diff --git a/test/test_api.jl b/test/test_api.jl
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_api.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# This file is a part of JuliaFEM.
+# License is MIT: see https://github.com/JuliaFEM/JuliaFEM.jl/blob/master/LICENSE.md
+
+module APITests
+
+using JuliaFEM
+using JuliaFEM.Test
+
+function test_basic()
+    # basic workflow, copied from test_solver.jl
+    model = Model("my calculation model")
+
+    # create nodes
+    n1 = Node(1, [0.0, 0.0])
+    n2 = Node(2, [1.0, 0.0])
+    n3 = Node(3, [1.0, 1.0])
+    n4 = Node(4, [0.0, 1.0])
+
+    # create elements
+    e1 = Element{Quad4}([n1, n2, n3, n4])
+    e2 = Element{Seg2}([n1, n2])
+
+    # material properties
+    material = Material("my material")
+    material["temperature thermal conductivity"] = 6.0
+    material["density"] = 36.0
+
+    # create element set body
+    body = ElementSet("body")
+    push!(body, e1, e2)
+
+    # add element set to model
+    add_element_set(model, body)
+
+    # assign material to elements in element set body
+    set_material(model, material, body)
+
+    # boundary conditions
+
+
+end
+
+end