German Language Tests: Complete Guide to Goethe, telc, TestDaF & DSH

People ask me all the time: “Julia, which German exam should I take?” And honestly, I get it. There are so many tests out there — Goethe, testDAF, telc, DSH — and it’s not always obvious what the difference is or which one you actually need.

I’ve been teaching German for over 14 years now. I’m a native speaker, studied linguistics at LMU Munich, and I’ve helped dozens of students prepare for these exams. So let me break it down for you. Just tell you what I know from experience.

If you already know you want structured prep, you can check my pricing and lesson options or book a free chat — no pressure.

The main German language tests fall into four categories:

1. Goethe-Institut — the big one, most people know it. Works for resumes, visas, citizenship, pretty much everything.
2. testDAF — this one’s for studying at a German university.
3. telc — similar to Goethe but also available for other European languages.
4. DSH — another university admission test, but organized by each university itself.

How I prepare students for German exams

Before I get into the details of each test, let me tell you how I work.

Most of my students come to me for the last stretch before their exam. They’ve been studying on their own, or they took a course somewhere, and now they need someone to get them over the finish line. That’s where I come in.

Here’s what I focus on:

• Grammar refresh. Without solid grammar, you won’t pass. I see it all the time — students who know a lot of words but can’t put them together correctly. We fix that first.
• Find weak spots and work on them. I assess where you struggle, and we tackle it one thing at a time. If reading comprehension is hard for you, we’ll read together, step by step, until it clicks.
• Mock exams under real conditions. I have a collection of past test papers I’ve gathered over the years. We simulate the real thing — time pressure and all — so you know what to expect. Afterward I give you honest feedback.

And here’s something not every online teacher can offer: I can register you for the exam at a certified language school I work with in Munich. So you don’t have to figure that part out on your own.

Want to know more about how my online lessons work? There’s a page for that. If group learning suits you better, I also offer a virtual classroom with small-group preparation.

Goethe-Zertifikat — the classic German test

The Goethe-Institut tests are what most people think of when they hear “German exam.” They’ve been around forever and they’re recognized pretty much everywhere.

Pass the test at any level from A1 to C2 and you get the Goethe-Zertifikat for that level. The levels follow the CEFR framework — that’s the European standard for language ability.

Goethe-Zertifikat A1

This is the entry level. It proves you have basic German. Two versions exist depending on age:

• Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Fit in Deutsch 1 — for teenagers aged 10 to 16. I offer German lessons for kids and teenagers to prepare for this. One thing: there’s no Goethe certificate for children under 10. I mention this because I’ve gotten requests from parents of younger kids, and it’s good to know upfront.
• Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 — the adult version.

Goethe-Zertifikat A2

A2 shows you can communicate in a basic way. Again, two versions:

• Fit in Deutsch for teenagers up to 16
• Goethe-Zertifikat A2 for adults

Goethe-Zertifikat B1

B1 is a big one. It shows you have independent language ability. In Germany, B1 is often required for jobs and for applying for citizenship. Many of my adult students aim for this level first.

Goethe-Zertifikat B2

There are two certificates at B2:

• Goethe-Zertifikat B2
• Deutsch für den Beruf (German for work)

B2 means solid, good German. Some university programs accept it, especially for German studies.

Goethe-Zertifikat C1

C1 is advanced. At this level you can handle complex topics and express yourself fluently. Most German universities require at least C1 for admission.

Goethe-Zertifikat C2

The highest level. The full name is Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS). It’s the top of the CEFR scale. If you have C2, you can study at any German university — no questions asked.

Here’s a quick overview of all Goethe exams:

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 and all higher certificates are accepted for family reunion visas. I’ll mention that again later.

A few years ago there were other tests like the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS), and Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS). These are all replaced now by the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom. But if you already have one of the old certificates, it’s still valid.

You can take the Goethe-Institut exam at authorized test centers worldwide. Find the closest one here.

testDAF — for university admission

testDAF stands for Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (German as a Foreign Language). It’s a standardized exam for anyone who wants to study at a German university or Hochschule. If you’re starting from zero, my A1 German group course can get you to a solid foundation first.

Who needs testDAF? Basically:

• You didn’t go to secondary school in Germany and want to study at a German university
• You started studying abroad and want to continue in Germany

It’s also useful for:

• Foreign students who need to prove their German level back home
• Exchange students who want a formal certification after their stay
• Researchers or scientists who need German for their work

How testDAF works

The exam has 4 parts:

• Reading comprehension
• Listening comprehension
• Writing (text production)
• Speaking (oral communication)

Each part is graded separately on a 3-level scale:

Here’s the thing: your final result isn’t an average. You get four separate scores, one for each part. And if one of them isn’t good enough for your chosen university, you can retake the test. As many times as you want.

What the levels actually mean in practice

I’ve had students at all three levels, so here’s what I’ve seen:

• TDN 3. You can follow everyday study topics, but scientific texts are still tough. You can summarize familiar subjects, though with mistakes that might affect understanding. Speaking is similar — errors happen, sometimes leading to misunderstandings.

• TDN 4. You understand complex texts, both concrete and abstract. You can speak without errors that would break the conversation. You can hold a discussion with a native speaker on different topics without preparing in advance.

• TDN 5. You can read long, complicated texts on detailed subjects. You pick up on implicit stuff — irony, tone, the speaker’s actual intention. In writing, only a few small errors remain, nothing that hurts comprehension. Speaking is fluent, no need to stop and search for words.

