Choosing the right German test
Fine. There are various German language certifications are available. One gets confused to choose the ideal test required for migration or study purpose. To have a basic idea thereon, you may kindly refer the below table on various German certifications available and its significance. Please go through the information given and choose your requirement carefully.
Goethe Zertificat
People who have attained various levels of German proficiency are given Goethe Institute German Language Diplomas, or GDS, certificates by the Goethe-Institut. Even though lower level certifications are available, the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 is required to be accepted at the university you are applying to. This is because the exam is generic and not targeted at students, therefore only the maximum level of proficiency will be taken into account. Exam dates are accessible 0–4 times a year, depending on location, at test centres located in 98 different nations.
TestDaF
Test of German as a Foreign Language, or TestDaF for short, is the most widely used assessment of German language ability and is recognised by all German institutions. It is administered by the TestDaF-Institut and is widely available, with test centres located in almost 100 nations worldwide. On any of the six dates indicated each year, candidates may select to take a paper-based or a digital exam.
It contains three levels, TDN 3, 4, and 5, which, according to CEFR criteria, fall within the B2-C1 range. It is acceptable if you receive a TDN 3 and a TDN 5 because they will balance out, but TDN 4 in all components is sufficient to be accepted by the majority of institutions. Even an overall TDN is accepted by some programmes.
DSH
The second-most popular qualifying exam is called the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für dem Hochschulzugang (DSH), but you can only take it in Germany and not in your native country. The exam consists of both written and spoken portions. The test will be administered at the university for which you are applying, thus each centre will have a different exam date and fee schedule. It is offered at DSH levels 1, 2, and 3, which equate to CEFR levels B2, C1, and C2, respectively.
Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
This exam is another competency certification, although it is mostly exclusively offered in European nations, and foreign citizens generally do not appreciate it. Bangalore is the only centre in India, though.
DSD
German language diplomas are awarded by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs at two levels, DSD I and DSD II, which are intended for enrollment into college-level courses at the ages of 15 to 17 and 17 to 21 respectively. After finishing a lengthy German language course at school or at a recognised institution, candidates can take the Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz, or DSD, exam.
| 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) |