Which German exam is the easiest?

No official source ranks these exams by difficulty, so there is no official answer. The exams differ in structure: some score each skill alone, others give one result for a written and an oral part. Pick the exam your goal asks for, then practise in its format.

Which German certificate is accepted everywhere?

No single certificate is accepted by every office. For German universities, the RO-DT lists the TestDaF, the DSH and exempting exams such as the Goethe-Zertifikat C2. For residence and citizenship, the law asks for a level, and the office decides which certificates it takes.

What is the difference between Goethe and telc?

Both offer exams from A1 to C2. At B1, Goethe scores four modules alone, 60 of 100 each. telc scores a written part and an oral part, 60 percent each.

Which exam do I need for university in Germany?

Under the RO-DT: TDN 4 in all four TestDaF parts, DSH-2, or an exempting exam such as the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the ÖSD C2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. Many universities also accept Goethe C1 or B2.

Which exam do I need for citizenship?

German citizenship needs German at B1 (section 10 StAG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted. A DTZ with the overall result B1 also shows B1. Your office decides which certificates it takes.

Can I prepare for several exams with Faust?

Yes. Faust has 516 papers for Goethe, telc, DTZ, TestDaF, ÖSD, DSD, ÖIF and DTB. Faust is independent practice and not a product of any of these exam bodies.

Exam comparison

German exams compared: Goethe, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF, DSH and DTZ

Goethe, telc and ÖSD test general German by CEFR level. The TestDaF and the DSH test German for university study, and the DTZ is the final test of the integration course. For any German university, TDN 4 in all TestDaF parts, DSH-2 or a Goethe-Zertifikat C2 counts.

Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team

The right German exam depends on what the certificate is for. A visa office, a university and an employer can each ask for a different proof. This page lists the six exams people compare most, with the rules each body publishes, and says which goal each one fits.

No official source ranks these exams by difficulty, so this page gives no such ranking.

Faust has 516 practice papers for eight exam boards: 288 Goethe, 144 telc, 24 DTZ, 24 TestDaF, 6 ÖSD, 12 DSD, 12 ÖIF and 6 DTB. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

Find your level first

Six German exams at a glance

Exam	Set by	Result	Pass or level rule	Faust papers
Goethe-Zertifikat	Goethe-Institut	Exams from A1 to C2	A1: 60 of 100 in total. A2: 60 of 100 with 45 written and 15 oral. B1 to C2: 60 of 100 in each module	288
telc Deutsch	telc gGmbH	Exams from A1 to C2	B1: 60 percent in the written part and 60 percent in the oral part	144
ÖSD Zertifikat	Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch	Exams from A1 to C2	B2: 42 of 70 written with each subtest pass mark, 18 of 30 oral	6
TestDaF	TestDaF-Institut with the Goethe-Institut	TDN 3, TDN 4 or TDN 5 per part	TDN 4 in all four parts for every study programme	24
DSH	Universities and Studienkollegs	DSH-1, DSH-2 or DSH-3	DSH-2: 67 percent in both the written and the oral exam	None
DTZ	Integration course of the BAMF	A2 or B1	The level in Sprechen and in the Hören und Lesen part or the Schreiben part	24

Which exam fits which goal

Spouse visa: German law asks for simple German, which it sets at A1. The Goethe-Zertifikat A1 is one way to show it.
Settlement permit and citizenship: both ask for B1 (section 9 AufenthG and section 10 StAG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted for both. A DTZ with B1 also shows B1. Ask your office which certificates it takes.
University in Germany: under the RO-DT, TDN 4 in all four TestDaF parts and DSH-2 count for every study programme. Holders of the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the ÖSD C2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule are exempt from the language test.
Lower levels for university: many universities also accept Goethe C1 or B2. Each university decides, so check the rules of your programme.
Retakes: Goethe and TestDaF exams can be retaken as often as you want. At telc B1, a failed part can be taken again in the same or the next calendar year.

Modular or all in one

Goethe B1 to C2 are modular. You can take Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen alone or together, and each passed module gets its own certificate. ÖSD B2 has two modules, a written one and an oral one. telc B1 has a written and an oral part, and a failed part can be repeated on its own.

The TestDaF, the DSH and the DTZ are single exams. The TestDaF rates each of its four parts on its own. The DSH and the DTZ give one overall result from a written and an oral exam.

Where and how you sit the exam

Goethe exams take place at a test centre, on paper or on Goethe-Institut laptops, and Sprechen is always face to face. telc offers B1 digital, hybrid or on paper. ÖSD offers B2 on paper and, since 1 January 2024, also digital. The TestDaF comes in a digital and a paper version.

The DSH takes place at the university or Studienkolleg that offers it. The DTZ is the final test of the integration course.

Compare two exams in detail

Practice papers by exam

Frequently asked questions

Which German exam is the easiest?: No official source ranks these exams by difficulty, so there is no official answer. The exams differ in structure: some score each skill alone, others give one result for a written and an oral part. Pick the exam your goal asks for, then practise in its format.
Which German certificate is accepted everywhere?: No single certificate is accepted by every office. For German universities, the RO-DT lists the TestDaF, the DSH and exempting exams such as the Goethe-Zertifikat C2. For residence and citizenship, the law asks for a level, and the office decides which certificates it takes.
What is the difference between Goethe and telc?: Both offer exams from A1 to C2. At B1, Goethe scores four modules alone, 60 of 100 each. telc scores a written part and an oral part, 60 percent each.
Which exam do I need for university in Germany?: Under the RO-DT: TDN 4 in all four TestDaF parts, DSH-2, or an exempting exam such as the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the ÖSD C2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. Many universities also accept Goethe C1 or B2.
Which exam do I need for citizenship?: German citizenship needs German at B1 (section 10 StAG). The Goethe-Institut states that the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is accepted. A DTZ with the overall result B1 also shows B1. Your office decides which certificates it takes.
Can I prepare for several exams with Faust?: Yes. Faust has 516 papers for Goethe, telc, DTZ, TestDaF, ÖSD, DSD, ÖIF and DTB. Faust is independent practice and not a product of any of these exam bodies.

Ready? Check your German level now.