What score do you need?

Depends on the university and the program.

From what I’ve seen, TDN 3 will get you into very specific programs — the University of Konstanz accepts it for physics, math, and financial mathematics, for example. Some universities also accept TDN 3 for entry into a Studienkolleg (a prep program that fills the gap between your current level and what’s needed for university).

Useful links for Studienkolleg: Studienkollegs in Germany, Studienkolleg München, University of Bamberg information

Most universities want TDN 4 in all four parts. For competitive programs — German philology, German studies, law — you’ll likely need TDN 5 across the board.

Where to take testDAF

The test is offered at about 450 locations in 95 countries. It’s centralized, so the testDAF Institute handles the grading and issues the certificate — not the local test center. You can find your nearest center on their official website.

telc — the European alternative

telc stands for The European Language Certificates. It was developed together with the Goethe-Institut, so the two systems are quite similar. But there’s one big difference: telc offers tests in 10 European languages, not just German. That’s their main selling point, in my opinion.

The telc certificates are recognized for official purposes:

• Some German universities accept them (but not all — check with your specific university first). Hamburg, Giessen, and Münster are known to accept telc.
• Many foreign universities and institutions accept them too.
• They count as proof of language ability for German citizenship (more on the Einbürgerungstest).
• telc Deutsch A1 is accepted for family reunion visas by the German Interior Ministry (more on Familienzusammenführung).

Available telc German tests

A few things worth noting:

telc has created special tests for different age groups and professions. For young people there are dedicated exams (though not at every level). If you’re working in healthcare, there are two specific tests: telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege and telc Deutsch B2-C1 Medizin. I’ve prepared several students in the medical field — if that’s you, my Business German for Professionals course covers exactly what you need.

The table also shows the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (German Test for Immigrants) for levels A2-B1. This one’s specifically designed for people who’ve taken integration courses in Germany.

You can take telc exams at authorized test centers, at some universities, or at the Goethe-Institut. Find the closest one here.

DSH — university-specific exam

DSH stands for Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (German Language Exam for University Admission). It’s another route into German universities. But it works differently from testDAF. For one-on-one prep, check my 1:1 tutoring.

The key difference: DSH is organized by each university individually. There are guidelines, sure, but each university designs its own exam. Some universities outsource it to certified schools. Not all universities offer a DSH at all.

This is both good and bad. Good, because the exam can be tailored to what the university actually expects. Bad, because the difficulty and structure vary from place to place. And here’s the catch: a DSH passed at one university might not be accepted at another. So you could end up taking it again if you move.

For what it’s worth, there are efforts to standardize the DSH, but the situation is still pretty mixed.

How DSH compares to testDAF

I get asked this a lot. Here’s the simplest way to think about it:

• testDAF is standardized. Same structure everywhere, same grading. The testDAF Institute controls everything.
• DSH is decentralized. Each university decides. The structure, the difficulty, the passing criteria — all can change.

DSH structure

Like testDAF, DSH has 4 parts. But unlike testDAF, you get a single final grade, not four separate ones.

The exam has two main blocks:

Written test (covers 3 skills):

• Listening comprehension
• Reading comprehension
• Text production

Oral test (covers):

• Understanding a conversation partner
• Expressing ideas independently
• Pronunciation, intonation, and correctness

Each block is graded separately. Your final grade is the lower of the two.

Grading

The score is calculated as a percentage of total points:

Example: Say you get 76% on the written part (DSH-2) but only 65% on the oral part (DSH-1). Your final grade is DSH-1 — the lower of the two. That’s important to keep in mind when preparing.

Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD)

One more thing worth mentioning: there’s also the DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom Level I and II). This isn’t a test you just sign up for — it’s a multi-year program offered in schools outside Germany, defined by the German Education Ministry. Quite different from the exams above, so I won’t go into detail here, but here are some links if you’re curious.

More on the Deutsches Sprachdiplom:

• Wikipedia Deutsches Sprachdiplom
• Official page of the German Education Ministry

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to prepare for a German language test?
It really depends on where you’re starting and where you need to get. In my experience, going from a solid B1 to B2 usually takes about 8 to 12 weeks with weekly lessons. For C1, plan on 12 to 16 weeks. But everyone’s different — I’ll assess your level in our first session and give you a realistic timeline.

Which German language test should I take?
Think about your goal first. Goethe-Zertifikat is your best bet for general proof — work, citizenship, personal achievement. If you’re heading to a German university, go with testDAF or DSH. For recognized certification across multiple European languages, telc is a solid choice. Not sure? Just contact me, I’ll help you figure it out.

Can I take the German test online?
The official exams themselves — Goethe, telc, testDAF — require you to be physically present at an authorized test center. But the preparation can be done entirely online with me. We meet over video, I coach you, we do mock tests together. And like I said, I can register you at a certified test center in Munich if that helps.

Do you offer mock exams?
Yes, absolutely. Mock exams are a core part of how I prepare students. I’ve collected past papers over the years for Goethe, telc, and testDAF. We run through them under real time pressure, and afterward I give you detailed feedback on what you did well and what needs work.

How much does exam preparation cost?
A single 45-minute session is €44. A 90-minute session is €88. Most students preparing for an exam take 2 lessons per week over 8 to 12 weeks. There’s also a 5% discount if you buy a 10-lesson package. See the full pricing page for all options.

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