Process of the DSH examination

1. Examination part: Guided text production

You receive a sheet with your task, an answer sheet and a note-paper. Nothing you write on the note-paper will be graded. Write your full name and your check digits on your answer sheet.

You have 70 minutes for this part of the exam. You need to count your words before the examination time is up. Your text should have at least 160 words but not more than 300 words.

2. Examination part: Understanding and processing of an audio text

The audio text will be read twice. Prior to the first reading, you receive three sheets of note-paper, which should suffice for your notes. The reading takes between 12 and 15 minutes. You may take notes while listening.

After the first listening you receive your tasks. You have 10 minutes to read the tasks before the audio text will be read a second time. After the second listening you have 40 minutes to work on the tasks. Do not forget to write down both your name and your check digits on your exam sheet. The total time for this examination part is about 75 minutes (including reading time).

3. Examination part: Understanding and processing of a reading comprehension and structures of academic language

The third exam part consists of two parts which will be tested without a break. You have 90 minutes total to work on both parts. We suggest you plan on 60 minutes for the reading and 30 minutes for structures of academic language. Please write down both your name and your check digits on both exam sheets.

You receive a reading comprehension, tasks for the reading comprehension, tasks for structures of academic language and a sheet of note-paper.

Oral examination

If you have passed your written examination with at least 57%, you may partake in an oral examination. Passing the oral examination is necessary to receive a certificate. Please mind our information on how DSH results are calculated.

The oral examination consists of two parts:

• Preparation time
• Oral examination

You receive a presentation at the beginning of your preparation time. You have about 20 minutes to look at the tasks, take notes and look up unknown words in a monolingual German dictionary. The oral examination starts after the preparation time is over. You may bring your notes to the oral examination. Do not read from your notes during the oral examination!

The 15-minute examination will be held by two examiners. The examiners will discuss your results and inform you about it. If you have passed at least 57% of the oral examination, you receive a certificate.