Exam preparation
Goethe-Zertifikat, telc Deutsch, TestDaF, DSH, and ÖSD each serve a different purpose. Live classes at Europaskool are tagged to the exam you're preparing for, so your materials, assignments, and mock tests match the real exam format from day one.
Studying at a German university
TestDaF or DSH — check which one your target university requires.
Studying or living in Austria
ÖSD, since it's built around Austrian German and Austrian recognition.
Work visa, citizenship, or immigration
Goethe-Zertifikat or telc Deutsch, at the level your application requires (often B1).
General certification for employers
Goethe-Zertifikat or telc Deutsch — both are broadly recognized and available at every level.
Not sure which one applies to you? Tell us your goal and we'll help you pick.
Goethe-Institut, on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office
Exam format
Reading
Comprehension of emails, articles, and everyday notices.
Listening
Dialogues, conversations, and public announcements.
Writing
Personal messages, forum posts, and semi-formal emails.
Speaking
Structured conversation and interaction with an examiner.
Typical fee: Roughly €100 at A1 rising to around €280–300 at C2, depending on level and country.
telc GmbH
Exam format
Reading & Language elements
Comprehension and grammar/vocabulary in context.
Listening
Everyday spoken German across several short passages.
Writing
A written response to a real-life prompt.
Speaking
A paired or individual oral exam with two examiners.
Typical fee: Typically €80–200 depending on level and test center.
TestDaF-Institut (g.a.s.t.), Bochum
Exam format
Reading
Academic and semi-academic texts under time pressure.
Listening
Lecture excerpts and academic conversations.
Writing
A structured academic essay, often built around a chart or graph.
Speaking
Recorded responses to prompts, evaluated afterward by examiners.
Typical fee: Around €210–215 for the exam itself.
Individual German universities (not centrally administered)
Exam format
Listening comprehension
An academic lecture with structured note-taking questions.
Reading & text-based tasks
Academic text analysis and language-in-use questions.
Written expression
An argumentative or descriptive academic essay.
Oral exam
A conversation on an academic topic once the written exam is passed.
Typical fee: Often included in university enrollment, or a small administrative fee — varies by institution.
Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch
Exam format
Reading
Austrian-context texts — notices, articles, and correspondence.
Listening
Everyday Austrian German in conversations and announcements.
Writing
Practical written tasks matched to the level.
Speaking
An oral exam with one or two examiners.
Typical fee: Varies by country and test center — typically similar to Goethe-Zertifikat pricing.
| Exam | Levels | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat | A1 – C2 (all six CEFR levels) | General proficiency for work, visas, citizenship applications, and everyday certification — the most widely recognized German exam worldwide. |
| telc Deutsch | A1 – C2, including the dual-level A2·B1 exam | A practical alternative to the Goethe-Zertifikat — often used for German citizenship (B1), vocational recognition, and integration courses. |
| TestDaF | Scored on the TDN scale (TDN 3–5), roughly CEFR B2–C1 | University admission in Germany and Austria — the standard exam international students take before starting a degree. |
| DSH | DSH-1, DSH-2, DSH-3 — roughly CEFR B2, C1, and C2 | University admission in Germany, taken directly at (or just before enrolling at) the university itself. |
| ÖSD | A1 – C2 | Study, work, or residency specifically in Austria — texts and situations reflect Austrian everyday life. |
When you enroll, we tag your account with the exam track you're aiming for and place you in a small-group batch preparing for that exact exam — not a generic class. Your live sessions, mock tests, and assignments follow that exam's real format, and the free-practice tools in the app reinforce the same material between classes.
