German language exams compared: Goethe, telc, TestDaF, DSH

Which German exam do I need?

The key question comes before any preparation: what do you need the certificate for? The requirements are not set by the exam provider but by the organisation asking for proof, whether that is a university, an employer, a recognition authority or a public office. Always ask them which exams and which level they accept.

We explain the levels A1 to C2 in detail in our article on CEFR levels A1 to C2. Which level you realistically need in everyday working life is covered in which German level do you need for your job?

Goethe certificate: structure and scoring

The Goethe-Institut offers German exams from A1 to C2, taken worldwide at Goethe-Instituts and partner centres. The B1, B2, C1 and C2 certificates are modular: reading, listening, writing and speaking can be taken separately or together, and each module passed is certified (B1 exam regulations).

Example: Goethe-Zertifikat B2

According to the exam regulations for the Goethe-Zertifikat B2:

You pass a module with at least 60 out of 100 points. The written modules are usually taken in a group, while speaking is normally done in pairs. The advantage of the modular system: if you narrowly fail writing, for example, you only retake that module.

According to the Goethe-Institut, the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom is recognised as proof of language ability for study and research at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For structured Goethe certificate preparation, start working through the Goethe-Institut’s sample papers under timed conditions early on.

telc Deutsch: exams for everyday life, work and university

telc offers German exams from A1 to C2 for everyday life, work and university: general exams such as telc Deutsch B2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule for university entrance, job-related exams from A2+ to C1, and exams for nursing and medicine. In dual-level exams, your result decides which of the two levels appears on the certificate.

telc has a particularly wide range of German exams. According to telc.net, they include:

• General language: Start Deutsch 1 and 2 (A1, A2), Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1, telc Deutsch B2, telc Deutsch C1, telc Deutsch C2, and dual-level exams such as telc Deutsch A2·B1, where the certificate is issued at one of the two levels.
• University: telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule for university admission.
• Work: telc Deutsch A2+ Beruf, B1+ Beruf, B1·B2 Beruf, B2+ Beruf, B2·C1 Beruf and C1 Beruf, plus the Deutsch-Test für den Beruf (German test for the workplace).
• Nursing and medicine: telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege, telc Deutsch B2 Medizin Zugangsprüfung, telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin and the Fachsprachprüfung B2·C1 Medizin.

Understanding dual-level exams

In exams such as B1·B2 Beruf, your result decides which level is printed on the certificate. That takes some pressure off, because you don’t have to commit to a level in advance. For your preparation, however, it means you should be familiar with tasks at both levels.

The job-related telc exams in particular are built around workplace situations: phone calls, meetings, emails to colleagues and customers. Preparing for them pays off at work too. Find out more in our article on learning German as a skilled worker, and see our telc German preparation course.

ÖSD: the Austrian German language diploma

The exams of the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD) are especially common in Austria but are also offered internationally. According to osd.at, they cover all six CEFR levels from A1 to C2, with versions for adults, teenagers and children and a separate series for integration purposes in Austria. At C2 there is also a version focusing on business German.

Some particular features mentioned in the ÖSD FAQ:

• ÖSD certificates generally do not expire; however, authorities may require proof that is no older than a certain period.
• At C1 and C2 a monolingual dictionary is allowed; at A1 to B1 dictionaries are not permitted.
• Several exams, such as the ÖSD Zertifikat B1 for adults and C2, are offered in modules.

If you plan to live and work in Vienna, Graz or Salzburg, you will often come across ÖSD exams. The same rule applies here: check in advance which certificate the relevant authority or employer accepts.

TestDaF: the university entrance test on computer

TestDaF is aimed at anyone who wants to study in Germany. The digital version is taken on a computer at test centres licensed by g.a.s.t. The four parts follow a fixed order, and you cannot go back to tasks you have already completed (testdaf.de). Good time management is therefore essential.

In the writing part you produce an argumentative text of at least 200 words and summarise a reading text and a chart in about 100 to 150 words. In the speaking part you hear the tasks through headphones and, after some preparation time, speak to a simulated conversation partner; speaking times range from 45 seconds to 2.5 minutes depending on the task.

Example: summarising a chart

To summarise a chart you need a small, reliable toolkit. Here is a model text in German about a fictitious chart on the use of digital learning resources at a university, with an English translation:

Die Grafik zeigt, wie sich die Nutzung digitaler Lernangebote an einer Hochschule zwischen 2018 und 2024 entwickelt hat. Auffällig ist vor allem der starke Anstieg bei Videovorlesungen: Ihr Anteil hat sich im Untersuchungszeitraum mehr als verdoppelt. Online-Foren werden dagegen nahezu unverändert genutzt. Insgesamt lässt sich festhalten, dass Studierende digitale Angebote vor allem dann nutzen, wenn sie zeitlich flexibel abrufbar sind.

(The chart shows how the use of digital learning resources at a university developed between 2018 and 2024. Most striking is the sharp rise in video lectures, whose share more than doubled over the period. Online forums, by contrast, are used almost as much as before. Overall, students use digital resources mainly when they can access them flexibly.)

