VERA-3

What is VERA-3? 🔗

The acronym VERA-3 stands for VERgleichsArbeiten (English: Nationwide Achievement Tests) in Grade 3. VERA-3 are written tests administered annually in the German federal states, with participation being compulsory within each state. In line with the educational standards, the tests assess the proficiency levels of children in Grade 3 in German and Mathematics.The federal states decide which competence domains to test each year. In some federal states, VERA-3 is conducted under different names, such as KERMIT – Kompetenzen ermitteln (English: KERMIT – Assessing Competences), Kompetenztests (English: competence tests), Lernstandserhebungen (English: standardised learning assessments) or Zentrale Lernstandserhebungen (English: centralised standardised learning assessments). Many federal states already offer VERA-3 not only in paper format but also in digital form.

What is the goal? 🔗

The VERA-3 results provide teachers with insights into the extent to which their class is already meeting the KMK educational standards for Grade 4 while still in Grade 3. This helps teachers pinpoint where support is needed to ensure all students meet the standards by the end of Grade 4. Therefore, VERA-3 functions as an early warning system for primary school teachers.

What is being tested? 🔗

The federal states have agreed to conduct VERA-3 annually in at least one subject, German or Mathematics. In German, the IQB provides VERA-3 tests for the competence domains of “Reading”, “Listening”, “Orthography” and “Language use”. In Mathematics, these are “Numbers and Operations”, “Space and Shape”, “Patterns and Structures”, “Sizes and Measurements”, and “Data and Probability”.

Every VERA cycle includes newly developed and piloted test items, but items from previous years may also be used again. The items always relate to the KMK educational standards) and the proficiency level models based on them. The federal states decide every year which tests their schools use.

When are the tests conducted? 🔗

Within the following testing periods, each federal state determines their own test dates:

• VERA-3 2026: April 20 to May 29, 2026
• VERA-3 2027: April 12 to May 26, 2027
• VERA-3 2028: April 3 to May 31, 2028

Find the specific test dates for each state on their respective websites here.

The VERA-3 testing period for 2029 has yet to be determined.