German Language Proficiency Tests: What You Need to Know

If you are planning to study in Germany for a degree, chances are, you are required to know German before getting admitted into its universities. Thus, you are required to take a language proficiency test. 

Unless you are taking a program in English, then it’s not much of a requirement.

Moreover, read below to know more about German language proficiency tests. 

Where Is It Needed? 

School 

Your German proficiency level will depend on your chosen study program. It should be enough for you to understand your lectures, join discussions in your institution, read the academic texts and analyze them. 

Daily Life

German is not only useful in your chosen degree program. It can also make your daily life in Germany more convenient and easier. It can help you adjust faster, meet new friends, and even easily get a part-time job if you choose to do so. 

Knowing German can even let you explore more of the country. English may be spoken by many people in academies and big cities. However, once you go to the countryside or other places in Germany, you may find out that not everyone has a good command of the language. 

What Types of Tests Can You Take

If the German language is a prerequisite in your chosen study program, you either have to take TestDaF or Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH). 

TestDaF

TestDaf is being administered in over 90 countries in different parts of the world. Thus, you can take it in your home country, as long as they are offering it. 

In most countries, the test is usually administered six times a year (In China, only thrice a year). 

There are two ways to take the test, the first one is through the Digital TestDaf, which may take around 3 hours and 10 minutes, or paper-based, which may take around 3 hours and 15 minutes. Both types will test your skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking. 

Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH)

Unlike the TestDaf, the DSH can only be taken in Germany. Many universities in Germany offer this test. So if you need more information about them, including information about the date of the tests, you have to contact your university’s International Office. 

Since the tests are offered by different universities, the exam fee may vary—as low as EUR 40 or as high as EUR 170. 

DSH has two main parts, Written and Oral. Under those two main parts, the test will test your skills in writing, speaking, listening, and reading. The test will also be focusing on situations related to university life. Thus, expect to listen to lectures and seminars, read, write, and talk about academic topics. 

There are many ways to ace these German language proficiency tests, through self-studying, by joining language schools, such as the Goethe Institut, or by exposing yourself to the language by using it in your daily life. 

Want to begin your journey as a foreign student in Germany but unsure of how to fund your studies?