What is the DSD 2 exam?

DSD2 is the only official language diploma of the Federal Republic of Germany that measures German language proficiency. It is held annually in 65 countries. This exam is intended to evaluate students' higher-level German language skills. It is usually organized by the Goethe Institute and is considered a stepping stone for German language learners. DSD 2 exam consists of 4 parts including grammar, vocabulary, writing, listening and speaking skills. The exam is generally designed to assess more advanced language skills (B2, C1).

Dsd 2 Exam Content

The exams are administered centrally in all schools in the Northern Hemisphere on dates determined by Germany in December of each year. Exams are prepared in Germany and sealed and sent to the German consulate. Exam documents are received by the school's examination authority and they are administered by examination commissions in schools under the supervision of DSD coordinators. When the exam ends, exam documents and reports are delivered to the consulate sealed on the same day. Exams are evaluated at the center in Germany.

Oral exams are administered and evaluated by the school's exam commission members and the program coordinator sent from the center, on the days following the written exam and on dates determined by the center. Exam results are announced simultaneously to all schools in Germany approximately three months later by the German Government's official agency, ZfA (Zentralstelle für Auslandschulwesen).

The DSD 2 exam consists of 4 parts that comprehensively evaluate language skills.

The sections of the DSD 2 exam are as follows:

Written Expression (Schriftliche Ausdruck): In this section, students create a written text on a specific topic. Written expression skills, grammar, vocabulary and text editing abilities are evaluated. In this section, the candidate must write an introduction (approximately 2 sentences), summarize a given text, describe the graph, write the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic, and express his/her own opinion on the topic. This part lasts 120 minutes in total.
Reading Comprehension (Leseverstehen): This section measures students' abilities to understand specific texts. Texts are usually selected from German literature, daily newspapers or scientific articles. The reading section consists of five separate parts and lasts 85 minutes.
Listening Comprehension (Hörverstehen): Students listen to specific audio recordings and then answer questions about these recordings. Listening skills and comprehension abilities are evaluated in this section. In this section, candidates are asked to answer multiple-choice questions. It takes 50 minutes in total.
Verbal Communication (Mündliche Kommunikation): In this section, students give a speech on a specific topic. Staff evaluate students' grammar use, vocabulary, tone of voice and general communication skills. It consists of 2 parts and lasts a total of 40 minutes.

Each section of the exam consists of 24 points. Individuals are entitled to receive the diploma at the C1 or B2 level, depending on the score they receive.

DSD 2 - C1 Level: The student must get at least 14 points from the listening-comprehension and reading-comprehension sections, and at least 12 points from the composition and verbal skills. Scores for the listening and reading sections may vary. The score change is announced to schools by ZfA 1 month before the exam administered that year.

DSD 2 - B2 Level: The student must get at least 8 points from all sections. The student who is entitled to receive the B2 level DSD 2 diploma, does not have the right to retake the exam and increase his score to the C1 level. A student who cannot reach the specified score can try to increase his score by retaking the exam that includes all sections in the next academic year.

Where Can the DSD 2 Exam Score Be Used?

DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) exam scores are generally considered a measure of German language proficiency and are valid in a variety of situations. DSD exam scores can be used for the following purposes:

Academic Purposes: DSD exam scores can be used when applying to German universities or as admission criteria for students wishing to study at a university in Germany.
Professional Purposes: German language proficiency provides advantages in many professional fields. DSD certification can be important for individuals who want to work in Germany or establish business relations with Germany.
Visa Applications: When applying for a visa to Germany for education or work, DSD exam scores can be used to demonstrate your language proficiency.
German Culture and Language Schools: When applying for language courses or cultural programs in Germany, a DSD certificate may be required.