Is ÖSD or Goethe easier?

There is no official answer. No official source ranks the two exams by difficulty. The structures differ: Goethe has four modules scored alone, ÖSD has a written module with subtest pass marks and an oral module.

How many points do I need to pass ÖSD B2?

You need 42 of 70 points in the written module, plus the pass mark of each subtest, and 18 of 30 points in the oral module. That is 60 percent in each module.

How many points do I need to pass Goethe B2?

You need 60 of 100 points in each module. Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen each count alone.

Can I take only the written part?

Yes, in both exams. ÖSD B2 modules can be taken alone or together, and each passed module gets a module certificate. Goethe B2 modules can also be taken alone or together.

Do German universities accept ÖSD or Goethe?

The RO-DT rules exempt holders of the ÖSD C2 and of the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 from the university language test. For B2 and C1, each university decides. Check the language rules of your programme.

Does Faust have ÖSD practice papers?

Yes. Faust has 6 ÖSD B2 papers for the written and the oral module, and 48 Goethe B2 papers. Faust is independent practice. It is not a product of ÖSD or of the Goethe-Institut.

Exam comparison

Goethe vs ÖSD: how the B2 exams differ

Goethe-Zertifikat B2 has four modules, and you pass each one with 60 of 100 points. ÖSD Zertifikat B2 has two modules: you pass the written module with 42 of 70 points and the pass mark of each subtest, and the oral module with 18 of 30 points.

Updated 25 September 2026, Faust Academy team

The Goethe-Institut sets the Goethe-Zertifikat. The Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD) sets the ÖSD exams, with a certificate for each CEFR level from A1 to C2. At B2, the ÖSD reading and listening texts come from Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

No official source says which of the two exams is easier, and this page gives no such verdict. It lists the rules of both B2 exams, so you can see which structure suits your goal and your strengths.

Faust has 48 Goethe B2 practice papers and 6 ÖSD B2 practice papers. One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

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Goethe B2 and ÖSD B2 side by side

Values for the adult B2 exams, from the Goethe exam rules and the ÖSD exam page and implementation rules.

Detail	Goethe-Zertifikat B2	ÖSD Zertifikat B2
Set by	Goethe-Institut	Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD)
Modules	Four: Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen	Two: a written module (Lesen, Hören, Schreiben) and an oral module (Sprechen)
Points	100 per module	70 written (Lesen 20, Hören 20, Schreiben 30) and 30 oral
Pass rule	60 of 100 points in each module	Written: 42 of 70 points and the pass mark of each subtest. Oral: 18 of 30 points
Lesen	65 minutes, 5 parts	90 minutes, 4 tasks
Schreiben	75 minutes, 2 tasks	90 minutes, 2 texts: a formal email and an opinion text
Sprechen	Pair exam in 2 parts	Single or pair exam with 3 tasks: an information talk, a picture discussion and a discussion
Certificates	One per passed module. On request, and where the test centre offers it, an overall certificate shows the best results from one year	A module certificate per passed module. An overall certificate when you pass both modules on one date, or within one year at the same test centre
Exam mode	At a test centre, on paper or on Goethe-Institut laptops	On paper, and also digital since 1 January 2024
Faust practice papers for B2	48	6

How the two pass rules work

Goethe B2 has four separate modules. Each has 100 points, and you pass each one with 60. A good Lesen score cannot make up for a weak Hören score, but you can pass three modules now and retake the fourth later.

ÖSD B2 puts Lesen, Hören and Schreiben into one written module with 70 points. You need 42 of them, and you also need the pass mark of each subtest. The ÖSD model paper and score sheet give these subtest pass marks. So one very weak subtest can fail the written module, even with a good total. The oral module has 30 points, and you pass it with 18.

ÖSD gives grades per module and for the whole exam. In the written module, 62 points or more is sehr gut, 53 or more is gut and 42 or more is bestanden. In the oral module the steps are 27, 23 and 18. For the whole exam they are 88, 75 and 60 of 100 points.

Which exam fits which goal

University: the RO-DT rules of the HRK and KMK exempt holders of the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 and of the ÖSD C2 from the university language test. The Goethe-Institut states that many universities also accept Goethe C1 or B2. Each university decides, so check with yours.
Austria: ÖSD states that a B2 certificate from an internationally recognised exam can support an application for Austrian citizenship based on special integration. Ask the Austrian authority that handles your case.
Skill by skill: Goethe splits the exam into four modules, so you can take or retake one skill at a time. ÖSD splits it into two, so Lesen, Hören and Schreiben always go together.
Age: ÖSD Zertifikat B2 is for learners from 16. ÖSD offers a youth version from 14.
Exam mode: Goethe exams take place at a test centre, on paper or on Goethe-Institut laptops. ÖSD offers B2 on paper and, since 1 January 2024, also as a digital exam.

How to prepare for either exam

Both B2 exams test the same four skills at the same level, so most practice counts for both. Timing is where they differ most. ÖSD gives 90 minutes for Lesen and 90 minutes for two texts in Schreiben. Goethe gives 65 minutes for Lesen and 75 minutes for two writing tasks.

For ÖSD, practise listening to Austrian and Swiss German speakers as well as speakers from Germany. For Goethe, practise each module as a separate paper, because each one is scored alone.

Do a full timed paper in the format you will book before exam day. Then look at your weakest skill, not your average.

Practise in both formats

Frequently asked questions

Is ÖSD or Goethe easier?: There is no official answer. No official source ranks the two exams by difficulty. The structures differ: Goethe has four modules scored alone, ÖSD has a written module with subtest pass marks and an oral module.
How many points do I need to pass ÖSD B2?: You need 42 of 70 points in the written module, plus the pass mark of each subtest, and 18 of 30 points in the oral module. That is 60 percent in each module.
How many points do I need to pass Goethe B2?: You need 60 of 100 points in each module. Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen each count alone.
Can I take only the written part?: Yes, in both exams. ÖSD B2 modules can be taken alone or together, and each passed module gets a module certificate. Goethe B2 modules can also be taken alone or together.
Do German universities accept ÖSD or Goethe?: The RO-DT rules exempt holders of the ÖSD C2 and of the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 from the university language test. For B2 and C1, each university decides. Check the language rules of your programme.
Does Faust have ÖSD practice papers?: Yes. Faust has 6 ÖSD B2 papers for the written and the oral module, and 48 Goethe B2 papers. Faust is independent practice. It is not a product of ÖSD or of the Goethe-Institut.

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