When you’re a tourist in a German-speaking country, you can get by fairly easily with a handful of essential German words and phrases. However, if you dream of starting a new life or career in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, memorizing a phrasebook won’t cut it.
You’ll need to learn German well enough to engage in long conversations, follow detailed instructions, and clearly express a wide variety of needs and concerns. But how can educational institutions, potential employers, or immigration officials see that you have the required German skills?
A German language certification can show that you have mastered enough German to succeed as a student, a professional, a resident alien, or a full-fledged citizen in a German-speaking country.
We’ll take a close look at seven of the most important German language certifications. These certifications are internationally recognized tests that can bring you a step closer to your goal to live, work, or study in a German-speaking country.
First, we’ll touch briefly on how these certifications use a common standard to measure your proficiency in German. Then, we’ll examine what makes each of these certifications unique. Finally, we’ll talk about the best ways to prepare for these important tests, so you can confidently approach the certification process.
Keep reading to learn more or discoveronline German classeson Preply.
German language proficiency levels
People around the world learn German in so many different ways — in the classroom, through apps, via private tutoring, or even on the job. This can make it difficult to confirm that someone has all the skills they need to work, study, or apply for citizenship in a German-speaking country.
To set a standard for language fluency, the Council of Europe developed the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Known as CEFR, this six-tiered system describes levels of language ability from “Basic” to “Proficient.” Learners are evaluated in the four areas of language use: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
A1 (Lower Beginner)
At the A1 level, you should be able to understand simple German sentences and recognize basic words that describe yourself and the world around you. You can use familiar greetings and introduce yourself. You can also write simply, for example, filling out forms. You can understand fundamental German vocabulary in slow speech.
A2 (Upper Beginner)
You can relate information about your job, your family, and your basic needs at the A2 level. You can understand practical materials like train schedules. You can also comprehend short written and spoken messages.
B1 (Lower Intermediate)
At the B1 level, you can start to enjoy more German media, grasping the main ideas of TV or radio programs that have slow and clear narration. Your written and spoken expressions also become more sophisticated.
B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Reaching the B2 level means that you can appreciate German media more fully, although you might still struggle with fast dialogue or idiomatic expressions. Your use of German is more nuanced at this level.
The right words, expressions, and grammar come more easily to you, with much less hesitation than at lower levels.
C1 (Lower Advanced)
At the C1 level, your use and understanding of German becomes more intuitive. You can read deeper into the German you see and hear, engaging in more complex conversations and enjoying more native-level media.
C2 (Upper Advanced/Fluent)
Your mastery at the C2 level lets you produce and understand highly complex German. This is close to native-level German fluency. Even accents from different parts of the German-speaking world don’t throw you off.
German language certifications
These seven German language certifications measure your German language skills using the CEFR levels. Each of these tests provides an official assessment of German proficiency for learners in different situations.
Generally, these exams are taken at authorized test centers on designated dates.
Goethe-Zertifikat
There are six types of Goethe-Zertifikat, each corresponding to a CEFR level from A1 through C2. These are administered by the Goethe-Institut, an independent organization dedicated to the study of German language and culture.
Different versions of the Goethe-Zertifikat tests for levels A1 (lower beginner) through B2 (upper intermediate) can be taken by both younger students and adults. The tests for the C1 and C2 levels, however, are for adults only. Students, visa seekers, or workers can all benefit from getting a Goethe-Zertifikat.
The Goethe-Zertifikat C2, also called Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom (Great German Language Diploma), measures a near-native mastery of German by non-native speakers. The test can be taken by any German learner over the age of sixteen. It works best for people who would like to teach, do research, or study in Germany.
Goethe-Test PRO
If you’re planning to use German professionally, you can take the Goethe-Test PRO to show current or prospective employers your competence.
This two-part exam presents different sets of questions, focusing on your listening and reading skills. Based on your responses, it automatically adapts to your level of German knowledge.
The computer-based test takes up to 90 minutes to complete, and you’ll get your results as soon as you finish.
Goethe-Test PRO Pflege
This is a variation of the Goethe-Test PRO that’s made specifically for healthcare professionals, such as nurses. It tests mastery at the B2 (upper intermediate) level.
TestDaF
TestDaF — the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (Test of German as a foreign language) was created primarily for students who wish to study at the university level in Germany.
Designed to assess the proficiency of German language students from the B2 to C1 levels — basically, upper intermediate to lower advanced — it can be taken on a computer or on paper. Once you’ve passed the TestDaF exam, your certification will be valid indefinitely.
telc (The European Language Certificates)
A budget-friendly alternative to the various types of Goethe-Zertifikat, the many varieties of telc language certification tests provide a practical assessment of your German language skills.
