What is DSH? (Was ist die DSH?)

German Language Test ‘DSH’: The abbreviation ‘DSH’ stands for ‘Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang’ - ‘German Language Test for the Admission of Foreign Study Applicants’ (DSH). With this language scrutiny in Duisburg - Essen and Düsseldorf, foreign students who have not taken the Abitur (a German requirement that students clear after completing their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling) in Germany have to demonstrate that they have adequate German language skills to study at any German university.

The rule for taking the language assessment for admission to higher education even applies to Germans who have not taken the Abitur in Germany. Many universities throughout Germany offer DSH assessment for internal and external students multiple times a year.

DSH - Who is it for? (Für wen ist die Prüfung gedacht?)

The DSH is for all international students.

It is also ideal for all international students who already have a valid entry to study at a higher education establishment. Successful participation and completion of the DSH exam are mandatory for all applicants. However, there are exceptions. More information can be found under the DSH requirements. DSH is designed to test your linguistic ability to pursue studies in the German language. Can you understand the talks in German and extract the important content? Can candidates answer questions on methodical topics, in writing or orally, with no difficulties?

DSH - Are you ready? (DSH – Bist du bereit?)

The DSH is for international student applicants.

German4Germany will prepare candidates for the exams. Our native language trainers have years of expertise, which the DSH is based on, and will train candidates with a tried and tested system. German4Germany provides candidates with ample exam preparation training, including group discussions, exercises with the original exam pattern, and tape recordings.

The DSH is for international student applicants.

DSH - Exemption (DSH – Befreiung)

Who is Exempted? (DSH – Wer ist befreit?)

Some are Exempted:

Candidates who can prove that they have the required language skills through higher institution qualifications that meet the German higher institution level.

Student applicants who have the Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultursministerkonferenz Level 2 (DSD II)

Student applicants who have obtained their Zentral Oberstufenprüfung ZOP from the Goethe Institute.

Student applicants who have the Kleines deutsches Sprachdiplom or the Großes deutsches Sprachdiplom from the Goethe Institute

Applicants who have taken German as a foreign language classes and have successfully passed the Festellungsprufüng or Abschlussprufüng in a German Studienkolleg.

Candidates who have accomplished a limited part of their studies as an exchange student at a German university.

DSH Preparation at German4Germany (DSH-Vorbereitung bei German4Germany)

At German4Germany, you can prepare for a course dedicated to the DSH.

German4Germany is located in the heart of India, and it enables you to glow with German Language Proficiency in a relaxed atmosphere. For many years, our language trainers have prepared native and foreign student applicants through intensive training for the DSH exams.

Whether you are an advanced student or a complete beginner (Unabhängig davon, ob Sie bereits fortgeschritten oder noch Anfänger sind)

German4Germany offers individual programs for everyone. This way, you can be guaranteed of learning success and the finest preparation for the exams.

If you do not have previous knowledge or familiarity with the German language, we offer you the DSH assessment intensive course for beginners.

The DSH Training (Das DSH-Training)

The DSH-training tests language proficiency at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages. A lot of emphasis is put on groundwork for the DSH language test.

There are special teaching approaches and exercises as well as original assessments, which are used to help you prepare effectively for the exams. German4Germany ensures your effective training. You can practice in our modern center, and nothing will stand in the way of you passing the DSH exams!

The language trainers (Die Sprachtrainer)

The courses are taught only by expert German Language speakers. They have years of teaching expertise and DSH preparation training and are responsive to the kind of questions that may be asked in the exam. All the needs of the candidates are evaluated, helping the trainers in the usage of modern teaching methods and a variety of teaching materials. Vocabulary, grammar, written and oral expression, our trainers know exactly what is necessary for the DSH exam.

DSH One-to-One Lesson (DSH-Einzelunterricht)

Then the one-to-one lesson is the most effective language course for you. In this way, you will surely have uninterrupted language practice and maximum focus. The language trainer(s) organise the program to suit your personal needs and help you with your language weaknesses. Intensive conversation with the trainer gives you a quicker learning advancement.

DSH Standard Course (DSH-Standardkurs)

Do you like to learn and exchange ideas with others? (Lernst du gerne gemeinsam mit anderen und tauschst dich über Ideen aus?)

Then take part in the group courses! Together, with a maximum participants, you will get ready for a common goal. To pass the DSH effectively, apart from the exercises, you will improve your written and oral terminology; there will be discussions as well as partner exercises included in the training program. Different Q&A rounds and topics will be compared and discussed in the group.

DSH Intensive Course (DSH-Intensivkurs)

Do you have no previous knowledge of, or no language skills in, the German Language?

We recommend you take the intensive course for beginners before starting with the DSH training. Here you will learn the basics that are essential for the preparation of the DSH.

The duration of this course differs according to the individual, and it is determined by poles apart aspects.

The DSH Exam (Die DSH-Prüfung)

DSH - General / DSH and its structure (DSH – Allgemeines / Aufbau der Prüfung)

The DSH Exam has two parts: written and oral. In both portions of the exam, you will be tested to see whether you have adequate language skills to take up studies in Germany.

Listening and reading comprehension will check your general knowledge and methodical topics, which assess your capability to express yourself in written and oral methods.

Additionally, we practice DSH sample exams with examples. This way, you can get an impression of what the DSH exam looks like.

The Written DSH exam (Die schriftliche DSH-Prüfung)

The written part of the DSH exam accounts for 70% of the whole DSH exam. It is the first part of the exam and takes three to four hours. For references and to check unfamiliar words and vocabulary, you will be given a dictionary to use. The tasks in the written exam are systematically arranged in four major topics. In this section of the exam, various topics can be covered and may result in two or three parts of the written part of the DSH exam, without leaving out any task.

