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20 (x5) depending on the university 96 (4x24) 96 (4x24) 120 156 75 (4x25) 310
CEFR B2-C1 B2-C1 A2-B1 B2 -C1 C2 C2+ C1 C2
Additionally, the following certificates are accepted as proof of sufficient language competence for studying at German universities:
France: „Diplôme du Baccalauréat“
Belgium: diploma of secondary schools of the „German speaking community of the Belgium kingdom”
Luxemburg: diploma of secondary schools
Italy: diploma from schools with German as language of instruction (Bozen-Südtirol), diploma of the Liceo Gimnasiale „Luigi Galvani“ (Bologna), diploma
of Liceo Ginnasio Statale „Romagnosi“ (Parma) and Liceo Classico Statale Socrate (Bari)
Irland: bilingual leaving certificate of the German School in Dublin, St. Kilian’s
TestDaF is a standardised test, divided into four parts with different kinds of tasks. It assesses the proficiency level and awards grades from TestDaF-level 3
(TDN 3) to TestDaF-level 5 (TDN 5) for every part.
2. German Language Examination for Admission of Foreign Students (DSH)
Since 2004 there is a framework examination regulation for the DSH for all German universities. The examination consists of four parts concerning reading,
listening, writing and speaking. The kind of tasks differs because within the framework every university sets the exam itself. DSH assesses the proficiency level
and awards grades from DSH-1 to DSH-3.
The following information is about the examination regulation.
Written parts (70%)
Listening comprehension (20%): 50 minutes after listening possible tasks are: answering questions, a sketch,
summary, sum up the “red line” of the spoken text
Reading comprehension (20%):
90 minutes
text (4000-5500 char.): answering questions, explaining the
structure of the text/argumentation, explaining parts of the text,
finding headings for parts of the text, summary
Understanding of academic
structures (10%):
understanding of and dealing with academic structures: noticing
characteristics of the text (syntactically, lexically, idiomatically and
concerning the kind of text ), answer questions to complex parts,
fill the gap tasks, paraphrasing
Writing (20%): 60 minutes
writing a text (about 200 words) on given details (e.g. pictures,
charts, key words, hypotheses); the text should contain at least
one of the following linguistic actions: explaining or comparing or
giving examples on the given details and arguing or commenting
or evaluating
Oral part (30%): Presentation (30%): 15 minutes + 20 minutes for preparation a five minutes presentation and about 15 minutes dialogue on a
Levels for university access: The requested levels can vary, depending on the regulations of the university. Usually DSH-2 is enough to proof sufficient
proficiency in the German language as a prerequisite for admission/enrolment at a German university.
Grading
The requirements for every single part are similar to those of TestDaF above. DSH-1 is equivalent to TDN 3, DSH-2 to TDN 4 and DSH-3 to TDN 5.
grade proficiency
DSH 3 effective proficiency (in written and oral parts)
DSH-2 independent user - differentiated use of language in written and oral parts
DSH-1 independent user - independent use of basis knowledge in written and oral parts
Since 1974 students outside Germany can take the DSD. The exam is set and corrected by Zentralstelle für Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA). There are two stages,
DSD stage 1 is a prerequisite for Studienkolleg and stage 2 is required for entrance to German universities.
How it is assessed: Every part is awarded with up to 24 points. The lowest level to pass is 8 points for every part.
3.1. Stage 1 (consisting of four parts with different kinds of tasks)
Reading comprehension: 60 minutes short texts, about 5 tasks (e.g. multiple-choice, cloze test, matching)
Listening comprehension: 40 minutes about 5 tasks with audio samples (e.g. multiple-choice, matching)
Written expression: 75 minutes writing texts on given details (e.g. four non-fictional texts, each about 20 words, giving opinion on s.th.)
Oral expression: 15 minutes part 1: questions taken from a given list of topics
part 2: short presentation on a self chosen topic, questions to that presentation
Levels for university access: DSD stage 1 is not sufficient for university entrance in Germany but for Studienkollegs.
detailed understanding (specialised audio sample about 700 words); multiple-choice
Written expression: 120 minutes writing a text on given details and a given structure (e.g. to argue about s.th. or explain main points of a
chart and write an opinion on the topic); it is recommended to write at least 300 words
Oral expression: 20 minutes part 1: presentation with opinion and interview to a given text (keywords)
part 2: presentation on a beforehand prepared topic; focus on free and spontaneous speech
Levels for university access: With at least a level of B2 of the CEFR in all four parts the DSD II is awarded, which is enough to proof sufficient proficiency in the
German language as a prerequisite for admission/enrolment at a German university.
A) Oral part: 40 minutes for preparation, plus 25 minutes talk presentation (convincing intonation and articulation)
short presentation on a self chosen topic and following discussion
B) Essay writing: 210 minutes essay writing to a self chosen topic (500-700 words)
C) Written part: 200 minutes
questions to a fictional text or newspaper article; rewriting parts of a text (about 120
minutes)
task with focus on grammatical variation in a text (about 60 minutes)
dictation as listening comprehension task (about 20 minutes)
D) Subject related part: 210 minutes task to German literature, sciences or business administration
task concerning intercultural knowledge
Grading
In part A at least 18 point are needed to pass, but if in phonetics less than 2,25 point are awarded the whole part counts as
fail. In part B and C at least 18 points are needed. In part D the test taker needs at least 24 points to pass the exam.
Levels for university access: The Kleine Deutsche Sprachdiplom (KDS) and the Große Deutsche Sprachdiplom (GDS) are standardised tests, accepted to proof
sufficient proficiency in the German language to study at a German university.
There are two levels of the Goethe-Certificate, first the “Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung“ and second the “Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung“. The “Zentrale
Oberstufenprüfung“ is accepted as proof of sufficient proficiency in the German language as a prerequisite for admission/enrolment at a German university.
5.1. Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (C1)
Reading comprehension: 70 minutes different genre of texts (all in all about 1500 words); matching, cloze test, multiple-choice
Written expression: 80 minutes free writing on 5 given details
gap filling
Oral expression: 10 minutes for preparation; 15 minutes talk part 1: short presentation to a given topic with five keywords to use
part 2: discussion on advantages and disadvantages of a given topic
Grading
To pass the exam at least 60% of the possible score is needed in the parts reading, listening and writing, that means 45 points at minimum. In the oral part at
Reading comprehension: 90 minutes a non-fictional text (about 800-1000 words); questions to the content, explaining details of the text as well
as the meaning of single words and phrases
Use of German: 90 minutes gap filling, tasks on text or syntax variation, writing synonyms/antonyms, rewriting
Listening comprehension: 40 minutes authentic audio sample (e.g. radio talk); selective note taking and afterwards writing sentences on those
Essay writing: 90 minutes writing (min. 250 words) on a book related topic or to one of four other topics
Oral expression: 15 minutes for
preparation; 20 minutes talk
part 1: reading a text aloud, summarize the text, answer a text related question and talking about the text
with somebody
part 2: short presentation on a self chosen topic and talk about the presentation
Grading
Levels for university access: The “Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung“ is accepted as proof of sufficient proficiency in the German language as a prerequisite for
admission/enrolment at a German university.
results in % points grade
100% - 88% 310 - 273 excellent
87% - 74% 272 - 229 good
73% - 60% 228 - 186 satisfactory
59% - 50% 185 - 0
unsatisfactory, but can be compensated with at least “good” in reading comprehension, use of German, essay writing or listening comprehension
(if the oral part is awarded with less than 60% it means to fail all the exam)