Move and Study - German exams and qualifications

What a German certificate is for

A German language certificate proves your level to a university, an employer or a public authority. Recognised exams test the four skills — reading, listening, writing and speaking — and place the result on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which runs from A1 for beginners to C2 for full mastery.

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The main exams

The Goethe-Zertifikat is awarded by the Goethe-Institut, Germany’s cultural institute. It exists for every level from A1 to C2 and is recognised worldwide.

TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache) is designed for people who want to study at a German university. It covers levels B2 to C1 and is taken at licensed test centres in Germany and abroad.

telc Deutsch exams also cover levels A1 to C2. The DSH is taken directly at the German university you are applying to, and the ÖSD is the Austrian German diploma.

Preparing for the exam on a language stay

An immersion stay lets you work on the language every day, in class and outside it. Many German schools offer exam preparation courses that train you in the format of the papers.

Before you choose, check which certificate and which level the institution or employer you are applying to requires: they set the requirement.