The free attempt (Freiversuch) in a German bachelor programme is a term many students know without knowing the exact rules. The basic idea is simple: if you sit a module exam at the first regular date and fail, that attempt is not counted. How this works in detail is set by your examination regulation.
Kurz beantwortet: Under the free attempt rule, a module exam counts as not taken if you sit it for the first time at the regular date and do not pass. The University of Duisburg-Essen describes this core rule on its page on the free attempt, last changed 10 March 2023. Deadlines, registration and exceptions are set in the subject examination regulation. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- The free attempt concerns the first sit of a module exam at the planned date.
- If you fail that exam, it counts as not taken under this rule.
- Anyone who does not appear for the date has not taken the exam and therefore has no free attempt.
- According to the example, a missed date without attendance can count as one of three regular attempts.
- Deadlines, exceptions and differences between bachelor and master are set in the subject examination regulation.
What counts as “taken”?
The wording is small but decisive. According to the University of Duisburg-Essen page, you must actually have appeared for the exam. If you miss the date, you have not taken the exam. Then the free attempt does not apply, and the attempt counts as one of three regular attempts that are considered failed.
For your planning, this means that cancelling or not turning up can cost valuable attempts. If illness prevents you from sitting an exam, separate procedures with evidence apply, and you should clarify them in time. How a withdrawal due to illness is handled is explained in the guide Withdrawing from an exam due to illness: certificate, deadlines and consequences.
Which exams count towards the free attempt?
The answer is in your subject examination regulation. The University of Duisburg-Essen refers to these documents and does not list individual subjects on its page. Check whether the rule applies to all modules in your programme or only to certain forms of examination.
| Question | Where to find the answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Does the free attempt apply to all modules? | Subject examination regulation of your programme | Exceptions can concern individual modules |
| Which date is the first regular date? | Examination regulation and examination schedule | Only the first regular date counts for the free attempt |
| Does the rule also apply in the master? | Master examination regulation | Rules often differ between bachelor and master |
| Which registration deadline applies? | Examinations office or registration system | Without timely registration the date may not be available |
The table lists the questions you should clarify. There is no general list of exams, because every university and programme has its own regulations.
Which deadlines apply?
The University of Duisburg-Essen page gives no information on deadlines by semester or standard period of study. It refers to the subject examination regulations and to the contact persons of the programmes. The page states that it was last changed on 10 March 2023, and no date is given for the underlying regulations.
For that reason, create your own schedule. Note registration deadlines, examination dates and the point by which an attempt must be taken at the latest. You will find a method for this in the guide on the study progress plan (in German).
Worked example: how many attempts remain?
Assumption: your regulation provides three regular attempts per module exam. You do not pass at the first date, but the attempt counts as a free attempt because you appeared and it was the first regular date.
| Attempt | Counts as | Regular attempts left |
|---|---|---|
| First sit at the first regular date, failed | Free attempt, not counted | 3 of 3 still available |
| Second sit | Regular attempt | 2 of 3 |
| Third sit | Regular attempt | 1 of 3 |
The example is an assumption. What matters is whether your regulation follows the same system. If you do not turn up for the date, the attempt counts as a regular attempt, as described above.
Free attempt and grade improvement
The free attempt is not the same as the option to improve a passed exam. Whether and how that is possible is set separately in the regulation. The guide grade improvement in the bachelor: is retaking worth it? (in German) explains this in more detail. Check both rules separately before you retake an exam.
Frequently asked questions
Does the free attempt still count if I retake the exam later?
The free attempt refers to the first sit at the regular date. A later retake follows the general retake rules of your regulation, where you can also look up the number of attempts and the deadlines.
What happens if I did not register in time?
The rule assumes a regular sit. Without timely registration, the date may not be available to you. The guide missed registration deadline for an exam: what is still possible explains how a later registration can work.
Does the free attempt also apply in the state examination?
No, the state examination follows its own rules, so the free attempt there is a different legal matter. If you are preparing for the state examination, read the guide on the free attempt in the state examination.
Do I have to apply for the free attempt myself?
The University of Duisburg-Essen page does not mention any duty to apply. Whether you need to take a step yourself is stated in your examination regulation or at the examinations office of your programme. Ask there before you rely on the rule.
How do I know whether an attempt counts as a free attempt?
The examinations office records your attempts. Check your examination transcript regularly, so you always know how many attempts you have used. If something looks wrong, raise it promptly.
What you should do now
- Read the subject examination regulation of your programme on the free attempt.
- Enter the registration and examination deadlines in your study progress plan.
- Clarify with the examinations office whether individual modules are excluded.
- Check your examination transcript after every exam you pass or fail.
Why the rule matters for planning
Knowing the free attempt rule allows you to use your attempts more deliberately. Under the rule, a first sit at the regular date that you fail does not use up an attempt, whereas not turning up for the date does. This difference is easy to overlook, especially with several modules in the same semester. Record examination dates, registration deadlines and the number of attempts you have left in one overview, and update it after every exam.
It is also helpful to speak with the study advice service or the examinations office before you postpone or withdraw from an exam. There you can clarify what giving up a date would mean for you, before the question becomes relevant in an examination procedure.
Related reading
- Understanding your examination regulation: an overview for students
- Grade improvement in the bachelor (in German)
- Retaking a module exam: how many attempts your regulation allows
- Finally failed: what you can do now
- Free attempt in the state examination
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