Useful phrases: Die Grafik gibt Auskunft über … (the chart provides information on …), Der Anteil ist von … auf … gestiegen / gesunken. (the share rose / fell from … to …), Im Vergleich zu … fällt auf, dass … (compared with …, it is noticeable that …), Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass … (in summary, …). Mention only the key figures and link the chart and the reading text rather than retelling each separately.

Scoring: TDN 3 to 5

Each part is assigned a TestDaF level: TDN 3, TDN 4 or TDN 5 (TestDaF levels). If you achieve at least TDN 4 in all four parts, you meet the language requirements for studying at German universities; individual universities may set different rules for certain degree programmes. Details of the scoring are explained on testdaf.de. For targeted practice, see our TestDaF preparation course.

DSH: the universities’ own exam

The Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH, German language exam for university entrance) is not run by a central provider but by the universities themselves, each under its own regulations based on a national framework. It has a written and an oral part, and the result is given as DSH-1, DSH-2 or DSH-3.

The model exam regulations of the German Rectors’ Conference serve as the template for each university’s own rules. The written part typically tests listening, reading, academic language structures and text production.

DSH-1, DSH-2, DSH-3

A level only counts if it is reached in both the written and the oral part. DSH-2 is regarded as proof of the language ability needed for university study; universities may set lower (DSH-1) or higher (DSH-3) requirements for certain programmes. The weighting of the sub-tests differs between universities, so read the regulations of your target university carefully. Our DSH preparation course takes these differences into account.

TestDaF or DSH?

TestDaF is standardised, centrally marked and can be taken worldwide. The DSH usually takes place at the university where you want to study and is often combined with a preparatory course. If you are still in your home country and applying to several universities, TestDaF usually gives you more flexibility.

Preparing for a German exam: strategies that work

The most effective preparation relies on fixed structures: a clear framework for argumentative texts from B2 upwards, correct greeting, reference and sign-off in formal messages, ready phrases for paired speaking or the simulated partner in TestDaF, and sample papers always done against the clock. That way you avoid losing easy points.

Writing: structure before vocabulary

In almost all exams from B2 upwards you write an argumentative text. A clear framework has proven effective:

1. Introduction: set the context and state the question.
2. Arguments for, with an example.
3. Arguments against, with an example.
4. Your own opinion, with reasons.

Useful phrases: Ein wesentlicher Vorteil besteht darin, dass … (one major advantage is that …), Dagegen spricht allerdings, dass … (on the other hand …), Wägt man die Argumente ab, so … (weighing up the arguments, …), Meiner Ansicht nach überwiegen die Vorteile, weil … (in my view the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because …).

Formal messages

The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 and many job-related exams include a formal message. Pay attention to the greeting (Sehr geehrte Frau Weber,), the reference (bezugnehmend auf Ihre E-Mail vom …, with reference to your email of …), a clear request and the right sign-off (Mit freundlichen Grüßen). For dealings with public offices, our article on understanding official German is also helpful.

Speaking: have your phrases ready

In paired exams, what counts is responding to your partner: Da stimme ich dir zu, aber … (I agree, but …), Was hältst du davon, wenn wir …? (what do you think about …?), Könntest du das genauer erklären? (could you explain that in more detail?). In TestDaF, by contrast, you speak to a simulated person, so fixed structures help, such as Zunächst möchte ich …, außerdem …, abschließend … (first …, in addition …, finally …).

Typical mistakes

• Ignoring the word count or going far beyond it.
• Word order: forgetting to put the verb at the end of a subordinate clause (weil ich habe keine Zeit instead of weil ich keine Zeit habe). More on this in our article on German word order.
• Articles and cases with common nouns: der, die or das? helps you learn them systematically.
• Underestimating time pressure in reading: always do sample papers with a timer.

A study plan for your German exam, and how choices® can help

Exam training only makes sense once your level is close to the target. If it is clearly below, building your general German comes first, for example in our German courses online. After that, a plan of eight to ten weeks has proven effective, combining full sample papers, corrected writing and focused speaking practice:

In our exam preparation for Goethe, telc, TestDaF and DSH you train online in one-to-one lessons or small groups; our teachers come from 10 countries and know the exam formats from their own teaching. choices® prepares you for the exams but does not run them or issue certificates. Companies preparing international employees for a German exam will find suitable models under language courses for companies. If you feel nervous before the exam, read overcoming exam anxiety; if you also need an English certificate, see our comparison of English certificates.

Sources

1. goethe.de
2. goethe.de
3. goethe.de: Durchfuehrungsbestimmungen B1
4. goethe.de: Durchfuehrungsbestimmungen B2
5. osd.at: get your oesd certificate
6. osd.at: faq en
7. telc.net: deutsch
8. testdaf.de: aufbau des digitalen testdaf
9. testdaf.de: testdaf niveaus tdn
10. testdaf.de: auswertung des digitalen testdaf
11. hrk.de

Frequently asked questions