DSH stands for “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang”, which means “German Language Exam for University Entrance”. It is one of the standardized German proficiency exams that international students can take to prove their German language skills. The exam serves students who want to study at a university in Germany. It also serves those heading to countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. In those countries, German is the native language and is used as the language of instruction.
What Is the DSH Exam For?
International students need to prove their German proficiency level before they can apply to a higher education institution that teaches in German. DSH is one of the German proficiency exams that universities recognize for this purpose. To get detailed information about universities in Germany and use all features of our site for free, you can sign up right away. The DSH exam is designed to test whether international students are linguistically ready to study in German.
It shows the institutions they apply to whether they can understand courses taught in German and pull the key content out of those courses. It also shows whether they can answer written or spoken questions on scientific and academic topics without trouble.
DSH or TestDaF?
Both TestDaF and DSH can be used in university applications, but there are some differences between the two exams. TestDaF is generally prepared and run by a central organization, so it has a standard exam format. DSH, on the other hand, is run separately by each university that teaches in German. As a result, the format can differ from one institution to another.
Exam preparation should therefore be done with the support of expert instructors who know each university’s own DSH strategies. You can choose our DSH exam courses to prepare for the exam the right way, and you can contact us for detailed information.
Structure and Content of the DSH Exam
The DSH exam consists of two parts: a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam takes place before the oral exam. In general, the exam includes sections like these: understanding and working with an audio text (Hörverstehen – Listening Comprehension), and understanding and working with a reading passage (Leseverstehen – Reading Comprehension).
It also includes task-based text production (Vorgabenorientierte Textproduktion – Essay Writing), plus understanding and working with scientific and academic language structures (Verstehen und Bearbeiten wissenschaftssprachlicher Strukturen).
In the listening comprehension section, also described as understanding and working with an audio text, candidates must show two things. They must show they can follow and understand lectures and talks in a scientific field. They must also show they can take meaningful, useful notes using note-taking techniques. The listening text is usually 50 to 100 lines long. Before the text is read aloud, candidates get brief information about the context of the topic.
The text is read aloud once, or at most twice, and candidates are advised to take notes while they listen. After the reading, candidates are asked either to answer some questions or to interpret the text, or to write a summary of it.
Scoring and Levels
The DSH exam is usually graded on a DSH-1, DSH-2 and DSH-3 scale. DSH-1 shows that the candidate has a certain level of proficiency, but it is not enough for university admission. A candidate at DSH-1 level is advised to join a German language course and then retake the exam. Where no other conditions apply, DSH-1 may be enough for programs taught in a mix of German and English.
DSH-2 represents an intermediate level of proficiency. It is the minimum level required for admission to most programs at universities that teach in German. DSH-3 is the highest level and shows near-native proficiency. That said, programs such as medicine, dentistry and law may require the DSH-3 level. On the CEFR scale, DSH-1 corresponds to B2, DSH-2 to C1, and DSH-3 to C2.
One point needs underlining here: to pass the DSH exam, you must pass both the written exam and the oral exam. DSH does not average out your overall result. To reach the usual target of DSH-2, both parts of the exam must be passed with at least DSH-2. Candidates who reach DSH-3 in the written part but finish the oral part with DSH-1 stay at DSH-1 overall.
How Long Is the DSH Certificate Valid?
Like the TestDaF certificate, the DSH exam certificate does not expire. Once you pass the test, the certificate remains valid indefinitely. Even so, some universities may ask you to retake the exam, in line with their own practices and regulations. This can happen when there is a large gap between the test date and the current date.
How to Prepare for the DSH Exam?
Exam preparation can be a tough process for people who know no German at all. The same goes for people whose German level is below B2 on the CEFR scale. Preparing the right way calls for quality, official preparation materials, German courses and practice exams. It also means getting used to an exam format that is far from conventional. In addition, DSH has a format that can change from university to university and from institution to institution. So you should prepare with the university you will apply to in mind.
You should also get support from instructors who know that university’s DSH strategies. You can join our German courses to prepare for the DSH exam the right way. Click to get detailed information.