The Oral DSH Exam (Die mündliche DSH-Prüfung)

The oral exam accounts for 30% of the whole DSH examination. This follows after you have successfully passed your written exam. If you do not pass the written part of the exam, you cannot take the oral exam, even if your skills have been graded as ‘very good’ and ‘good’.

What is the Written Part of the DSH Exam About? (Worum geht es im schriftlichen Teil der DSH-Prüfung?)

Understanding and processing an audio text (Verstehen und Verarbeiten eines Hörtextes)

Lectures, seminars, and presentations are a part and parcel of university life. As a student, you are required to be able to summarize the most important points in the form of notes during lectures. In this part of the written exam, you will be required to prove whether your German skills match up to this requirement. Before the exam starts, you will be introduced to the topic.

Subsequently, the text, of 5500 to 7000 characters, will be read out twice in normal speaking tempo, where you are required to make notes.

Whether you have understood is what the examiner is going to test you with, by asking questions. We offer you the content summary of the text, or give you an MCQ test with true or false choice tasks.

This section accounts for 20% of the DSH exam, and it takes 60 minutes. Your efforts will be assessed to see whether the task has been properly attempted. The content logically plays a key role in comparison to the linguistic accuracy.

Comprehension and Working on a Text (Leseverstehen und Bearbeitung eines Textes)

The methodical texts are the basic groundwork for students. Almost every day at university, you will find different genres of literature on specific topics, where you can concentrate on projects you may be interested in and write a thesis.

It is important that you read actively and that you can mark the key points in the text. This is the aim of this part of the written exam.

You will get a methodical text with 30-60 lines along with a graph. The tasks that follow will be answering questions from the text, to check whether you have understood the context. The questions vary in every aspect. You will be given either MCQ or universal questions for each text passage, which have to be answered. You should pay close attention to how you answer the question; instead of simply rephrasing the passage where the answer is, you should be able to reformulate the text into your own words.

This part of the exam accounts for 20% of the DSH exam, and it takes 60 minutes. It is similar to listening comprehension, where the context of the answers and grammatical correctness hold a lot of weight.

Comprehension and Working on Methodical Structures (Verstehen und Bearbeiten methodischer Strukturen)

This part focuses on the German language. You will be given a reading text. Understanding the grammatical structures in a text and reframing it is the objective. Can you create new related references? These skills will be tested in this part of the exam, which is important to understand the methodical language. The tasks are very different. There will be questions on the grammatical structures (e.g., the function of the conjunctive) but also specific alteration (e.g., the usage of the relative clause).

This part of the exam accounts for 10% of the total, and it takes 30 minutes. Grammatical correctness plays an important role in the assessment.

Text Production (Text produktion)

This is the written part of the exam. Are you able to convey yourself orally and in writing about a precise topic? To get study credits at German universities, you are required to write essays and a thesis about specific topics. Good writing skills and a rich vocabulary will be vital.

In the assessment, you will get a specific topic to leverage. For example, a text from the listening or reading comprehension part, but a graph and diagrams could also be possible. Your task is to write a text of 200-250 words in which to answer each question by explanation, comment, or comparison.

This part of the exam accounts for 20% of the DSH exam, and it takes 60 minutes. The assessment is based on the accuracy of your ability to express yourself in text, as well as the content (e.g., the text construction and the content rationality).

DSH Evaluation (DSH-Bewertung)

Pass "or" fail (Bestanden oder nicht bestanden)

Initially, candidates clear the written exam. Later, they pass the written exam and then proceed to the oral exam.

You must clear both the written and oral parts to pass the full DSH exam. (The only exception is if you have been relieved from the oral exam)

You can only pass the written exam once you have successfully answered each of the exam parts, which means two-thirds of the tasks. The same goes for the oral exam. You pass the exam only when you have attained two-thirds of the total marks acquired.

DSH Results (DSH-Ergebnisse)

The DSH results will be declared by the examiner after the test. Depending on the university, it can be conveyed differently. In the field of study German as a foreign language at the Heinrich Heine University, the results are graded as "Passed" or “Not passed". You will find information about the DSH evaluation at your chosen university.

Not passing the DSH exam (Nichtbestehen der DSH-Prüfung)

If you fail the DSH exam, you can redo the whole exam one more time. Though you should not forget to mention that it's the second time you are taking the exam.

Framework of the German Language Test DSH (Rahmenstruktur der DSH-Prüfung)

Since 2014, there has been an elementary framework at all universities according to which the examination must be carried forward.

The overall result of the DSH is given in three levels (DSH 1 to DSH 3).

• DSH-1, if at least 57% of the requirements were fulfilled in both the written and the oral examination.

• DSH-2, if 67% were fulfilled.

• DSH-3 if 82% of the requirements were met.

The DSH examination (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) offered at FH Aachen (Aachen University of Applied Sciences) is a standardised, accredited examination covering levels B2–C1, recognised all over Germany.

A successfully completed DSH examination is recognised by all universities in Germany; thus, the DSH exam of FH Aachen is open to all interested candidates, irrespective of the institution they are applying to.

Exam Format and Grading (Prüfungsformat und Bewertung)

The DSH exam includes a written and oral component. The oral part is conducted only in case the examinee passes the written part. More detailed information on the examination format can be found on our DSH fact sheet (in German) and by familiarising yourself with the examination structure through viewing our DSH sample exam.

Each of the components of the DSH examination can be passed with the following grades:

DSH 1 (57% or above) certifies “basic/elementary” language ability.

DSH 2 (67% or above) certifies “differentiated” language ability.

DSH 3 (82% or above) certifies “exceptional” language ability.

If an examinee scores less than 57 % of the maximum points in one component of the examination, this part of the examination is considered failed.

Most universities require a DSH result at level DSH-2 (C1 ) or higher.