Acing the German Language Proficiency Test (DSH)

Created: Jan 8, 2024 | Updated: Feb 28, 2024

Tailored for international students looking for admission into a German university, the DSH exam is an important step to prove your German language proficiency. It assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In this guide, we talk about how to prepare and ace each section of the DSH exam and answer any frequently asked questions you may have to guarantee you'll be well-prepared for success. 

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About the DSH Exam

The DSH, or "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang," is a German language proficiency exam designed for foreign students seeking admission to a German university. The primary purpose of the DSH exam is to check if your German language skills are sufficient for academic study at the tertiary level in Germany, as completing the DSH is often a prerequisite for your admission into a German higher institution.

The DSH test typically has three levels: DSH 1, DSH 2, and DSH 3. The levels correspond to increasing proficiency, meaning that the better your German, the higher the level, with DSH-3 indicating the highest level of language competency for foreign students. 
 

Taking the DSH Exam

The DSH exam generally consists of written and oral sessions. The written part assesses your reading and writing abilities, while the oral part checks your speaking and listening skills. The reading comprehension session involves reading a series of texts and answering questions to demonstrate your understanding of it. These texts could be newspaper articles, academic papers and even novels and they can be on any possible topic.

The writing session requires you to write on a given topic. This could be a summary of any given information, giving your opinion on a matter, or debating a certain subject. When it comes to the speaking session, you will be expected to have a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. You will discuss different topics and be expected to express your ideas clearly and effectively.  In the listening comprehension session, you are required to listen to spoken texts and prove that you understand by answering the questions that follow, and just like other sessions, the texts can cover several topics and may include complex language and advanced vocabulary.  The content of the exam is designed to reflect the language demands of the academic coursework ahead of you.

As earlier mentioned, your scores on the DSH range from DSH-1 to DSH-3. The specific score requirements for admission are different among universities and degree programs. Your DSH test scores are not permanent and universities may have specific policies regarding the duration of the validity of your results.

To take the DSH exam, you need to register with the university you plan to study in. The exam is often administered by the German university's language centre. Many universities offer preparatory courses for the DSH test to help international students enhance their language skills and familiarity with the exam format.


 

 

How to Ace the DSH Exam

Acing the DSH exam, like any language proficiency test, requires a combination of effective preparation, and consistent practice. Let’s look at some tips to help you perform well.
 

Understand the Format of the Exam

You should familiarize yourself with the structure of the DSH exam, including the types of questions in the written and oral sections. Look up DSH sample exam questions and use them to have an idea of what the DSH test is like. Take the test and see how well or how badly you perform. Knowing what to expect will help you prepare more effectively. 

Create a Study Plan

After you have gotten an idea of what the exam is like, write out the areas you wish to study, and create a study plan. It is an effective way to organize your preparation. Allot realistic study hours for each test area such as reading, writing, listening or speaking, based on your strengths and weaknesses. Write a schedule, set alarms and practice, practice, practice!

Take the Tests Again

While studying, take some time out to take the practice tests over and over again. This is a great way to get accustomed to the examination and reduce your anxiety. Time yourself and repeat tests in areas you know you need more work. 

Expand Your Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary by learning words and phrases commonly used in academic discussions. Using only simple words repeatedly will be counterproductive since you are trying to prove that you can communicate at the university level. Learn different tenses, synonyms and even expressions. This will give you an edge in the exam.   

Translate German Texts for Better Understanding

Whenever you get your hands on a German document, be it a journal, a newspaper or a book, you should translate it to your language and even vice versa.  The DSH exam assesses your ability to understand and use academic language so translating academic texts will help you become familiar with the style, tone, and terms commonly found in academic discourse, preparing you for the content of the exam. 

Translating German text is an easy task. Just contact a professional translation service like Translayte, upload your documents, choose the kind of translation service you want and voila! You now have an accurate translation to and from any language you wish. 

Practice Daily

Consistent, daily language practice is the key to becoming better so, commit yourself to daily practice.  To spice things up, include a mix of activities like reading German academic texts, listening to German music, writing essays, listening to German content, and engaging in conversations with the people around you. You can also incorporate a fun language learning app such as Duolingo or Memrise. They will help you learn the language in a fun manner. 

 

Tips for Acing Different Sections of the DSH Exam
 

The Writing Section of the DSH Exam

The Writing section of the DSH exam lasts for about 3 to 4 hours and accounts for 70% of the DSH examination. It comprises of different subsections such as:

• Listening Comprehension which lasts for 60 minutes and accounts for 20% of the exam score, 
• Comprehension and Text Work which lasts for 60 minutes and contributes 20%,  
• Comprehension and working on a scientific structure which lasts for 30 minutes and contributes 10%,
• Text Production which lasts for another 60 minutes and accounts for 20% of your exam score. 

Note that you will also be provided with a dictionary for references and to look up unfamiliar words. Here are some tips to ace this section: 

1. Stay Calm: During the exam, stay calm and composed. Trust your preparation and focus on effectively communicating your ideas.
    
2. Read the questions and prompts carefully: Before you begin writing, make sure you fully understand the prompt. Identify the important points or questions you need to address in your response, like word count, the topic, or the specific task you are expected to complete. Tailor your response accordingly.
    
3. Organize your thoughts: Before you start writing, take a few minutes to outline all your ideas to make sure your responses are clear and properly structured.
    
