

5. Right of Withdrawal for Digital Content (Widerrufsrecht)

Important Notice Under German/EU Law: By purchasing a subscription and accessing premium content (mock exams, AI features, downloads), you expressly consent to the immediate performance of the contract and acknowledge that you lose your statutory right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) under §§ 312g, 356(5) BGB once digital content delivery has begun.

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.

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

      How Our Content and Assessments Work:
      Practice questions and correct answers: Created with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy. Scoring criteria reference publicly available examination handbooks and sample tests (e.g., telc Übungstest documents). This does not imply any partnership with or endorsement by these examination bodies.
Real-time AI features (writing assessment, speaking practice, personalized feedback): Powered exclusively by Google Gemini AI models. No teacher, tutor, or human assessor reviews, grades, or supervises any individual user's work.
Scores and progress tracking: Generated automatically by AI. These are statistical text analyses, not pedagogical evaluations by qualified staff. They do not reflect official exam scoring.

    

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.
While we continuously improve our AI models, minor linguistic variations, occasional inaccuracies, or subjective feedback differences are inherent to AI technology and do not constitute a "defective product" under German law (§§ 434, 475 BGB).
AI assessments are for learning purposes and do not reflect official exam scoring.
Refunds based solely on perceived AI quality issues 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.

Important: By creating an account and using DeutschExam.ai, you explicitly consent to the AI data processing described in this section. This consent is required to use our AI-powered learning features.

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

      How Voice Recording Works:
      Recording is initiated only when you click the record button; we never record without your action
Your browser will request microphone permission; you can deny or revoke this at any time
Audio is transcribed to text locally in your browser using the Web Speech API
Only the text transcription is sent to our servers - raw audio files are NOT uploaded or stored
Maximum recording duration is 45-90 seconds depending on exam level

    

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

Important: DeutschExam does NOT permanently store your original AI submissions:

Audio recordings: NEVER uploaded to our servers. Audio is transcribed locally in your browser and immediately discarded.
Text submissions: Processed in real-time for AI assessment and NOT stored in our database.
Uploaded images: Processed for OCR and immediately deleted. We do NOT retain your handwritten letter images.
What we store: Only your assessment scores, feedback summaries, and learning progress - NOT the original content.
Session behavior: If you refresh the page or close your browser, your original submission is gone permanently. We cannot retrieve it - only the scores remain in your learning history.

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

Hinweis nach dem Fernunterrichtsschutzgesetz (FernUSG):
DeutschExam ist ein softwarebasiertes Selbstlernwerkzeug und kein Fernunterricht im Sinne des § 1 FernUSG. Es findet keine individuelle Lernerfolgskontrolle durch Lehrpersonal statt.

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

Klarstellung nach BGH-Rechtsprechung (III ZR 2/24, 17.12.2025): Der BGH hat bestätigt, dass das Merkmal der Lernerfolgskontrolle im Sinne des § 1 FernUSG voraussetzt: messbare Lernziele, Tests oder Aufgaben durch Fachpersonal, sowie eine systematische Überprüfung des Lernstands. Allein automatisierte Rückmeldungen, Community-Funktionen oder Fortschrittsanzeigen genügen nicht.

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 Act Transparency (EU Regulation 2024/1689)

DeutschExam uses artificial intelligence in the creation and delivery of its services. In the interest of transparency and in preparation for the EU AI Act transparency obligations (effective August 2, 2026), we disclose the following:

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 is reviewed by our editorial team before publication.
AI-powered user features: Writing assessment, speaking practice, translation feedback, and handwriting recognition are powered by Google Gemini AI models. Responses are generated in real time and are not reviewed by humans.
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). AI assessments are for practice purposes only and do not determine access to services, employment, education, or any legal entitlements.
Ongoing compliance: DeutschExam is committed to complying with EU AI Act transparency and labelling obligations as they come into effect. We will update this section as regulatory guidance is finalised.

8. Intellectual Property

All platform content—including practice questions, explanations, audio recordings, letter samples, 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.

You receive a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license 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.

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.

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.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claims related to the Service is limited to the amount you paid for your subscription in the 12 months preceding the claim.
We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including lost profits, data loss, or business interruption.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law (including German consumer protection law).

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

For questions about these Terms:

Email: support@deutschexam.com
Website: https://deutschexam.ai

For company information, see our Imprint.

16. Content Accuracy and Exam Format Disclaimer

Important: Our practice materials are created for educational purposes. Please read the accuracy limitations described below.

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.

Sole Remedy: Your sole remedy for dissatisfaction with content quality is to discontinue use of the Service and, where eligible, request a refund under our Refund Policy. We encourage you to report errors to help us improve.

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.