For instance, if you want to study at a German university, the telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule certificate can help get you into a graduate-level lecture hall. To obtain German citizenship, you might use the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer A2·B1 or the Zertifikat Deutsch / telc Deutsch B1 as proof of your German-language skills.
The telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege is for nurses, whereas the telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin is for doctors who need privileges at German hospitals.
If you want to do business in German, try one of the telc Deutsch tests with Beruf (profession) in the title.
The governments of every German-speaking country accept telc certificates as proof of language proficiency for various immigration and residency purposes, such as obtaining a visa or a residence permit.
In fact, the governments of both Germany and Austria paired with telc test developers to ensure that these certificates would suffice for naturalization and residency.
DTZ
BAMF, the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees), is Germany’s national migration authority.
As a way of measuring immigrants’ progress in various government Integrationskurse (integration courses), they have created the DTZ, which stands for Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (German test for immigrants). It covers such topics as housing, health, social interaction, shopping, work, and raising children.
DSD
The Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz (German Language Certificate of the Education Ministers Conference), or DSD, was designed for foreign students who wish to study in German universities.
If you take the DSD I exam and achieve a level A2 or B1 on the test, you will be eligible to attend a Studienkolleg. This is a public institution that prepares students to attend a German university.
The DSD II exam is intended for students with a B2 or C1 level of German fluency. If you pass this exam, you can be authorized to study at a German institution of higher learning without any remedial language lessons.
Comparing German Language Certifications
With this at-a-glance comparison of German language certifications, you can easily see which of these tests might be best for you.
| Certificate Name | Who’s it for? | CEFR Level(s) |
| Goethe-Zertifikat |
| A1 – C2 |
| Goethe-Test PRO |
| A1 – C2 |
| Goethe-Test PRO Pflege |
| B2 |
| TestDaF |
| B2 – C1 |
| telc (various tests) |
| A1 – C2 |
| DTZ |
| A2 – B1 |
| DSD |
| A2/B1 (DSD I) or B2/C1 (DSD II) |
3 Tips to prepare for a successful German language certification
Careful preparation for your certification exam can lead to a positive outcome, whatever your goals are! Consider these tips as you get ready for your certification test.
Get to know the exam content and format
Take some of the stress out of your exam prep by familiarizing yourself with the format of the exam and what topics it covers.
For example, how many questions are in each section? Are they all multiple choice? Will you have to answer questions about spoken texts or dialogues, in addition to written material? What will you need to know about German grammar, such as word order or prepositions and their cases?
Find out whether you’ll get points deducted for wrong answers, so you can decide if it’s better to skip questions when you’re uncertain — or whether guessing is worth your time. And, speaking of time, knowing how long you have to complete each section of the exam is an essential part of your preparation.
Create a study schedule
A study schedule will help you use your time wisely, making sure that you cover all the essential exam topics with resources that match the components of the test.
If you know that the certification exam has a listening component, you’ll want to include listening practice such as German podcasts or even videos. German newspaper articles or short stories are as close as your smartphone, helping you to practice reading and understanding German texts. A blog for German language learners can break down German grammar and vocabulary, making it easier to learn.
To get personalized help and make more efficient use of your study time, consider getting 1-on-1 tutoring from a native German speaker. Preply makes it easy to find a qualified tutor who can help with challenges like German conversational skills, reading comprehension, and complex grammar.
Take practice tests
Taking a series of practice tests can help take the stress out of exam day. Since your scores on practice tests don’t really count, you can relax and get more familiar with the test in a low-pressure environment.
You can usually find practice tests and other training aids online, preferably from the institution that administers your chosen certification test. For instance, the Goethe-Institut offers practice materials for tests such as the Goethe-Zertifikat and the Goethe-Test PRO through their website.
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Prepping for certification success
Stay focused on the goal you want to achieve with your certification. Picture yourself joining over six centuries of academics and almost two dozen Nobel Prize winners at Universität Wien (University of Vienna).
Imagine gathering with your new German-speaking friends in your cozy Wohnung (apartment) in Berlin. Think of how proud you’ll be when you help close your company’s deal with a renowned German tech firm. Whatever your goal, let it motivate you to stick with your studies!
Whichever German certification test you choose to meet your needs, remember to use reliable resources like tutoring from Preply to keep your exam prep on course.
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