4. Use a wide range of correct vocabulary and grammar: Since you are trying to prove that you are well-versed in the German language, it will be counterproductive to use only simple, everyday words and grammar, over and over. Try to learn synonyms for words and their correct uses. Also learn the correct usage of tenses like the past tense, future tense, and conditional tenses, among others, and incorporate them into your writing. All these help improve your score.
    
5. Revise and edit your work: Reserve some time at the end to revise and edit your work. Check for coherence, clarity, and any errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation that may have been missed while writing. Mistakes like these can reduce your overall score.
   
    

The Listening Section of the DSH Exam

This section of the DSH exam is part of the writing section, accounts for 20% of your exam score and lasts for 60 minutes. You will listen to lectures, seminars and presentations and be expected to take notes of the main points while listening. The text you will listen to is played twice. Let’s look at some tips to help you do well in this section: 

1. Listen actively: While you listen to the audio passages, make sure you’re being attentive. Don’t let your mind wander somewhere else. Try to understand the context and meaning of the passage. If you miss something, don’t panic, stay calm and focus on what you can still hear.
    
2. Take notes: Take relevant notes while you listen. Focus on the important points, main ideas, and relevant details. This will help you remember them later and answer the questions accurately. You can use short forms, abbreviations and symbols to save time. Developing good note-taking skills will help you in this section.
    
3. Predict the answers: Train yourself to predict possible answers or responses based on the context of the audio recording. This skill can help you anticipate information, better understand the content and save you lots of time during the test.
    
4. Practice listening to different German accents: German is spoken with different regional accents, and the DSH exam may include recordings with diverse accents so, familiarize yourself with the various German accents. Practice listening regularly to German music, podcasts, news, etc, because this will help you improve. 
    
5. Don’t panic: While listening, if you miss something stay calm and keep listening. You can still answer the questions from the rest of the things you did hear. Don’t play the audio all over again. This will waste time, rather move on to the next question and come back later if you have the time.
    
6. Review your answers: After you’re done, review all your answers. Make sure you used the right tenses, the right spellings and the right words in your answers. 
   
    

The Speaking or Oral Section of the DSH Exam

The speaking or oral section of the DSH exam is conducted a week after the written exam. It lasts for 20 minutes and contributes to 30% of the exam. You will be given a short passage, chart/graph, or a voice recording from an academic area or subject to listen to. You should be able to connect events, facts and your thoughts well while speaking. You will be assessed based on your general conversation skills in a German university setting. Here are some tips to help you: 
 

1. Be calm: Once again, you will need calm nerves to pass your DSH test, especially when it comes to speaking. Nervousness has a terrible way of affecting our speech performance so, practice relaxation techniques to stay calm and composed throughout this section. One way to be calm is to make sure you thoroughly understand the format of the speaking section. Knowing what to expect will help you feel more confident and way less nervous. 
    
2. Listen carefully: This is very important for passing your DSH test. You will need to listen attentively to understand the examiner’s questions and respond accordingly. Ask your examiner to repeat a question you did not hear correctly the first time to make sure you understand before you respond. 
    
3. Speak clearly and confidently: When responding, try to be audible and confident and use a natural and conversational tone. Speak to your examiner as though you were having a conversation and not as though you were just trying to pass a test. 
    
4. Use advanced vocabulary and grammar: Effective communication skills are what will be assessed, so it’s important to use a variety of vocabulary and grammar structures. As we have mentioned before, Try to use new words and phrases as you respond as this will let the examiner know that you understand the language. 
    
5. Ask for clarification: Don't hesitate to ask your examiner to repeat or explain something you do not understand. It’s better to ask for clarification than to give an incorrect response. 
    

DSH Exam Scoring

If you do not pass the written exam, you cannot take the oral exam. After passing the oral exam, you will receive a temporary certificate that allows you to attend the oral exam a week later. Your performance in each section is measured in percentage and the total score is described in the following three levels:
 

DSH-1 (57% or higher): Elementary language proficiency.

DSH-2 (67% or higher): Intermediate or Sophisticated language proficiency.

DSH-3 (82% or higher): Advanced or Extraordinary language proficiency.

If you score below 57%, you have failed, and you have “passed”, if you ace both the written and the oral sections.
 

Even if you get a DH1 score, it might not be enough for you to qualify for the course you intend to study and is usually sufficient only for bilingual study programmes, in which case, you may be required to take the examination again. For a majority of programmes and universities, DSH 2 is required and DSH 3 is only needed if you are studying courses related to human medicine or dentistry and for some other study programmes with higher language requirements.

Note that many universities give you only two attempts to retake the DSH test. An official DSH certificate is issued 6 weeks after your exam to DSH 2 and 3 achievers via post. No certificate is issued for results below the DSH 2 level.

 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

How Much is a DSH Exam?

The DSH examination fee varies depending on the German university. The fee ranges from €40 to €160. 
 

Where can I Take the DSH exam?

DSH exams are taken in person at your German University’s language centre. 
 

Can I Retake the Test if I Fail the DSH Exam?

Yes, you can retake the test as many times as you need to, although some universities only offer two attempts.
 

What Should I Bring to the DSH Exam?

What you should bring may be different for each exam centre, so check with them for information on what is required. Generally, you should bring a valid ID document, passport photos and your exam registration confirmation. 

Note that any foreign document you are required to bring should be translated into German. To do this, request a free quote and place an order on our website to get accurate and timely certified translations for every document you will need for your DHS registration. Our variety of translation services are affordable and are accepted by the Standesamt (Civil Registry Office), Jugendamt (Youth Office), Ausländerbehörde (Foreign Registration Office) and other German institutions, such as Universities, Banks, Local Authorities and Courts. 


 

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